5 Reasons Newton Won’t Be A Bust

If you’ve followed the Liberty’s men’s basketball program for any period of time, then you know the Flames have had tall, lanky white kids from small private high schools or homeschooled that have come into the program with lots of hype. From Doug Stewart to Russell Monroe to Tyler Baker to Carter McMasters to Stephen Baird. The list spans the better part of this century.

On the surface, Coach McKay’s newest commitment, Brendan Newton, falls into this category. Here’s 5 reasons why Newton will break that stereotype and won’t be a bust:

5. Newton’s a legit big.

Unlike most of the previously mentioned players, Newton is a legitimate big man. He’s not a guard trapped in a big’s body. He’s been 6’11” plus since middle school. He’s attempted just 6 three pointers in his high school career. That’s less than 1% of his 1,100 field goal attempts through the first 3 years of high school.

4. He will be a defensive presence.

Monroe, Stewart, Baker, and McMasters combined to average less than half a block over their Liberty careers. Newton will be more effective on defense than that. As Jamie Shaw of Phenom Hoop Report states, Newton “affects lots of shots.” A non-Liberty Division I assistant coach told me that Newton “will block shots” and he’s “better defensively” than Evan Maxwell.

3. Newton is running with Boo Williams’ AAU squad this summer.

Boo Williams consistently has some of the top level talent in the region playing for him. This increased level of talent Newton will be competing with and against this summer, will help him to continue to develop for the college game. His team features guys who have committed to Georgetown, Providence, and Richmond. The rest of his team is full of kids with offers from a who’s who list of college basketball. Just to be invited to play for this team is an honor.