Monk embracing lofty expectations

CHICAGO-- Malik Monk knows that choosing to go to Kentucky would change things for him.

For starters he spurned his home state of Arkansas. Also, at UK he's surrounded by media and lofty expectations.

Although Monk has a few months before he will step foot in Lexington, he's already embraced all challenges and is walking higher than ever.

"It's not pressure to us," Monk said. "We're just playing basketball and trying to do what's best for us. Some may think it's pressure but it's not pressure for us."

Monk has even ran with the high expectations for next season and he's let all the other five and four stars at the McDonald's All-American game know what's going to happen next season.

"We say Kentucky run everything next year," Monk said. "We tell everybody that. Every team, whoever committed to any team we tell him Kentucky run everything."

And it's what the 6-foot-3, 185-pound Bentonville, Ark., native has been saying for a few months since he committed to the Cats.

When he picked UK over Arkansas he heard a lot about it from Arkansas media and fans. It was all the talk of Arkansas radio and TV. Whenever Monk played a high school game he heard from disgruntled Arkansas fans.

Even when UK lost this past season his social media would blow up.

"When Kentucky loses it will come up then but it died down," Monk said. "But every game I was booed and they called the hogs but I'm used to that already."

But Monk, knowing UK is a different animal, already has turned that negative into a positive. A positive that will help the Cats next season.

Monk said he knows when UK goes on the road it makes for a rowdy atmosphere and he's ready to embrace the craziness.

"It will be great," Monk said. "It gave me way more experience than anybody that is going to Kentucky that has that adversity that I will be used to and I can get them through it."

Monk said he also thinks next year will be easier for the Cats because of the talent John Calipari has signed for 2016-2017.

Five players, each rated five stars, have signed with the Cats, including one of the nation's best point guards in De'Aaron Fox.

Monk and Fox have talked about playing with one another for nearly a year.

"We've been talking for a long time and never got the chance to link up but now we get a whole year, eight months," Monk said. "It's going to be crazy. ... We both think we're the best so two of the best combined with each other is going to be more better. I'm honored to be there with him."

And that's Monk talking as if the entire crop is leaving for the NBA Draft. It's no guarantee that Tyler Ulis leaves and it seems likely Isaiah Briscoe will be back for 2016.

"Whoever comes back will be a great fit for us," Monk said. "Because they've been there before and we haven't been there and they could teach us something we haven't learned or seen before so it would be good."