IU

Pitt transfer on joining IU basketball: 'A dream come true'

Zach Osterman
zach.osterman@indystar.com
Former Pittsburgh guard Josh Newkirk recently transferred to the Indiana men's basketball team.

BLOOMINGTON -- Indiana's 13th scholarship, left open all summer, will be used to alleviate long-term depth concerns at guard.

Josh Newkirk, a 6-1 guard from Pitt, will transfer to Indiana and complete the Hoosiers' complement of scholarship players. Reggie Newkirk, the player's father, confirmed the move to The Star, and said his son is moving to Bloomington this weekend. Fall semester classes begin Monday. Indiana hosted Newkirk on an official visit Monday-Wednesday of last week, after which he committed.

"It happened real fast," Reggie Newkirk said. "It's like a whirlwind right now."

A one-time IU recruiting target in 2013 – Indiana was the second school to offer him, in 10th grade – Newkirk will sit out this season per NCAA transfer rules. He will have two more years of eligibility remaining after next season.

He had planned to transfer closer to his North Carolina home, but Indiana's interest turned Josh Newkirk's attention, his father said.

"When Indiana called, he was like, 'That’s like a dream come true right there.' They run that transition style, the kind he’s used to running," Reggie Newkirk said. "Just the institution, the tradition Indiana has, they’ve just got a true fan base, and all that kind of stood out, too."

Newkirk had surgery to repair the lateral meniscus and a micro fracture on the outside part of his knee in early May. Rehabilitation from that is expected to keep him out for four to six months.

Reggie Newkirk said that IU's medical staff plans to have his son on a water treadmill soon, and that he might be able to work out individually in the coming weeks as well. Patience is the plan.

"He’s got to sit out anyway, so there’s no need to rush him back into it," Reggie Newkirk said. "They’re just gonna bring him back slowly."

A point guard by trade, Newkirk averaged 5.9 points per game last season for the Panthers. He shot 43.4 percent from behind the arc as a freshman; that average slipped to just over 30 percent last winter.

He will provide the Hoosiers with long-term cover at guard, where the Hoosiers are assured of losing Nick Zeisloft and Yogi Ferrell after this season to graduation. James Blackmon Jr. could have professional options to consider after the coming season, and IU is actively recruiting guards Bruce Brown and Curtis Jones, among others, in the 2016 class.

Newkirk averaged 2.7 assists and nearly 21 minutes per game last season. He scored in double figures seven times in 2014-15, including 16 points in Pitt's ACC/Big Ten Challenge loss in Bloomington. Newkirk registered eight assists in that game as well.

Reggie Newkirk said he is a fan of Ferrell's playing style, and that he believes his son will prove a capable replacement once Ferrell has graduated and Newkirk is healthy.

"(IU coach Tom Crean) mentioned that, since Yogi, who is a great player, I love him, he’ll be graduating this year," Reggie Newkirk said. "Josh will be sitting out his senior year. By next year, they can just put the ball in Josh’s hands, and they won’t drop off."

Follow Star reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.