ALL-ARKANSAS PREPS BOYS PLAYER OF THE YEAR MALIK MONK: 'The best I've ever seen'

Van Buren Coach Randy Loyd was impressed after seeing Malik Monk score 33 points, including a go-ahead three-pointer in overtime, to help Bentonville beat Van Buren in the Class 7A state semifinals March 5 in Cabot.

"The best I've ever seen," Loyd said. "He's just somebody special that can do things to you that nobody else will ever do to you."

Performances such as that one helped the Bentonville senior guard repeat as the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's boys All-Arkansas Preps Basketball Player of the Year.

Monk, rated as the No. 1 shooting guard in the nation by ESPN.com, averaged 28.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game for the Tigers, who finished 21-9 and advanced to the Class 7A state championship game for the second year in a row.

"When he's on your team, you're really good," Bentonville Coach Jason McMahan said. "As a high school coach, you want to be good. You have a chance to win."

Monk arrived in Bentonville in 2013 from East Poinsett County. He became not only one of the state's top players but he's also made himself known nationally. Monk has signed with the University of Kentucky, becoming the second Arkansan to sign with John Calipari's Wildcats in four years. Sylvan Hills' Archie Goodwin played at the SEC school in 2012-2013 before turning professional.

Calipari was in attendance for Bentonville's Class 7A state quarterfinal game against West Memphis on March 3. Monk plans on arriving at Kentucky in June.

"He'll tell me what to expect," Monk said of Calipari. "It will be a fun experience for me."

Bentonville was 9-6 after losing 72-50 to Jersey City (N.J.) St. Anthony on Jan. 18 in Springfield, Mass., but went 9-2 the remainder of the regular season, earning a No. 2 seed from the 7A-West Conference in the Class 7A state tournament.

"The season was up and down," Monk said. "We lost a couple of games, then we brought it back to conference play and picked it up at the end."

It's been more than basketball with Monk, McMahan said. Monk's GPA has been at least a 3.0, and McMahan said Monk has made his biggest strides in academics.

Away from the court, McMahan has enjoyed his time with Monk.

"It's been fun to get to know him as a person and to get to know his family," McMahan said. "As a basketball player, he's grown a lot. A lot of people have helped to do that. Our assistant coaches, his brother, a lot of people, including his AAU coaches."

Despite losing to Cabot in the 7A state championship game March 11 in Hot Springs, Monk said he enjoyed his senior season, playing in front of sold-out crowds throughout Arkansas and the nation.

"We had a great season overall," Monk said. "All the guys worked hard."

Sports on 03/27/2016