STARKVILLE — Many thought Malik Newman would spend one year with the Mississippi State men’s basketball team.
A highly sought after recruit coming out of Callaway High School, Newman was one of a handful of incoming freshmen that had the label of being a “one-and-done player.” On Tuesday, he took one step closer to making that coming true, announcing his plans to enter the NBA draft. But Newman said he isn’t going to hire an agent, which gives him the option of returning to MSU next season.
“We talked about it and we think we have a really good chance of making my dreams come true,” Newman said. “The development coach (Ben) Howland helped me with throughout the season becoming a point guard I think really helped.”
Under a new proposal passed by the Division I council, the 6-foot-3 guard can participate in the NBA Combine (May 11-15) and work out once with each NBA team before making a decision. The deadline to decided whether he will enter the draft is May 25.
Newman was projected as a first-round draft pick before the season started, but he wasn’t projected to go in the first round in a mock draft released Tuesday by USA Today.
“I’m just hoping we can get something good in the first round and weigh the options for me,” Newman said. “If it’s the second round, I’m pretty sure I’ll be back.”
During his 10-year tenure (2003-13) as the coach of UCLA, Howland had 18 players selected in the NBA draft, including freshmen Trevor Ariza, Kevin Love, Jrue Holiday, and Shabazz Muhammad. Love, Holiday, and Muhammad were all taken in the first round, while Ariza was taken in the second round.
Prior to the season, Howland said there was no question Newman had the skill level to be a one-and-done player because he reminded him of those four players.
“This was the plan from the first day I met Malik recruiting him,” Howland said. “We expected for him to put his name in the draft and explore this opportunity this year, so this is not anything unexpected. My advice moving forward is he has really got to hit the ground running in terms of his workouts and his conditioning.”
Newman said he had been thinking about his future for a while and that he would test the waters of turning professional, but he made up his mind Monday. MSU’s season ended March 10 with a loss to Georgia in the Southeastern Conference tournament. Newman took the rest of the week and the next week (spring break) to discuss the options with his family.
Newman battled several injuries that kept him from getting in a rhythm. He missed the first game due to a turf toe injury that made him miss two weeks of practice. He battled through an elbow injury and missed the Feb. 20 game against Alabama due to lower back soreness. In his last eight games, he scored in double digits once (17 against Auburn) and failed to score against South Carolina.
“I think the injuries were kind of a setback throughout the season,” Newman said. “With my body being healthy and me being 100 percent, I think I’ll be a totally different player.”
Newman averaged 11.3 points per game and 10.4 points against Southeastern Conference opponents. He scored a career-high 25 points against Ole Miss on Jan. 23 at home. Many thought it was his coming-out party, as he was 7 of 10 from 3-point range.
Howland said Newman really improved his ballhandling skills and his body, but Howland was especially pleased with Newman’s progress on defense.
“I think he’s really improved as a defensive player,” Howland said. “When you get to that level of the NBA, it’s different than the college game and it’s even more one-on-one. Everybody can shoot, the floor gets stretched so much more that there’s a level of intensity and understanding of a sense of urgency that you have to have on every possession.”
Howland likes where Newman’s competitive spirit is as he heads to the combine. The first-year coach likes the new rule and thinks it will help many underclassmen make the right decision and avoid going undrafted.
Howland said he talked with rising sophomore Quinndary Weatherspoon earlier this week. He said Weatherspoon won’t go through the combine. Weatherspoon averaged 12.0 ppg., including a team-best 14.9 ppg. in league play.
Howland would love to have Newman back to play with Weatherspoon, but he understands what’s at stake for Newman.
“If he did end up coming back, I think he’s going to grow from this process and it’s going to really help him a year from now,” Howland said.
Newman is taking classes online this semester, so he won’t be behind academically if he returns.
Newman said before the season started he wanted to focus on the season at hand and not worry about playing professional basketball, but he said it remains one of his biggest dreams. Although the season wasn’t want he wanted, Newman is happy about what the future holds.
“It’s exciting. It’s very exciting,” Newman said. “I just have to put in all the time and hard work to make my dreams happen.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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