1. Malik Monk, Kentucky Wildcats
- Position: Point Guard/Shooting Guard
- Age: 19 (02/04/1998)
- Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’4″, 185 pounds, 6’3.5″
- 2016-17 Slash Line: .463/.409/.841
- 2016-17 Averages: 21.2 PPG, 2.4 APG, 2.6 RPG, 1.1 SPG
Malik Monk is arguably the best scorer in college basketball. He has four games of 30 plus points, nine games of 25 plus points, and a 47 point explosion against North Carolina.
The 19-year-old is one of only two players in a major conference (Markelle Fultz being the other) ranked in the top twenty in the country in points per game. According to DraftExpress, Monk has a maximum vertical leap of 42.0″, and it’s that explosiveness and ability to play above the rim that makes him even more impressive.
Monk can put it on the floor and attack the rim and make the three. He’s shooting 40.9 percent from downtown on the season. He has a shooting guard’s skill set and the body of a point guard.
That can sometimes be a curse, but considering Jeff Hornacek’s history of playing small backcourts, it could be an asset with New York’s head coach.
With Derrick Rose’s likely departure this summer via free agency, the Knicks will be looking for a player who can create with drives.
As bad as New York is on defense, they need help on the offensive side of the ball too. The Knicks are currently 16th in points per 100 possessions and 24th in effective field goal percentage. They need shooters and scorers. It’d be a good idea to start in the draft.
