Malik Newman is the top-guard in the ESPN 100 and No. 3 overall player. This past high school season Newman, a rising senior, led Callaway (Callaway, Miss.) to its third consecutive state title. That kind of production has elite schools like Kentucky, Duke and North Carolina State, and many others, putting on the full-court recruiting press. Newman has agreed to give USA TODAY HSS exclusive access into his world by chronicling everything from intimate details about his recruitment to his everyday life in a monthly blog.
Hey, what’s up world, it’s your boy Malik back to give y’all another blog.
I’ve gotta start off by saying that I hate I couldn’t play in the Peach Jam last week; man that really hurt not to be able to play in it for the first time! What happened was when I was at the LeBron Camp a week before that I sprained my hand so they shut me down until USA Camp, which is where I’m at now.
I’m proud of my boy Isaiah Briscoe winning Peach Jam! He definitely deserved that.
My hand is back to 100 percent now, though, so I’m out here practicing to win the gold with the U17 USA team. Last year we won the gold medal with the U16 team so I really want to get another one.
It’s weird having to tryout for a team; to be honest I can’t remember the last time I had to tryout for a team. The competition is tough. You almost have to be perfect out here because everyone is a great player. No one wanted to get cut.
It’s tough because if you’re here trying out you’re the best of the best. In your city or state or whatever, you’re that man so for you to go out and come back and not make the team you think people will be looking at you like, “You’re not really that cold!”
It’s definitely an added pressure, but, at the end of the day, it’s still doing something that you love so you just have to step up and do your thing.
The last cut was today and it’s a blessing and honor to be able to wear that USA jersey!
As far as my recruitment, my plan is to cut my list down to five or six schools as soon as we come back from USA. Then I’ll release it around my first week of school, which is around Aug. 18.
It’s funny because I got my state championship ring last week and I was all excited so I went ahead and posted a picture of my ring on my Twitter! Then one of the coaches recruiting me hit me with a picture of their championship ring; I was thinking, “Man I should’ve never posted my picture at all compared to that one!”
There was one open space on the pic he sent and he said, “You might as well come get another one of these with us.” He had a point because that ring was crazy!
I think all of the coaches call or text me at least three of four times a week each. It gets pretty crazy at times, but I try and at least text with them. It’s not too bad.
As far as a decision, I don’t know. I think that I’m gonna wait until the late signing period. I’m not in a big hurry; I plan on taking my time with this process.
After I cut my list I’m gonna set up my official visits. I do know that those visits will happen during the basketball season. I really want to see what it’s like on campus while the season’s going on.
The other thing is that I’m not really a guy who likes cold weather so I’ll have to look at that too; bad part is most of the schools recruiting me are in places that get really cold. It’s kind of a lose-lose on that note. I’d love to go somewhere with warm weather, but it still has to be the right situation.
OK, y’all know I’ve gotta keep y’all up on what’s hot music-wise and, right now, I’m still listening to Rich Homie Quan, Chief Keef, Yo Gotti and I’m waiting on Lil Boosie to drop something new.
Y’all know I’m rocking with Meek Mill too! Free Meek Mill!
I like what all of those guys are doing right now so y’all definitely check them out.
OK everybody I’m gonna get outta here, but thanks for reading and I’ll let you guys know how the USA Team is going soon.
Follow Malik Newman on Twitter: @IAmMalikNewman
