Malik Monk Scheduled for Predraft Visit with New York Knicks

The New York Knicks reportedly like Kentucky product Malik Monk as a potential target for the No. 8 pick in the upcoming draft.

On Friday, Ian Begley of ESPN.com reported the Knicks scheduled a workout with Monk for next week and "are high on" him.

Begley cited sources saying the Knicks also like France guard Frank Ntilikina and North Carolina State guard Dennis Smith.

However, Monk stands out as a high-profile talent from one of college basketball's premier programs. While the NBA and college game are clearly different challenges, the guard is at least familiar with playing under intense media scrutiny and expectations at Kentucky, which should theoretically help him in New York if the Knicks were to draft him.

The Knicks were a middling 21st in the NBA in three-point percentage this season in a league increasingly reliant on effective outside shooting. It is no accident the dominant San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors finished in the top three in the category in today's game.

Monk would give New York a potentially lethal shooter after he connected on 39.7 percent of his shots from deep in his one season with the Wildcats. He is also a potent scorer who averaged 19.8 points per game and scored 47 points in a head-turning performance against the eventual national champion North Carolina Tar Heels.

If he demonstrates that skill on the next level, Monk would give the Knicks another scoring option to take some of the pressure off the shoulders of Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis.