Kansas head coach Bill Self and assistant Jerrance Howard visited with 2015 guard Malik Newman on Thursday, sources confirmed to SNY.tv.
Back in February, Howard watched the 6-foot-3 Newman go for 31 points, including a key late 3-pointer, as Callaway (MS) beat rival Provine 76-73.
Newman is a top priority for Kansas in 2015.
“[Howard] told me that Malik could start for them right now,” Calloway coach Dave Sanders told SNY.tv then.
Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, Florida and N.C. State are among those also involved.
“I don’t think there’s any [college] list right now,” Larry Stamps, the director of the Jackson (MS) Tigers AAU program, recently told SNY.tv.
“The top programs in the country, he’s been contacted by all of them. From what I’ve seen he’s still open.”
By all accounts, Newman has a tremendous work ethic and wants to be come an elite player.
“The young man, the thing that really impressed me about him is his work ethic,” Stamps said. ”He’s been working out early morning on his own forever, and he has positioned himself to go to the highest level. He just has ‘it,’ but that ‘it’ has come with a lot of hard work.
“Many people who are smarter than me think he’s a pro.”
Self and Howard will head on Friday to Brewster (N.H.) Academy to see point guard Devonte’ Graham, recently released from Appalachian State. Virginia, Florida, Cincinnati and Virginia Tech are also expected Friday.