Newman Basketball: Will's Rise To The Top

will newman basketball

Will Newman refers to two basketball players: Julian Newman and Malik Newman. Julian Newman, a 5'5-5'7 basketball prodigy, gained fame as an 11-year-old fifth grader playing for the varsity team at Downey Christian School in Orlando, Florida. Despite his success in high school basketball, Julian never pursued a college or professional career, with some speculating that his height was a factor. Malik Tidderious Newman, born in 1997, is an American professional basketball player who played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks and the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Malik has played for various teams, including the Miami Heat, Sioux Falls Skyforce, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Napoli Basket of the Lega Basket Serie A.

Characteristics Values
Full Name Julian Newman
Date of Birth February 21, 1997
Age 21 years old
Height 5'5", 5'6", or 5'7"
Parents Jamie Newman and Vivian Gonzalez
Nationality American
Ethnicity Jewish, African American, and Puerto Rican
Education Downey Christian School, Prodigy Prep
Collegiate Team Bethesda University
Career Total Points 6,246 points
Career Rebounds 2,211 rebounds
Career Assists 1,178 assists
Social Media Instagram, TikTok

shunwild

Julian Newman's basketball career

Julian Newman, born on September 6, 2001, is an American college basketball player for the Bethesda Lion Angels of the Southwestern States Intercollegiate Conference. Standing at 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m), he plays the point guard position.

Newman's interest in basketball began at age three, and he soon started practising with regulation-size balls and in recreational leagues with older boys. His father, Jamie Newman, who was a basketball player himself, trained him rigorously from a young age, with Newman reportedly making 100 free throws, 200 floaters, and 200 jump shots each day at practice.

In the fall of 2012, Newman transferred to Downey Christian School in Orlando, Florida, where his father was coaching basketball and teaching history. As an 11-year-old fifth grader, he began playing for the middle school team but was quickly promoted to the varsity team after showcasing his talent, scoring as many as 91 points in a game. Despite his small stature, standing at only 4 ft 5 in (1.35 m) and weighing 70 pounds, he dominated on the court. Through his first three starts, he averaged 12.4 points, 11 assists, and 4.3 steals per game.

Newman's highlight videos on YouTube began to go viral, and he soon gained national attention, appearing in publications like Sports Illustrated and The New York Times. He was labelled by the Tampa Bay Times as "the most marketed 12-year-old basketball player in the world" in 2014. As a seventh grader that year, he became the youngest player to record 1,000 career varsity points, finishing the season with impressive averages of 19.8 points, 10.2 assists, and 3.2 steals per game.

Newman continued to excel in high school, breaking the Florida prep record for total points while in his sophomore year in 2018. He signed with Bethesda University of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) in 2024 and made his collegiate debut later that year.

shunwild

Malik Newman's professional career

Malik Tidderious Newman is an American professional basketball player. He was born on February 21, 1997, and attended Callaway High School in Jackson, Mississippi, where he played high school basketball for four years. Newman helped lead Callaway to four straight victories in the MHSAA Class 5A boys' basketball championship. As a junior, he scored 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks to defeat Vicksburg High School and win the 2014 Mississippi Class 5A Championship. In his senior year, Newman averaged 29.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, leading the Chargers to a 31–3 record. Callaway High School retired his jersey number 14 after he graduated.

In August 2014, Newman was named the MVP of the 2014 FIBA Under-17 World Championship. He then went on to play college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks and the Mississippi State Bulldogs. In his first and only season with the Jayhawks, he averaged 14.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, earning the title of Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. On March 25, 2018, Newman scored 13 points in overtime, finishing with a career-high 32 points to lead the Jayhawks to victory over Duke University in the NCAA Final Four.

After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft, Newman signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers on July 1, 2018. However, he was released shortly after the Summer League. Newman then signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Miami Heat on August 6, 2018, but this was short-lived as he was waived on October 7. On October 10, 2018, he signed with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League, where he averaged 9.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. On January 5, 2019, Newman was traded to the Canton Charge for forward Emanuel Terry.

On February 9, 2020, Newman's career took an exciting turn as he signed a 10-day contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, making his NBA debut that evening against the Los Angeles Clippers. He scored two points in four minutes of action, and this would be his only NBA regular-season appearance. In the following years, Newman played for several teams, including Frutti Extra Bursaspor of the Turkish Super League (2020-2021), Ironi Nahariya of the Israeli Basketball Premier League (2021), and the Cleveland Charge (2021-2022). On December 29, 2021, Newman signed another 10-day contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers via the NBA's hardship exception. On January 8, 2022, he was reacquired by the Cleveland Charge.

Newman continued to showcase his talent in various leagues, setting multiple career highs. On February 13, 2022, he scored a career-high 40 points in a G-League game for Cleveland against Westchester Kni. He also excelled in rebounds and assists during the 2022 season. On December 9, 2024, Newman signed with Napoli Basket of the Lega Basket Serie A, marking his latest career move.

shunwild

Newman family's basketball history

The Newman family has a rich history in basketball, with multiple family members achieving success and recognition in the sport. Here is a brief overview of the Newman family's basketball history:

Julian Newman

Julian Newman, of Jewish, African American, and Puerto Rican descent, is a well-known figure in the basketball world. Newman first rose to prominence when he transferred to Downey Christian School in Orlando, Florida, in 2012. As a fifth grader, he joined the middle school basketball team but was quickly promoted to the varsity team due to his impressive skills. Standing at only 4 feet 5 inches tall, Newman's talent was undeniable, averaging an impressive 17 points on the varsity squad.

As he progressed through his school years, Newman continued to excel at basketball. In sixth grade, he averaged 17.4 points, 9.8 assists, and 3.6 rebounds. In 2015, as a seventh grader, Newman became the youngest player to record 1,000 career varsity points. By the time he was a sophomore in high school, he had recorded 3,873 total points, breaking the Florida prep record.

Newman's success continued throughout high school, and he finished his high school career with an impressive 6,246 total points, ranking him fourth overall on the nation's all-time boys' leading scorers list. Despite his remarkable achievements, some believe that Newman's height may have prevented him from pursuing college or professional basketball. However, he remains active in the basketball community and has stated his desire to continue inspiring young athletes.

Malik Newman

Malik Tidderious Newman, born in 1997, is an American professional basketball player. He attended Callaway High School in Jackson, Mississippi, where he led his team to four straight victories in the MHSAA Class 5A boys' basketball championship. As a senior, he averaged an impressive 29.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.

Newman went on to play college basketball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Kansas Jayhawks. During his freshman season, he averaged 11.3 points per game, and in his first and only season with the Jayhawks, he averaged 14.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Newman was then drafted into the NBA G League, playing for the Sioux Falls Skyforce and the Canton Charge. He made his NBA debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2020, signing a 10-day contract with them.

Family Influence

Basketball talent runs in the Newman family. Both of Julian Newman's parents have a background in the sport. His father, Jamie Newman, played as a point guard for Colonial High School in Orlando and later became a basketball coach at Downey Christian School. Julian's mother, Vivian Gonzalez, also played point guard at University High School in Orlando before serving in the US Navy.

The Newman family's passion for basketball has left an impact on the sport, with multiple family members achieving success and recognition in their own right. While some members have faced challenges and setbacks, their dedication and influence on the sport are undeniable.

shunwild

Julian Newman's social media presence

Julian Newman is a basketball player who has gained a lot of attention on social media. In 2012, a highlight video of Newman was posted to YouTube by the recruiting website ScoutsFocus, which went viral, receiving over 3.5 million views. He soon began making national headlines, including in Sports Illustrated and The New York Times, for being a fifth grader playing varsity basketball. He has also made television appearances on shows such as Steve Harvey, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and Good Morning America. In 2014, he was labelled by the Tampa Bay Times as "the most marketed 12-year-old basketball player in the world".

Newman's social media presence has been a topic of discussion on Reddit, with some users commenting on his Instagram and Twitter accounts. Some users have expressed that they do not enjoy his online presence, with one user stating that they "wished they hadn't looked at his social media". Newman's attitude has been criticised, with some stating that he has an "immature, big ego, and [is] massively in denial".

However, Newman has also received support from some Reddit users, who have acknowledged the hate that he receives online. One user commented that "he made enough money to take care of his family and without his haters, it wouldn't be possible".

Newman's highlight videos have continued to gain millions of views on YouTube, with a video from 2016 receiving over 13 million views.

shunwild

Julian Newman's height

Julian Newman, the son of a history teacher and basketball coach, gained fame as a child basketball prodigy. As an 11-year-old point guard, Newman stood at 4 ft 5 in (1.35 m) and weighed 70 pounds. Despite his small stature, he was able to dominate on the court, averaging 12.4 points, 11 assists, and 4.3 steals per game in his first three starts. By the sixth grade, he had grown to a height of 5 ft 3 in, and was averaging 17 points per game.

Newman's success continued into his seventh-grade year, where he became the youngest player to record 1,000 career varsity points. He finished the 2014-15 season averaging 19.8 points, 10.2 assists, and 3.2 steals per game. By the time he was a sophomore in high school, Newman had recorded 3,873 total points, surpassing the Florida prep record set by Teddy Dupay in 1998. In the 2018-19 season, he averaged an impressive 34.7 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and four steals per game.

Newman's current height is unclear, with some sources stating that he is 5 ft 3 in, while others claim he is 5 ft 7 in. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his exact height, there is no doubt that Newman has had a successful basketball career, both at the high school and collegiate levels. In 2024, Newman signed with Bethesda University of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), where he continues to impress on the court.

Frequently asked questions

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment