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Kentucky’s Monk picked as AP’s SEC player, newcomer of year

FILE - In this Dec. 29, 2016, file photo, Kentucky head coach John Calipari listens to guard Malik Monk (5) during the second half of the NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi in Oxford, Miss. The eighth-ranked Wildcats just won their 48th SEC regular season title and are the two-time defending champs at the Southeastern Conference tournament, which they’ve won 29 times. They also have impressive Malik Monk, John Calipari’s latest freshman star. AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File) FILE - In this Dec. 29, 2016, file photo, Kentucky head coach John Calipari listens to guard Malik Monk (5) during the second half of the NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi in Oxford, Miss. The eighth-ranked Wildcats just won their 48th SEC regular season title and are the two-time defending champs at the Southeastern Conference tournament, which they’ve won 29 times. They also have impressive Malik Monk, John Calipari’s latest freshman star. AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

By Associated Press March 7, 2017 1 min read

ATLANTA (AP) – Kentucky freshman Malik Monk was picked as both player and newcomer of the year, while Florida’s Mike White claimed the coaching award on the All-Southeastern Conference men’s basketball team announced Tuesday by The Associated Press.

Monk, a 6-foot-3, guard, is leading the SEC in scoring at 21.2 points a game. The latest stellar freshman for the Wildcats , he burst to national prominence in his 11th college game when he scored 47 points to lead the Wildcats past North Carolina 103-100 in Las Vegas.

Monk edged South Carolina senior guard Sindarius Thornwell for player of the year and was an overwhelming choice as the top newcomer.

In his second year filling the big shoes of Billy Donovan, White beat out Kentucky’s John Calipari for coach of the year after guiding the Gators to a 24-7 mark, including 14-4 in the SEC.

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