Monk has been the personification of a flamethrower all season for the Wildcats. Shooting a total of 7.4 attempts per game, Monk is hitting on 41. 6 percent of his attempts — despite an unreal workload. His perimeter shooting has emerged as the focal point of Kentucky’s offense all season long, and his development as an off-ball spacer is making him a near-perfect fit for the trends of today’s league.
In a draft class littered with elite guard talent, Monk is the best shooter of the group by a wide margin. Both off the bounce and off the catch, he boasts a quick, concise release that requires little space when getting his shot off, while his range extends far beyond that of the other upper echelon talents around him. He shoots with an impressive sense of confidence as well, boasting the type of on-court swagger that can lift an entire offense up. When he’s on, he’s on — and that almost always means the offense is going to get a sizable lift during such a time.
There are certainly limitations to Monk’s game. He doesn’t get to the rim much off the dribble, and hasn’t shown the full blown point guard skills needed to transition to the one spot at the next level — something that, in some cases, may be useful given his size (6-3). But there’s something to be said for scoring the basketball as well as Monk, and doing so in such a team-friendly manner in the process. He keeps a defender glued to him throughout the time in which he’s on the court, and is among the more relentless — and agile — off-ball runners you’ll find out of college.
Previous Ranking: 5
Monk also has a strong mid-range game, using the same quick release and agile movement he relies on with his 3-pointer to open up space inside the arc. He has an extremely quick first step, as well as some serious bounciness to his movement. He can create space on a virtual dime, and — like his shots in general — doesn’t need much in the form of space to fire them off.
Monk’s explosiveness also means there’s a solid chance he can improve his game en route to the basket. His speed allows him to get by defenders on the regular basis, and his handles are tight enough to evolve into a formidable weapon when driving the lane. He has shown flashes, it’s just a matter of him getting comfortable with attacking, rather than relying solely on the virtue of a red-hot exterior game.
Sure, there are going to be J.R. Smith comparisons for Monk — and that’s natural. He’s a shot-heavy, perimeter-based gunslinger who, at times, can seem as if he’s forcing the issue at times. But there are some very distinct differences. Monk is a skilled passer, and has point guard-level upside as a playmaker. That, combined with a slightly less chaotic approach than Smith, is a pretty sizable distinction on it’s own.
This is a league built on shooters, and Monk can shoot. A lot, and do so at a high level.