A two-sport future for Arkansas Monk

Junior to Watch: Marcus Monk

School: Lepanto (Ark.) East Poinsett County

Position: Wide Receiver

Size and speed: Monk is 6-foot-6, weighs 205 pounds and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds.

Statistics: As a junior, he caught 52 passes for 1,104 yards and 19 touchdowns. On the basketball court, Monk averaged 26 points, 14 rebounds, six steals and five assists as a junior in establishing himself as one of the best two-sport prospects in the nation.

Honors: Was named all-state in both football and basketball.

Favorite Schools: Arkansas, Kansas, Florida, Stanford, Notre Dame, Oklahoma.

Skinny: East Poinsett County coach Mark Courtney describes star wideout Marcus Monk as being almost too good to be true.

“He’s a legit 6-foot-6, has bulked up to about 205 pounds, runs a 4.6 forty and is coming off a junior year where he caught 52 passes for 1,104 yards and 19 touchdowns,” Courtney said. “And that’s just football. He averages 26 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and six steals in basketball. He’s ranked No. 1 in his class academically. He’s already scored more than 1,100 on his SAT. He’s just the whole package. There’s nothing he can’t do.

“He has every good quality you look for in a person. I have two young boys, and if I had to pick someone for them to grow up like, it would be Marcus.”

That’s the ultimate compliment for this two-sport star. The big question now is which way will Monk go? Football or basketball or both?

“Right now, I think he considers himself more a basketball player,” Courtney said. “He’s the real deal, too. He’s already got offers from Arkansas, Kansas, Ole Miss, Boston College, Stanford, Florida, Vandy and a few others.

“But I think he also realizes he’s got a chance to be pretty special in football. I think he’d have just as much attention for football if more people knew about his ability. They know about his basketball from AAU and all the camps and tournaments he’s been to, but there’s not as much of that on the football end.”

A handful of schools are beginning to show interest for football or both sports. Courtney said Arkansas, Florida, Ole Miss and Notre Dame seem most interested from that standpoint.

“If he goes to a place with winning programs in both sports, I think he likes the idea of giving it a try,” Courtney said. “Somebody would be getting a heckuva football player. He reminds a lot of people of Randy Moss, physically. That’s the first thing that comes out of everyone’s mouth when they see him. He’s not that blazing fast, but he’s got the same characteristics about going up for the ball and coming down with it. He’s also got some lateral quickness and moves that you don’t believe it until you see it on the field. He’s got a real knack for making people miss.”

Monk doesn’t plan to attend any summer football camps. His AAU basketball schedule keeps him busy during that time, Courtney said.