John Newman was at the DMV on Monday, about to get his driver’s license, when he got something even better — an offer from Clemson.
The Greensboro (N.C.) Greensboro Day 2018 shooting guard received a call from Clemson assistant coach Dick Bender before head coach Brad Brownell delivered the big news.
“I was talking on the phone with coach Bender for a little bit, and then he put me on the phone with coach Brownell,” Newman said. “He was talking about how he was excited, he liked my game and he liked my demeanor on the court. He decided he wanted to offer me, and that was great news for me. I’m really excited about the offer, and it’s a blessing.”
Newman has a great relationship with Bender, who recruited him while at the College of Charleston and continued to do so after joining Clemson’s staff in May.
“Coach Bender is one of my favorite guys to talk to,” Newman said. “He’s laid back and a real cool guy. … I really like how he stuck with me and kept their coaching staff interested in me.
“I haven’t looked that deep into (Clemson), but now that they’re on my list, I’m definitely going to do a lot more research on the school.”
Newman will visit Clemson for the first time on Aug. 9.
The 6-foot-4, 175-pounder is looking forward to seeing the campus and facilities.
“I’m looking forward to taking in the beauty and the landscape on campus because you want to go to a school that when you walk around, it makes you feel good,” Newman said. “I’m also looking forward to seeing the basketball facilities and what they have to offer — the locker room, where I may potentially sit before games in a couple of years, and the new gym. I know they recently renovated their gym, so I’m looking forward to seeing that.”
Along with Clemson, Newman has offers from Boston College, Charlotte, Cincinnati, James Madison, Old Dominion, Providence and Wake Forest.
For Newman, basketball runs in the family.
His dad, John Newman, was a forward at James Madison from 1983-87. His long-distance cousin, Johnny Newman, was drafted out of Richmond by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1986 and played 17 years in the NBA.
As for his dad, Newman said he isn’t feeling any pressure to attend James Madison.
“He’s an alumni, and I’m sure he’d appreciate it if I went there, but he hasn’t forced anything on me or tried to plant any seeds in my head,” Newman said. “He’s all about helping me find the right fit with the right guys.”
Right now, it’s too early for Newman to name any standout schools.
“Everyone that has offered me has been on me consistently, so I definitely appreciate that, but I don’t really have anything that jumps out to me right now,” Newman said. “It’s still really early in the recruiting process, so I’m just getting started.”
Newman is rated by the 247Sports Composite as a three-star, the No. 7 player in North Carolina, the nation’s No. 29 shooting guard and the nation’s No. 109 player overall.
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