Clemson guard John Newman III enters transfer portal
CLEMSON — Clemson’s John Newman III has entered the NCAA transfer portal, ClemsonSports.com has confirmed.
The junior guard from Greensboro, N.C., averaged 3.7 points and 2.0 rebounds while playing 15.5 minutes per game in 2020-21. Newman’s playing time decreased this season after he started every game in 2019-20 and averaged 9.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
The 6-foot-5 perimeter player was a top-200 prospect out of the state of North Carolina in the class of 2018. A three-star prospect, Newman picked the Tigers over Boston College, Georgia Tech, Providence Wake Forest, and others.
The highlight of Newman’s career came in an upset victory over a ranked Louisville squad in 2020. The Tigers stunned the Cardinals at Littlejohn Coliseum on Feb. 15, 2020, with a 77-62 victory. The 6-foot-5 guard was the main reason why. Newman went off for 23 points on just nine field-goal attempts while recording six rebounds and picking up two steals.
John Newman III becomes the first major roster domino to fall in 2021. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
As a true freshman, Newman played in 34 games, averaging 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per outing. Before college, the perimeter player was a star at Greensboro (N.C.) Day School, leading the program to three state championships. The prep star would finish with 1,400 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, and 100 steals before moving on to Clemson.
Outside shooting was long an issue for Newman and likely played a role in playing opportunities drying up. The left-hander was just a 29.5% shooter from three-point range and could struggle to score when forced to play in the half-court.
The departure leaves another hole for Clemson basketball to fill entering a key offseason for head coach Brad Brownell. The Tigers are fresh off just their third NCAA Tournament appearance under the head coach and are 201-150 in Brownell’s 11 years at the helm.