re: Top analysts now predicting Malik Newman to LSU ... UPDATE: Last 6 CBs for LSU

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The Tigers already have commitments from Ben Simmons – arguably the No. 1 high school player in the country – and Antonio Blakeney, a five-star shooting guard. Both players have been trying to recruit Newman to LSU.

“Malik has a really strong relationship with the incoming recruits at LSU,” Meyer told the Herald-Leader. “He’s dead-set on playing point guard. LSU gives him the best opportunity for him to be the guy at the point.

“Just from what I’m hearing, and putting everything together – I’m not saying it’s a done deal or anything. It just seems like the best fit.” Newman was actually born in Louisiana, and Meyer noted that his mother still lives in the state.

LSU likely would give him all the minutes he could want at point guard. He has said several times in the past few months that that’s the position he wants to play in college, though all of the major recruiting services consider him a shooting guard.

Those who have watched him in high school and AAU might not see the fit. In those settings, he is always in attack mode and often looks to score first.

Meyer has seen a different side of Newman, who he first evaluated during a USA Basketball trials weekend when the 6-foot-3 prospect was running the point.

“He’s been the starting point guard for USA Basketball (junior teams) the past two years and has done a tremendous job,” Meyer said. “He was phenomenal at the point guard position. The big thing with Malik is, does he trust his teammates? If he doesn’t trust his teammates, then he isn’t going to pass the ball. But when he plays with really good players, he’s a great point guard.”

UK is pursuing Newman hard, even though John Calipari has already signed Isaiah Briscoe – another five-star combo guard who prefers to play the point – for the class of 2015. Freshman Tyler Ulis will almost certainly be back on campus next season, and there’s always the possibility that Andrew Harrison returns for his junior year.

Where does that leave the Cats in the Newman sweepstakes?

“I’m hearing from more than one source that there’s no way it’s Kentucky,” Meyer said. “They might be right or they might be wrong, but (playing point guard) is a huge issue.”

In addition to UK and LSU, Newman is considering Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Kansas and North Carolina State, though he has so far taken unofficial visits only to UK, LSU and the two in-state schools.

Meyer acknowledged that Calipari won’t be giving up anytime soon, and he chuckled at the thought of something he saw UK do during Tuesday night’s game at Georgia.

For a few series in that contest, Harrison was running the point while 5-9 Ulis played off the ball.

“I’m sure they did that so they could get a clip of it to Malik,” Meyer said with a laugh. “Calipari’s no dummy. … I’m sure they’re telling him Tyler will play the 2.”

In all seriousness, Calipari can always reference John Wall and Eric Bledsoe as two point guards who flourished alongside each other in UK’s backcourt. That is surely part of the pitch to Newman.

Whether it works, only time will tell.

“It’s a very good point, and it’s a very sellable point,” Meyer said. “But it’s up to Malik Newman and his people – what they think and what they want to believe. “I don’t know how it’ll end up, and I don’t know necessarily what’s best for Malik. But I’m getting really strong intel that they are dead-set that he wants to be a point guard in college.”

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He will be on the west roster at Jordan brand classic with Tone and Simmons.

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Over

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...Mickey ? ... watched him latley ... inconsistent , tendency to disappear

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