Clemson, SC

Monday afternoon Clemson basketball found out that Tigers veteran player John Newman III has decided to forgo the rest of his eligibility at Clemson and enter the transfer portal.

2019-20

• Appeared in 31 games, starting a career-best 31 contests.
• Increased scoring output by 7.4 points per game (9.5 ppg).
• Held opponents in matched up situations to just 37.0 percent shooting.
• Rebounds per game more than doubled from 1.8 per game to 3.9 per game.
• More than doubled his amount of steals from 12 to 31.
• Shooting percentage increased 5.6 percent from last season (44.0 percent).
• More than quadrupled his assists from 15 to 68.
• Tallied a career-best four assists in a game on four occasions: vs. Alabama A&M, at North Carolina, at Wake Forest and at Virginia Tech.

Best Games, 2019-20

• Opened the season with back-to-back double-digit scoring games with 15 points in the home opener against Virginia Tech (Nov. 5) and 16 points in a win over Presbyterian (Nov. 7). Went 11-for-20 combined in both games from the floor.
• Scored 16 points on 4-for-8 shooting in a loss to No. 21 Colorado (Nov. 26) in the MGM Main Events tournament in Las Vegas.
• Put together three consecutive double-digit scoring games in a 3-0 stretch that saw the Tigers top NC State (Jan. 4), North Carolina (Jan. 11) and Duke (Jan. 14). He scored 12 points in a home win over the Wolfpack.
• He netted 17 points in the Tigers’ first-ever win over the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, finishing an efficient 7-for-12 from the floor with six rebounds and four assists.
• Notched 14 points in a home win over No. 3 Duke, finishing 5-for-7 from the floor, including an ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 dunk over Duke’s Javin DeLaurier.
• Was a major catalyst in the Tigers’ win over No. 5 Louisville (Feb. 15), scoring a career-high 23 points on 7-for-9 shooting and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line. He also finished with six rebounds.
• First career double-double came in a dominant win at Boston College (Feb. 22). Finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.
• Notched 18 points in a home win over No. 6 Florida State (Feb. 29), finishing 6-for-13 from the floor with two rebounds and two assists.
• Playing back in his hometown for the ACC Tournament, he scored 11 points, grabbed three rebounds and dished two assists in a win over Miami (March 11).

2018-19

• Appeared in all 34 games this season and made one start
• Made first career start against Mississippi State (Dec. 8)
• Played 20+ minutes on five occasions
• Averaged 2.1 points per game and 1.8 rebounds per contest
• Shot 38.4 percent from the floor and 32.1 percent from distance
• Grabbed 60 rebounds, including 15 on the offensive glass
• Tallied 15 assists, 12 steals and five blocks
• Played double-digit minutes in 22 games
• Made at least two field goals in nine contests.

Best Games, 2018-19

• Made collegiate debut playing 18 minutes in the season opener against The Citadel (Nov. 6)
• Scored five points and grabbed three rebounds against the Bulldogs
• Played double-digit minutes in the next three contests, scoring 10 total points, including tying his season-high of five against Sam Houston State (Nov. 14)
• Made his first collegiate start against Mississippi State in the Never Forget Tribute Classic – played 14 minutes
• Grabbed a career-high six rebounds at South Carolina (Dec. 22) and five points, including an emphatic dunk on the Gamecocks’ Chris Silva
• Connected on a career-best two 3-pointers against Wake Forest (Feb. 3)
• Tied season-high with two assists in 19 minutes played against North Carolina (March 2)
• Scored three points against NC State in the ACC Tournament (March 13) on an and-one play with a fast-break dunk in the first half
• Scored a career-high six points and grabbed four rebounds in first career postseason game against Wright State in the first round of the NIT (March 19) – finished 2-for-3 from the field against Wright State, including 1-for-2 from distance
• Blocked two shots and added an assist and a steal against the Raiders
• Scored four points against Wichita State (March 23)

Before Clemson

• Came to Clemson as a four-star prospect
• Ranked No. 5 in the state of North Carolina according to Phenom Hoops
• Ranked 42nd at his position nationally according to ESPN
• Led his team in scoring and scored 24 points and was named MVP of the NCISAA 3A State Championship game
• Celected to the NCISSA all-state team for the second consecutive season as a senior and was named to the PACIS all-conference team for the third-straight year
• Three-time state champion
• Finished with 1,400 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 steals in career at Greensboro Day School
• Chose Clemson over Providence, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech and Boston College

Personal

• Born August 2, 1999 (turns 21 prior to the 2020-21 season).
• Majoring in Communications.

High School Accolades

• Finished career with 1,400 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists, 100 steals
• Lenwood Edwards Endowment Award for Academic Leadership
• Rivals Top 150
• Top 5 in Phenom Hoops
• 3-time state champion (2015, 2016, 2018)
• NCISAA 3A Championship Game MVP (2018)
• 2-time NCISAA 3A All-State (2017 and 2018)
• Associated Press NC All-State Team (2018)
• McDonald’s All-American Nominee (2018)
• News and Record Private School All-Area Player of the Year (2018)
• 3-time News and Record Private School All-Area Team (2016, 2017, 2018)
• ‘Iolani Classic All-Tournament Team (2018)
• Cannon Classic All-Tournament Team (2016)
• NBPA Top 100 Invitee and Participant (2017)
• Phenom Hoops National Showcase Game MVP (2016 and 2017)
• 3-time PACIS All-Conference Team (2016, 2017, 2018)
• 5-time HAECO Invitational Champion (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
• HAECO Invitational MVP (2018)
• 3-time HAECO Invitational All-Tournament Team (2015, 2016, 2017)
• 15-0 record at HAECO Invitational
• 2-time participant at the GEICO (formerly called Dick’s) National HS Tournament
• Overall record of 152-24
• Averaged 14.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists during senior season