On Air

SIU men’s basketball adds grad transfer Jawaun Newton from conference foe Evansville

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois men’s basketball coach Bryan Mullins announced today that the program has signed Evansville grad-transfer guard Jawaun Newton.
A native of El Paso, Texas, Newton scored 828 points in four seasons for the Purple Aces. He was the team’s second-leading scorer (12.7 points) and top rebounder (5.4 rebounds) last season. Highlights included a career-best 30 points versus Rice and back-to-back double-doubles versus Akron (19 points, 10 rebounds) and at Eastern Illinois (13 points, 12 rebounds). Newton averaged 13.5 points and 4.4 rebounds during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season.
“Jawaun has proven over the last couple years in this league that he is a dynamic player who can score at all three levels,” Mullins said. “What separates him from many others is his ability to be a two-way player. He is a great defender who embraces the challenge on that end.”
A 6-foot-3 wing, Newton cracked Evansville’s starting lineup as a sophomore during the 2019-20 season. He did not reach double figures in scoring in his first 48 games at UE, but scored double figures in 36 of his last 55 games, and topped 20 points five times.
“I’ve been doubted my whole career,” Newton said. “Out of high school, I didn’t have any offers, and luckily, Evansville took a chance on me. I still feel like I’m doubted. I let my game do the talking. I know what kind of player I am and what I bring to the table.”
A two-time winner of the El Paso Times Boys’ Player of the Year award at Burges High School, Newton averaged 28.5 points and 7.1 rebounds as a senior in 2017-18 and led his team to a 31-win season. He teamed with his younger brother, Tristen, who currently plays for UConn.
“Winning is all Jawaun talks about, and that’s what I love,” Mullins said. “I have tremendous respect for (Evansville) Coach (Todd) Lickliter, his program and this league. The Valley has proven teams in this league can beat anyone in the country and that is because there are really good players in this league.”
Newton is SIU’s second signee of the spring season, joining George Mason-transfer point guard Xavier Johnson.

Recommended Posts

Loading...