“Ready to get to work”: Jakai Newton signs with Indiana basketball

COVINGTON, Ga. — Earlier than the 2022-23 basketball season ideas off subsequent week, Jakai Newton is already making headlines. 

The 4-star combo guard signed a scholarship to proceed his basketball profession at Indiana College — a program Newton has been dedicated to since Oct. 22, 2021. 

Newton’s signing makes him extra desirous to resume his profession. 

“It’s official now,” Newton stated. “I’m able to get to work.” 

Newton chosen Indiana from a discipline of affords together with Georgia, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia Tech and different faculty packages. 

In actual fact, he was the Hoosiers’ first dedication within the class of 2023. Now, the Hoosiers’ class of 2023 recruiting class is nationally ranked at No. 9.  

Newton has a big a part of that rating as he’s ranked No. 71 within the class of 2023, in line with 247Sports and is the category’ No. 15 combo guard. 

His early dedication was as a result of not wanting a chance to move him by. 

“I discovered what I wanted,” Newton stated. “They checked all of the containers off for me so why wait?” 

Newton will probably be going from enjoying for a ranked highschool group to enjoying for a ranked faculty program. Beneath the route of second-year head coach Mike Woodson —- who can also be a former NBA coach — the Hoosiers are ranked No. 13 within the nation. Final 12 months, they completed 21-14 general with a Sep 11 in Large Ten play. 

Indiana superior to the NCAA postseason bracket because the No. 12 seed, too. 

The tradition of Indiana basketball intrigued Newton essentially the most. 

“I really like the ambiance,” Newton stated. “They’re loopy similar to how I play. So, I can’t wait to stand up there and do my factor.” 

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound senior Ram visited the Hoosiers’ campus in Bloomington final fall simply days earlier than his dedication and attended Indiana’s Hoosier Hysteria season kick-off a number of weeks again. Newton has one other go to scheduled for when Indiana faces North Carolina on Nov. 30. 

Extra so than enjoying for the Hoosiers, Newton seems to be ahead to enjoying for Woodson. 

“After I first talked to teach Woodson, he by no means talked with me about basketball. It was about being a younger black man and about issues I wish to do exterior of basketball,” Newton stated. “He supplied me and that caught with me a great distance.” 

The Rams enter the 2022-23 season, by Maxpreps’ customary, because the No. 24 group within the nation. Their season ideas off on Nov. 17 with a house matchup towards Mays Excessive Faculty. 

The senior Newton Ram was a pivotal piece to the group’s Last 4 end a season in the past. 

Final 12 months, Newton averaged 14.3 factors, 5.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per sport. He was acknowledged as a First Workforce All-Area honoree for Area 4-AAAAAAA in addition to an All-State participant. 

Newton was additionally honored throughout two tournaments the Rams competed in. 

First, he was voted a member of the “Laborious within the Paint” All-Event group. Then, in Westlego, Louisiana, Newton earned the 2022 Sugar Bowl Nationwide Prep Traditional Most Worthwhile Participant when the Rams swept the event and captured the event championship. 

However he’s been rehabbing a knee harm that may trigger him to overlook the start of the Rams’ season. Newton informed The Covington Information that he has a gathering together with his surgeon on Nov. 22 and, if all goes properly, will probably be again on the courtroom after a month of conditioning. 

Newton is sitting able to return to the courtroom. 

“I can’t wait,” Newton stated. “I’ve been itching to get again for six months. I’ve had nothing to do however simply watch and be taught. However I feel it would make me a greater participant in the long term.” 

After falling in need of reaching the state championship spherical final 12 months, Newton and his teammates enter the 2022-23 season with one aim in thoughts: profitable a state title. 

And, regardless that Newton will probably be a later arrival to the courtroom, he plans to finish his basketball profession as a Ram with a bang. 

“Successful a state title is what you stand up for day by day,” Newton stated. “We’ve already had Candy 16, Elite Eight and Last 4. We gotta get that chip.”