JACKSON – With one glance underneath a table at his commitment ceremony on Friday afternoon, five-star guard Malik Newman may have changed the fortunes of Mississippi State’s basketball program.
Newman, a 6-foot-4 guard ranked as the No. 1 shooting guard prospect in the country, sat down at the aforementioned table and was prepared to announce his college decision. Before doing so, however, he raised the tablecloth and looked under the table, making sure his maroon MSU hat and cowbell were ready for the big reveal.
With one ring of that bell, Newman solidified his commitment to coach Ben Howland and the Bulldogs.
“It felt great,” said Newman on Friday afternoon. “I’ve known for about a week that it was Mississippi State. To finally put this hat on and make it official, it’s like the world is off my shoulders now.”
The college basketball world watched Newman’s decision with anticipation on Friday, as he had narrowed his choices down to MSU, Ole Miss, LSU, Kansas, Kentucky and N.C. State.
On Wednesday of this week, reports began to surface that Newman was close to committing to MSU, and he made that official on Friday.
In Newman, MSU lands a gifted scorer, and a player with plenty of seasoning. Named MaxPreps.com’s Freshman of the Year four years ago, Newman burst onto the national scene early and has been one of the country’s most sought-after prospects since. A McDonald’s All-American, Newman averaged 29.7 points per game as a senior, and he led Jackson-Callaway High to four
straight MHSAA Class 5A state championships.
Ultimately, all of his accolades and the entirety of his decorated high school career led him to Friday, when he announced that he would sign with MSU. Newman was accompanied by friends and family, notably his father, former MSU standout Horatio Webster.
Webster, who starred for the Bulldogs during his two-year career from 1996-97 until the 1997-98 season, was beaming after Newman’s announcement.
“I never told him where to go,” said Webster. “But to see him put that maroon cap on, it’s special. It was a great feeling. And it feels good to know that he is going where he wants to go, not where somebody else wants him. Make no mistake, if he had signed with anybody else, I’d be here smiling just like I am now. But the fact that it’s Mississippi State, yeah that feels pretty good.”
Newman’s announcement made national waves immediately.
Jerry Meyer, 247sports.com’s National Director of Scouting, admitted the signing would be huge for MSU.
“He’s a pure, pure scorer,” said Meyer. “This is a player who could have gone anyhwere in the country, and the fact that he’s staying in state, it’s big for Mississippi State.”
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