Malik Newman Update

[MWes11]

Malik's father recently talked a little about his recruitment.


It makes it harder to project where Jackson (Miss.) Callaway 5-star combo guard Malik Newman[/B] will play his college basketball when even his father says he doesn't have a clue.
In an interview with WLAP 630 in Lexington[/B], Newman's father, former Mississippi State standout Horatio Webster, says he has "no idea" which school his son will choose.
"I said, 'Malik, April is approaching really fast so you need to be doing something," Webster said. "He smiled and said, 'okay.' I can't get anything out of him."
The 6-foot-3, 174-pound guard is ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2015 class according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite[/B].

This post was edited on 1/27 7:37 PM by JohnBlue_

 

[BLEEDBLUE444]

Me likey

 

[ABomb502]

I really hope we land this kid!

 

[Graves51]

Don't think he will come unless we have at least two of our top four guards leave, well actually I think it would have to be two specific guards!

 

[zoid1]

I think he is ours to lose. Im sure the Harrisons are gone so plenty of minutes to play next year. If Booker comes back he can even play the 3 and ill bet he will gain at least 10 lbs of muscle in the summer so what 6-6 216 is great size for a 3. Newman will have TWO great PG's to get him the ball in Ulis and Briscoe also. Not to mention a inside game to take the pressure off him scoring in Poythress, Lee, Skal, Willis, Wynyard and whoever else we get.

Look how good this looks
PG- Ulis 5-10 165 so
SG- Newman 6-4 190 fr
SF- Booker 6-6 216 so
PF- Poythress 6-9 243 sr
C- Skal 6-11 223 fr

PG- Briscoe 6-4 215 fr
SG- Hawkins 6-1 195 jr
SF- Matthews 6-6 200 fr
PF- Wynyard 6-10 240 fr/Willis 6-9 220 jr
C- Lee 6-10 220 jr

 

[Galbpt02]

I personally want Newman more than anyone we are still involved with. As much as I love Ulis/Booker - I am not sure Briscoe/Newman wouldn't be more explosive offensively. Newman is a game changer.

I think Wynyard is a 2016 player, atleast I hope. That way we can still get 1 or 2 more bigs in the 2015 class.

As stated by many - I think we lose the twins, Booker, Lyles, WCS and Towns (don't get me wrong I hope any or all of them come back, but being realistic and knowing that Cal wants them to achieve their dreams in the NBA - I just don't see it).

I think there is a chance of Dakari returning, just depends on how the season finishes for him. But assume we keep one big from Dakari and Lyles. If we lose Poythress and Dakari, we will definitely need atleast two additional bigs at a minimum.

Here is what we are looking at:

PG: Ulis / Briscoe / Hawkins
SG:
SF: Matthews / Willis
PF: Poythress / Lee
C: Dakari / Skal


If we can add Newman and one top big - we will be very tough again and just as dynamic on the perimeter (albeit with less depth) as this year. If we add Newman and two additional recruits - everyone best watch out !!

 

[jwheat]

Im not gonna lie I am kind of disappointed. I always thought Malik was in the 6'5 range. Not that it matters but I was kind of surprised to see it say he is just 6'3

 

[caneintally]

Originally posted by ThroughBlue:

Im not gonna lie I am kind of disappointed. I always thought Malik was in the 6'5 range. Not that it matters but I was kind of surprised to see it say he is just 6'3

Why did you think that he has always been listed at 6'3 ?

 

[JerseyCat84_rivals57050]

Originally posted by JasonSpear:

Originally posted by zoid1:

Look how good this looks
PG- Ulis 5-10 165 so
SG- Newman 6-4 190 fr
SF- Booker 6-6 216 so
PF- Poythress 6-9 243 sr
C- Skal 6-11 223 fr

PG- Briscoe 6-4 215 fr
SG- Hawkins 6-1 195 jr
SF- Matthews 6-6 200 fr
PF- Wynyard 6-10 240 fr/Willis 6-9 220 jr
C- Lee 6-10 220 jr

Yes, please.

Although Wynyard is more likely to end up 2016 because I can't see UK missing on all their PF targets.

Just praying Skal gets cleared and maybe we get a surprise commit from Jaylen.

 

[podgejeff_]

I think we lose Towns, Booker, WCS, Lyles, Johnson.
I think we get Maker and Newman to add to Labissiere, Briscoe, and Matthews.
If the Twins leave (they shouldn't) we'll add on someone like Brown and another big out of the pool of forwards we're recruiting. We're looking at another platoon situation next year either way.

Ulis - Briscoe
Andrew Harrison - Newman OR Newman - Matthews/Hawkins
Aaron Harrison - Matthews/Hawkins OR Brown - Willis/other forward recruit
Poythress - Lee
Labissiere - Maker

There is just far too much talent there to leave on the bench. I love how UK basketball doesn't just have one set of golden years. We're living in some right now.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Winning the title and getting Newman are the only two things that matter this spring - big picture-wise.

 

[Cat Ballou]

Based on what I've read lately, I'll be surprised if we don't get Thomas Bryant, so I'd sub Bryant for Tai in that roster above.

 

[G-PIP]

Originally posted by Graves51:
Don't think he will come unless we have at least two of our top four guards leave, well actually I think it would have to be two specific guards!

If what I think you're implying is true, then I really hope Newman doesn't come to UK. If, however, UK does lose two of our fabulous guards then it sounds like Newman would be the best consolation prize.

 

[Blue Decade]

Originally posted by Graves51:
Don't think he will come unless we have at least two of our top four guards leave, well actually I think it would have to be two specific guards!

I'm thinking like you are. Newman is waiting to see who enters the NBA draft. If the Harrison twins go, which seems likely to me, then I think Newman will be a Wildcat. If the twins stay, which seems less likely, then I think Newman picks between Mississippi State, Kansas, and UConn.

 

[CatPhight_rivals65113]

He's waiting until spring for a reason.

 

[CoachR35]

Originally posted by Cat Ballou:
Based on what I've read lately, I'll be surprised if we don't get Thomas Bryant, so I'd sub Bryant for Tai in that roster above.

Don't tease us like that. What have you read?

 

[BBUK_anon]

Originally posted by BLEEDBLUE444:

Me likey

BB,
This is not pointed to you as I have seen it posted by several but I hope all of you are girls or very young because that sounds "mighty" dainty.

 

[Jazzycat]

Originally posted by Son_Of_Saul:

Winning the title and getting Newman are the only two things that matter this spring - big picture-wise.

Ditto! Would love to see Newman and Brown in UK blue next year....

 

[BLEEDBLUE444]

Not a girl, or "dainty" I say it because it reminds me of that scene from "Tommy Boy" when Chris Farley is in the restaurant, funny movie check it out if you haven't

 

[Smyrna_Cat_rivals377937]

I have watched him in 6 games this year. If you haven't seen him play live, you have no idea how good he is. Amazing. One of the most talented guards I have seen for years. Hope he comes to UK.

 

[Cat Ballou]

There was a recent Zagsblog article about Bryant where he talked up the platoon system, praised Cal and UK, said he was waiting to see who leaves and was planning another visit. Was just real obvious he was enamored with UK and we'd be in real good shape with him if we lose a bunch of our bigs to the draft. Doesn't hurt either that his long presumed leader Syracuse may not have an open scholarship for him right now and would probably have to run someone off to make room for him.

Our other main competition is Indiana. 'Nuff said.

 

[BBUK_anon]

Originally posted by BLEEDBLUE444:
Not a girl, or "dainty" I say it because it reminds me of that scene from "Tommy Boy" when Chris Farley is in the restaurant, funny movie check it out if you haven't

I stand corrected. Lord know's I quote a lot of movie one-liners but I haven't seen that particular one.(I missed it because I did watch that movie.) I should have known better. Please excuse me...

 

[BLEEDBLUE444]

Ha not a big deal at all, hopefully we can land Newman, I feel confident this class is going to be special

 

[Jonathan40330]

Personally, I will be somewhat surprised if the Harrisons are manning the UK backcourt next season. I believe you will have Ulis/Booker starting with Newman/Briscoe coming off the bench for equal minutes. Additionally, as you can already see, I think Booker comes back to UK unless he moves into the top ten of the draft. If we do not land Newman, I believe we land Brown.

 

[westerncat]

Originally posted by Cat Ballou:
There was a recent Zagsblog article about Bryant where he talked up the platoon system, praised Cal and UK, said he was waiting to see who leaves and was planning another visit. Was just real obvious he was enamored with UK and we'd be in real good shape with him if we lose a bunch of our bigs to the draft. Doesn't hurt either that his long presumed leader Syracuse may not have an open scholarship for him right now and would probably have to run someone off to make room for him.

Our other main competition is Indiana. 'Nuff said.

Cat Ballou I think this is the article you had in mind.



http://zagsblog.com/articles/thomas-bryant-has-no-visits-set-monitoring-kentuckys-big-men/

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

I think Kentucky will realistically have a roster that looks like this next season:

PG - Ulis
SG - Newman
SF - Poythress
PF - Diallo
C - Skal

with Lee, Matthews, and Briscoe rounding out the rotation. Ideally, it would be great to have Booker back (place him on the wing opposite Newman) or Brown. I don't presently feel optimistic about either guy wearing UK blue next season, however.

 

[ZaytovenCat]

Lol Newman isn't coming off anybody's bench. He would start here even if all the guards returned. Booker would either start at SF or come off the bench next year.

There's nobody in college this year or next that would start ahead of Newman.

 

[G-PIP]

Originally posted by ZaytovenCat:
Lol Newman isn't coming off anybody's bench.

And he's not playing over Aaron (Jr.) or Booker (Soph.). So, unless both of those players leave, Newman is able to play alongside the one who doesn't leave, or he is ok with the platoon system, I guess we'll have to watch him somewhere else.