STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University basketball guard Malik Newman is expected to withdraw from the National Basketball Association Draft today and he may not play again for MSU, according to an ESPN report Tuesday.
A spokesperson with the university declined to comment Tuesday evening.
ESPN’s Jeff Goodman reported that Newman may explore other opportunities, including transferring, rather than returning to Starkville.
However, New York area television station SNY.tv reported that Newman is expected to return to MSU.
“He’s going back to school,” Newman’s father Horatio Webster told SNY.tv Tuesday night. “He’s going to pull his name out (today). As far as I know he’s going back to Mississippi State. He still has a scholarship at Mississippi State. I hope they didn’t give it away.”
Goodman tweeted that multiple sources have said “Newman (is) strongly considering transferring.”
Newman went through the NBA combine this month but did not hire an agent, leaving him an opportunity to return to a school and play basketball if he pulled out by the deadline (today).
Newman, a five-star guard from Callaway High School, averaged 11.3 points and 2.8 rebounds last season for MSU. Bothered by injuries, he played in 29 games and drew 22 starts.
ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla thinks another year at college will do Newman well.
“Injuries slowed Malik down this year,” Fraschilla told SNY.tv. “He had a couple of moments of brilliance at the combine but I think it’s best to put together a solid sophomore season.”
Newman chose MSU over Kentucky, Kansas and Ole Miss among others because of coach Ben Howland’s track record of putting players in the NBA.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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