NBA Mock Draft 2017, Week 14: Markelle Fultz is still no. 1

Figuring out what to make of Kentucky’s Malik Monk as an NBA prospect is a bit of a difficult task. There is no doubt that the freshman is an excellent college scorer. He’s averaging 21.9 points per game with a 62.2 true shooting percentage while canning 4.0 3-pointers per 40 minutes. His shooting mechanics are excellent. He has no problem finding the tiniest bit of space to get his shot off when guarded and he’s capable of running into that space off the ball. It’s a really, really good skill for a league that values the ability to make outside shots.

The questions are two-fold. First, will Monk’s shooting translate to the NBA? He wasn’t always this good of a shooter. He was called streaky coming into college, for example. Add in the fact that he’s just 6-foot-3 and will be at a size disadvantage to nearly every defender and it’s far to ask the question.

Second, what else does Monk bring to the table? He’s a capable passer on offense, but he hasn’t shown himself to be a very willing one at Kentucky, posting a 12.9 percent assist rate. He often settles for jump shots in the halfcourt and doesn’t get to the foul line at a very high clip. His size will also be a factor on defense where his athleticism can only make up so much for his slight frame.

Monk’s shooting is incredibly valuable and if it’s more than a flash in the pan of a college season, he’ll be a good NBA player. If it slips, though, it’s tough to say what he’ll be.

Learn more about Malik Monk at The Step Back.