WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ja’Quan Newton is one of the hottest point guards on the recruiting trail and says he’s currently “wide open” in his recruitment.
“I don’t really have a list now. I planning on cutting it down to five after the July period,” Newton told SNY.tv at the Nike Global Challenge at Trinity Washington University.
His suitors include Minnesota, Miami, Villanova, Temple, UCLA, USC, Texas A&M, Oregon, Cincinnati and Seton Hall. Pittsburgh is the latest school to offer him.
“I like every school that’s recruiting me right now,” Newton said. “I think I can play at any school. I’m just going to list it down to the five that’s best fit for me. Probably [I will cut it] after Orlando, Fla., that last AAU tournament”
Villanova is a local option for the Neumann-Goretti guard and head coach Jay Wright and associate head coach Billy Lange were in the stands.
“I like that they’re here every game watching me supporting me, watching me,” Newton said. “It makes it seem like they really want me, so that’s good. I like their style of play. It fits my play, pick and roll, get a lot of get up and down.”
Miami head coach Jim Larranaga and assistant Chris Caputo also watched him.
“I like them a lot,’ he said. “Pick and roll. I haven’t been out there but I like their style of play.”
Minnesota is also involved and head coach Richard Pitino was on hand.
‘I watched him coach at his previous school [FIU],” Newton said. “Get up and down and run. Pick and roll.”
Newton and Brooklyn Lincoln’s Isaiah Whitehead have talked about packaging, possibly at Minnesota, UCLA or Syracuse.
“We still thinking about it,” Newton said. “If it don’t happen it just don’t but there’s a chance that it might.”
Joe Newton, Ja’Quan’s father, is also interested in the West Coast schools, especially UCLA.
“UCLA is a legendary school,” Joe said. “We are not going to make any decisions without seeing the campus. We would love to go out for a visit. They usually don’t recruit too many East Coast kids so I’m starting to think my son is pretty nice.”
