Razorbacks lose Malik Monk To Kentucky… Thanks to Marcus…

Cue the Jimmy Fallon Thank You Note Writing Music… “Thank you Mike Anderson, for trying your best to get Malik Monk to be an Arkansas Razorback… Even though older brother Marcus said “No Malik… Go to Kentucky… and basically told everyone at Arkansas…

For those who haven’t heard, Malik Monk has officially committed to the Kentucky Wildcats, passing on the Arkansas Razorbacks and all the other schools that recruited him.

First of all, congratulations to Malik. I do not blame him at all for choosing to continue his education and play basketball at Kentucky. You cannot blame a 17 or 18 year old kid for wanting to play college basketball at one of the best basketball schools in America, and be under the direction of one of the best coaches in America with John Calipari. Besides, what kid wouldn’t want to play for a coach that basically guarantees you to get to the NBA and be successful? Just ask Derrick Rose, Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Townes, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Archie Goodwin (remember him?), and I’m sure these guys have no regrets. The problem lies with big brother Marcus Monk. Trey Schaap, of 103.7 The Buzz in Little Rock, Arkansas, reported this on his official Twitter account

Really Marcus? You’ve been treated as royalty by the University, thanks to your time as an Arkansas Razorback. Monk stands as one of the most exciting Razorbacks of all time, playing the wide receiver position for Houston Nutt. Marcus had even said that he wanted his younger brother to play for Arkansas. And now you convince your younger brother to go to Kentucky, because committing to Arkansas is going to be a “distraction” and that will not be any distractions committing to Kentucky during his senior season? Really Marcus? You must not have thought this all the way through.

In my opinion, there would have been no distraction committing to Arkansas. If anything, it’s motivation for any high school he travels to in Arkansas. He will hear the WPS chants throughout arenas and be encouraged to do well at Arkansas. Now, by (mostly) no fault of his own, Malik will be booed and ridiculed for his decision to play for Kentucky thanks to big brother. That’s ridiculous.  Making a big decision like this requires the whole family’s input, and I’m not faulting Malik or Marcus for what they thought was the best for Malik and his basketball career. But if this turns out to be true, and Malik wanted to attend Arkansas but Marcus said no and “forced” Malik to Kentucky because of it being a distraction, SHAME ON YOU MARCUS MONK, for everything the University of Arkansas has done for you, and then you do this.

I’m not the only one who feels this way, either. Mike Irwin had a LOT to say about this situation on John Nabors’ show on Wednesday.

I pretty much agree with Irwin on this one. Calipari is juking the system, and while it isn’t illegal, it’s certainly not helping the sport of basketball. It’s impacting both the college ranks and the NBA as well. Something will have to be done about the “1 and done’s” across the country, but until that time, then choosing a college becomes a “business decision” and not a basketball one.

The fact that this all happened so quickly just makes it all the more head scratch worthy. But there’s nothing that can be done now. Malik has signed with the Wildcats, and he’s become just another notch in Cal’s belt. Hopefully for Malik (and Marcus) his career goes as swimmingly as they’re banking on. Because there’s no coming home from this. Hog fans won’t have it. That’s the Monk Brand, I guess.

So where does this leave Mike Anderson and the Razorbacks Basketball Program? That is the second in-state recruit Mike Anderson let get away (albeit this isn’t technically his fault), and we all know the importance of keeping in-state players at home. When Anderson recruits outside of Arkansas, he’s gold. Next years recruiting class for the Razorbacks is coming together very nicely, thanks in large part to the top JUCO transfers Anderson has signed. The Razorbacks will be just fine. Players will come. They know the heritage and history of the Razorbacks, and players will want to be etched in that history. It just sucks that we lost a possible superstar player in Malik Monk, thanks to Marcus (supposedly).

Next: Razorback Player Racking Awards After LSU Win

Congratulations to Malik Monk and his commitment. He will do great things for the blue and white… it just would have been better to see him the cardinal red and white…

Woo Pig.