For the first time during his two years with the IU basketball program, redshirt freshman guard Jakai Newton is available for the Hoosiers.
At this very moment, he is participating in warmups and could potentially see playing time vs Marian tongight in what is IU basketball’s final exhibition game of the preseason. Jeff Rabjohns of Peegs.com first reported this earlier today, as well.
On Aug. 16 of last year, Indiana announced that Newton would be out indefinitely — ultimately redshirting him. After suffering an injury the summer between his junior and senior seasons of high school, he missed the majority of his final high school season. Then, a re-aggravation of the injury kept him out of the entire 2023-24 year for IU basketball.
“He’s probably the best explosive athlete on our team in terms of playing above the rim,” Indiana basketball head coach Mike Woodson said. “It’s scary how good he is in that regard.”
“He’s a tough competitor, a little bulldog,” Woodson previously said of Newton. “He just plays hard. He loves to compete.”
Newton committed to IU basketball over offers from Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, Xavier, Clemson and many others. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 14.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game a junior at Newton (Ga.) High School, his last full season played.
He ready to come back and prove all of the time off has been well worth it.
“First, staying healthy,” Jakai Newton said this offseason. “Making an impact on the defensive end. Rebounding. Scoring, too. Really doing everything. I feel like there isn’t any limits to my game. I can do things on both sides of the ball.
