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Kentucky Basketball: Two Wildcats Earn USA Today All-American Honors

By Frank Spencer

Mar 4, 2017; College Station, TX, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) celebrates with guard De'Aaron Fox (0) after a play during the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Reed Arena. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; College Station, TX, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) celebrates with guard De'Aaron Fox (0) after a play during the second half against the Texas A&M Aggies at Reed Arena. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kentucky Basketball has boasted its fair share of All-Americans in past seasons. This particular seasons’ team officially has two players named to the USA Today College Basketball All-American Team.

Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox have been named to the USA Today All-American Team. Monk, the Kentucky Basketball dynamic shooting guard, was named to the Second Team. In addition, De’Aaron Fox was named as a Third Team All-American.

The duo have sure been fun to watch this season. As Kentucky enters post-season play, the stars on the court are going to have their hands full. Monk and Fox, as well as  Bam Adebayo, have carried the Wildcats to their 49th SEC Regular Season Championship.

With the start of the 2017 Men’s SEC Tournament, Kentucky’s Freshman are going to experience the pressure. Playing for Kentucky comes with the territory of expected greatness come March. Also, everything leading up to the Big Dance means nothing. Once your there it’s all about what you do with the opportunity.

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2017 USA Today All-Americans

First Team

  • Lonzo Ball, Freshman-UCLA
  • Frank Mason III, Senior-Kansas
  • Caleb Swanigan, Freshman-Purdue
  • Josh Hart, Senior-Villanova
  • Dillon Brooks, Junior-Oregon

Second Team

  • Josh Jackson, Freshman-Kansas
  • Malik Monk, Freshman-Kentucky
  • Luke Kennard, Sophomore-Duke
  • Justin Jackson, Junior-North Carolina
  • Nigel Williams-Gross, Junior-Gonzaga

Third Team

  • De’Aaron Fox, Freshman-Kentucky
  • Ethan Happ, Sophomore-Wisconsin
  • Lauri Markkanen, Freshman-Arizona
  • Monte Morris, Senior-Iowa State
  • Jonathan Motley, Junior-Baylor

Analyzing The Selections

On the year, Malik Monk has been a scoring machine. An average point spread of 21.2 points have earned the Freshman the SEC Scoring Title. Monk’s season has been highlight by standout performances in big time games. Likewise, Monk’s 47 point effort in a victory over North Carolina may be one of the best performances by anyone all season. Monk has scored double digits in each game of the season except for the finale against Texas A&M. Malik scored a meager six points in the Wildcats’ 71-63 victory.

De’Aaron Fox has been sidelined with various injuries this season. Nonetheless, the Houston, Texas native can ball. Fox is averaging 15.5 PPG as well as 4.2 Rebounds and five assists per contest. The Kentucky point guard has scored double digits in all but four of his games in a Wildcat Uniform. Fox finished the 2017 regular season with 146 assists, which puts him at the top of the SEC as the Assist King of the Conference.

Looking Ahead

The Kentucky Wildcats will not be a stranger to end of season awards. Additionally, Bam Adebayo has just been named the SEC Freshman of the week for the second consecutive time. Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox will make many more All-American teams before the season ends.

Next: Kentucky's Regular Season, As Told by Drake Songs

To conclude, these young Wildcats will need to find a way to play through a tough SEC Tournament en route to a great seeding in the NCAA Tournament. With Selection Sunday, just days away, the Big Blue Nation will be tuned in to watch their Cats take on the world.

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