BY CHIP MILLER
PADUCAH, KY. – Malik Newman scored a game-high 34 points and earned MVP honors in front of Kansas head coach Bill Self and assistant Kurtis Townsend just one day after the Jayhawks beat out Kentucky and Illinois, securing a verbal commitment from Villa Angela-St Joseph’s (OH) Carlton Bragg.
Newman said he was a bit surprised by Bragg’s decision.
“Kind of, but not really,” Newman stated. “I think Kansas does a really good job of developing big men. With him being a stretch four and a guy that can really score the ball, I think it was a good decision for him.”
As far as Kansas, Newman thinks Self can help him accomplish his dreams.
“I like them,” Newman said. “They’ve had players like [Andrew] Wiggins, right now they have Kelly Oubre. I really like them. I think they are a great program and I think Bill Self can help me accomplish a dream I would like to accomplish.”
On Kentucky, Newman said he’s impressed with the way Calipari develops his guards.
“Everything is looking good right now,” said Newman. “To be honest, everything is looking good with all the schools, but it’s Kentucky, so, you know, you know how that goes. I like the way Cal develops his guards.”
Asked if the number of guards at Kentucky could be a factor in his decision, Newman said it was.
“That’s something you have to pay attention to,” Newman stated. “Those guys, they can play just like I can play. It’s not like they, you know, I wouldn’t say that I would be able to go in right away and start and play the whole game because I know I wouldn’t. But that’s a key factor to making a decision as a guard.”
Newman says he talks to a former Mississippi high school standout and current freshman at Kentucky, Devin Booker.
“I talk to him [Booker] about once or twice a week,” Newman said. “We talk about the way he’s playing and the way I’m playing. Nothing really recruiting wise.”
On the recruiting front, Newman has set an official visit to Ohio State between Jan. 24-26 and will also visit Kentucky, Kansas and N.C. State.
Asked if Ole Miss and Mississippi State were still in the mix, Newman demurred.
“Um, to be honest, I’m not sure yet,” Newman said. “I know for a fact that I will go visit both campuses, I don’t know if it will be an official or unofficial, but I will go visit both.”
Even though Newman named four schools, he said he still has all five official visits remaining, stating that despite reports to the contrary, his visit to Texas A&M on October 10th was unofficial.
When it comes to talent on a team, that won’t deter Newman from his final decision.
“I prefer playing with some good players that can make some plays,” Newman said.
Newman’s high school coach, David Sanders, agrees more talent will make the game easier for Malik.
“I think it will make it a lot easier for him,” Sanders stated. “I had a conversation with Monte Ellis and he talked to me about that. He saw a lot of double teams and the game was so cluttered in high school, when he got to the NBA it was open wide. I think on the college level it will open up a lot more because you have guys around you that can make plays. I think it will help his efficiency because he’s not going to have as tough a shot to take.”
As far as Newman’s deep threes, Sanders stated it just a part of his game.
“That’s part of his game,” Sanders said. “He does it on a regular basis. He’s really good doing it off the dribble. When he’s in a groove, I’ve haven’t seen very many like him. Every coach I talk to, Bill Self, Calipari, all say he’s a rare breed, and those coaches have seen a lot of players. I haven’t seen a kid with his shooting ability.”
Kentucky’s John Calipari and N.C. State’s Mark Gottfried were present on Saturday to see Newman score 35 points, leading Callaway to a victory over Huntington Prep. What was it like playing in front of the two coaches?
“It was great,” Newman said. “It was an excited crowd, a great atmosphere, two great teams just went and battled and we happened to come out on top, so it was great.”
A timeline for a decision is still to be set, but Newman knows what he’s looking at in a school.
“Who stays, who goes,” Newman said. “Tournament wise, who gets there a lot, things like that.”
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