SEC Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

8. Malik Monk

Nationally considered a Top 10 recruit from 2016, Monk is a 6’3 combo guard who opted for John Calipari’s Kentucky program. Like many stars of Kentucky in recent years, Monk would spend just his freshman season in Lexington, but it was quite the season at that, even if it didn’t end in a major Tournament run.

Monk averaged 19.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game in his freshman season, also shooting just under 40% from beyond the arc. He led Kentucky to an SEC regular season title and starred with 47 points in a regular season win over North Carolina. Monk had several other impressive performances, helping lead the Wildcats to another SEC Tournament title. However, his season was ended in the Elite Eight by that same North Carolina team, two days after dropping 21 on UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen.

For that remarkable season, Monk was named Second Team All-American, brought home the Jerry West Award as the nation’s top shooting guard, and was both SEC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Considered a phenomenal prospect, he showed that full potential while at Kentucky and set himself up well for the future. He was drafted with the 11th pick of the 2017 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets a few months later.