By RYAN FISH
CHICAGO– Malik Monk was named to the U.S. All-Tournament Team at the 2014 Nike Global Challenge. This year, apparently, he didn’t think that was good enough.
Monk was named Tournament MVP Saturday after his USA South team beat USA West 120-109 to win the Nike Global Challenge. He finished a phenomenal run at the tournament with a 22-point, 13-rebound and four-assist effort in the final, while playing 39 of the game’s 40 minutes. The Bentonville, Ark. Native is entering his senior season this fall.
“Yeah, I feel comfortable playing with and without the ball,” Monk said of his guard skillset after the game. He said he wants to develop skills as both a shooting guard and point guard moving forward.
Those skills were on full display at the tournament and during the final Saturday. Two of the major schools linked to Monk took notice, as Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson and Kentucky head coach John Calipari were in attendance.
Monk intends to cut his college list to five sometime in August, announcing on his brother Marcus’ radio show. Kansas, North Carolina, Oregon and Florida State are also strongly in the mix.
USA South led for most of the game, but had to survive with only four players on the court in the final minutes. Many of the South players were unavailable for the game for undisclosed reasons, while big men Tony Bradley and Zach Brown fouled out in the second half. Monk, Maverick Rowan, PJ Washington and U.S. All-Tournament Team selection and UConn-bound point guard Alterique Gilbert stayed on the court, however, and held the lead.
Monk was asked if he’s ever compared his style of play to that of Russell Westbrook, as some others have.
“Yeah, a little bit,” Monk said. “[Playing like that] is something I’m gonna try to do going forward.”
Christian Popoola of Pan Africa was named International MVP at the tournament, while Miles Bridges, Myles Powell, Trae Young and Jarred Vanderbilt joined Gilbert on the U.S. All-Tournament Team. Young earned MVP honors for the West squad.
