STARKVILLE — After one season with the Mississippi State basketball team, five-star guard Malik Newman will transfer, coach Ben Howland announced Monday.
The former Callaway High School standout was expected to be a “one-and-done player.” He went through the NBA Combine earlier this month, but he withdrew before the deadline Wednesday. Last week, ESPN reported Newman was considering transferring from MSU, but his father, Horatio Webster, wanted to meet with Howland and MSU before making a decision.
After meeting last weekend, Webster said the transfer is due to a culmination of things, most notably a clash in styles.
“I don’t think the way he was played sort of fit the way he plays,” Webster said. “Not saying Ben is a bad coach, it just didn’t fit his style of play.
“(He’s) trying to put himself in a situation where maybe he could be a little bit more involved in the offense or trying to play a little bit more with the ball in his hands.”
Newman battled with I.J. Ready at point guard. Ready, a rising senior, returns this season.
Bothered by injuries, Newman played in 29 games (22 starts) and averaged 11.3 points, 2.2 assists, and 2.8 rebounds. He missed two weeks of practice and the season opener due to turf toe. He also battled through an elbow injury. Lower back soreness kept him from playing Feb. 20 against Alabama. He scored a career-high 25 points to help MSU beat Ole Miss 83-77 on Jan. 23 in Humphrey Coliseum.
Webster said the decision was mutual between Newman and MSU. He said Howland gave them some advice.
Howland, who was hired before last season to replace Rick Ray, signed Newman last May.
“I appreciate all of Malik’s hard work, and I wish him the very best moving forward,” Howland said in a statement released by MSU. “I want nothing but the best for Malik and his family.”
Webster, who played two seasons for MSU, said junior college isn’t an option for Newman. Some speculated Newman would transfer to a junior college to avoid sitting out a season. Newman tweeted Monday, “Where (is) this juco rumor coming from?” Due to NCAA transfer rules, Newman will have to sit out one year if he transfers to a Division I school.
Newman picked MSU over Kentucky, Kansas, and Ole Miss among others last May. Webster said they haven’t thought about possible landing spots.
MSU’s all-time winningest coach Rick Stansbury (293 wins) was hired by Western Kentucky this offseason. Stansbury recruited Newman as an assistant coach at Texas A&M. There have been reports Western Kentucky could be a landing spot for Newman.
“It’s going to be a high-major, Division I school,” Webster said.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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