Jakai Newton — who has yet to take the floor for IU basketball — is ‘the best explosive athlete on our team’

The injury status of IU basketball freshman guard Jakai Newton continues to be a talking point ever since he arrived on campus last summer.

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-aggrevation of the injury kept him out of the entire 2023-24 year for IU basketball.

On Aug. 16 of last year, Indiana announced that Newton would be out indefinitely — ultimately redshirting him.

But that hasn’t limited the discussion around Newton and his ability to be a major impact player when he takes the floor for the first time.

And at Big Ten Media Day, the conversation around his talent was spread even more.

“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.”

Newton committed to Indiana 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.

Despite his ability on the floor, Woodson and the coaching  staff are still bringing him along slowly.

“He’s doing fine.  He can’t go everyday and that’s because we won’t allow him to go everyday,” Woodson said.  “We basically are slow-walking him back. But the days he’s been out there, he’s been pretty impressive … But we just gotta get him back fully healthy, but he’s not there yet.”

It’s clear that when Newton takes the floor, his talent will shine.

It’s just a matter of time.

“I’m good to go, I’m 100 percent,” Newton said during IU basketball media day on Wednesday. “There’s ups and downs. There were many days where I would feel good, then would have some setbacks (last year).”

“He’s a tough competitor, a little bulldog,” Woodson previously said of Newton. “He just plays hard. He loves to compete.”

SEE ALSO: He’s ready to prove he’s worth the wait — IU basketball guard Jakai Newton says he’s ‘100 percent’ but Mike Woodson continues to tread lightly.

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