Malik Newman's father discusses Howland hire
After Mississippi State athletics director Scott Stricklin announced Ben Howland as the program's new men's basketball coach, the attention shifted to the future.
Howland led UCLA to three straight Final Fours with the help from recruiting the likes of Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook.
Under former coach Rick Ray, Malik Newman, a five star prospect and the top-rated guard in the nation, was priority No. 1 for Mississippi State.
Even with a new regime, that won't change.
The Bulldogs have three signees in 2015 – Velma Jackson shooting guard Quinndary Weatherspoon, Madison (Ga.) point guard Tookie Brown and Carver (Ala.) power forward Joseph Strugg.
But MSU needs a shooter in 2015. Newman poured in 10-straight 3s during warm-ups prior to leading Callaway to its fourth-straight MHSAA state title.
"I'm very surprised, but it also lets you know that Mississippi State is getting serious about basketball in order to go after a guy like that with a proven track record, a guy of that kind of magnitude," said Horatio Webster, Newman's father and a former Mississippi State standout in the late 1990s.
Newman has never officially announced his finalists, but Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Kansas, Kentucky, LSU and N.C. State are in the running to land the Chargers star.
Newman has said that he aims to go to college for one year before declaring for the NBA Draft. Howland has a proven track record of sending players from college to the pros.
"From what I heard (Howland) has just as many players in the NBA as (Kentucky coach John Calipari) Cal does," Webster said. "The fact that he went to three straight Final Fours, that in itself speaks volumes. Mississippi State wasn't far off. I think if Coach Ray would have been there another year they might have made it with the juniors and seniors they have."
Howland's hire drew speculation that he would extend an offer to Webster to serve as an assistant coach. It's completely legal within NCAA rules, though not regularly exercised by many programs.
"Absolutely not, I'm not a coach at all," Webster said. "I don't want the headache. I'm already getting grey hairs on both sides of my head."
Multiple sources have confirmed ESPN's report that Howland is expected to add former UCLA assistant Korey McCray to serve under him in Starkville.
McCray already possesses a relationship with Newman. The former LSU assistant served on Johnny Jones' staff during the 2013 season and played an integral role in recruiting the five-star prospect.
"He's recruited Malik since ninth grade," Webster said. "He has a good relationship with him. They talk from time to time and I have a pretty good relationship with him, too. When he left LSU, the recruitment (of Malik) stopped."
Newman has a busy schedule in April with the McDonald's All-American Game, Nike Hoops Summit and Jordan Brand Classic.
The guard told The Clarion-Ledger that he plans to schedule official visits in the near future but doesn't know which schools. Newman has not set a date when he will announce his college decision but it will likely come after the NBA Draft early entry deadline on April 26.
"Regardless of whether they do or don't get Malik, it's a great hire," Webster said.