BY CHIP MILLER
Just one day after Malik Newman told ESPN’s Reggie Rankin that LSU will receive one of his five available official visits, Tigers head man Johnny Jones was on hand to the see Callaway (MS) High five-star shooting guard go for 31 points in a win on Tuesday night, according to Courtney Cronin.
Newman — who says he still has all five officials remaining — is set to utilize his visits on the campuses of Kentucky, Kansas, Ohio State and N.C. State to go along with LSU. Previously, Newman was scheduled to officially visit Ohio State the weekend of Jan. 24 but never made the trip, instead landing behind the bench at Ole Miss as the Rebels took on the Florida Gators in Oxford.
Newman is the second highest-rated uncommitted player in the 247Sports Composite 2015 player rankings, right behind Marietta (GA) Wheeler wing Jaylen Brown. LSU has already secured the signature of the overall top prospect in the 2015 class, Montverde Academy (FL) five-star forward Ben Simmons and recently, Jones added a commitment from the five-star sharp shooter Antonio Blakeney out of Oak Ridge (FL).
The thought of a Newman/Blakeney back court could run shivers up the spine of next year’s opponents, including the current No. 1 and unbeaten Kentucky Wildcats and coach John Calipari. Combined, the duo of Newman and Blakeney averaged 42 points per game last year during the Nike EYBL, second and sixth best for the entire EYBL season.
With five officials remaining, don’t expect a decision anytime soon. The consistent word out of the Newman camp has been an April decision, but for now, expect Jones and the LSU Tigers to ramp up the heat on Newman’s recruitment.
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
