Memphis has been a productive city for the Ole Miss men’s basketball program to recruit over the last few seasons. The relationships that coach Andy Kennedy has built with the signings of Terrico White and Reginald Buckner, and the transfer of Jelan Kendrick, have given Memphis prep products a lot of exposure to the Rebels.
Ole Miss’ success rate in Memphis continued Thursday when Booker T. Washington product Martavious Newby committed to the Rebels. Newby, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound shooting guard, chose the Rebels over offers from Tennessee, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia and Missouri, just to name a few.
He was the No. 1 target of the Rebels this year, who started evaluating him during his junior season.
Newby is coming off a very successful summer season with his AAU team, the Memphis YOMCA, which advanced to the finals of the Under-17 Nike Peach Jam in South Carolina. YOMCA went 50-6 overall this summer.
Rising stock
Recruiting analysts refer to Newby as one of the biggest surprises this summer with his quality of play and for the high energy level he gives on the floor. Newby is regarded as an up-tempo guard who can not only handle the ball, but finish at the rim on the fastbreak. Newby’s defensive skills have also been praised and he is expected to add that dimension right away for Kennedy once he does arrive in Oxford for the start of the 2012-13 season.
Newby averaged 22.3 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.7 steals per game last year as a junior for the Warriors, who finished the season with a 21-6 overall record.
The first day players can sign with teams is Nov. 10. (August 5, 2011, Page 8A)
