Tristen Newton, a key player in UConn’s victorious 2022-23 basketball season, has made the decision to return to the Huskies for his graduate year. Despite initially declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft, Newton opted to continue his college career, as announced by the university on Wednesday.
The guard’s contributions were instrumental in UConn’s NCAA tournament run, where he averaged 9.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. After transferring from East Carolina, Newton showcased his skills with the Huskies, averaging 10.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 29 games during the 2022 season. His standout performance came in the national championship game against San Diego State, where he scored a game-high 19 points and contributed eight rebounds and four assists. Notably, Newton also became the first player in UConn history to achieve multiple triple-doubles in a single season, accomplishing this feat in February.
The decision of Newton to return is of great significance for UConn’s pursuit of defending their title in the upcoming season. Despite losing Adama Sanogo and Jordan Hawkins, the team’s top scorers, to the NBA Draft, the Huskies were initially favored to succeed in the next season, according to early betting odds. However, they now sit third (+1200) behind Duke and Kansas, as projected by BetMGM. It is worth noting that Hawkins has been mocked as the No. 12 pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder by Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports. Another UConn player, junior guard Andre Jackson, is still deliberating whether to enter the draft and is also being considered as a potential second-round pick.
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