The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
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High-scoring transfer Tristen Newton commits to UConn
Tristen Newton made one official visit after entering the transfer portal following his junior year at East Carolina.
That’s all he needed. After a weekend at UConn, Newton was finished with the process.
On Wednesday, Newton committed to UConn. The 6-foot-5 guard, who scored 25 points against the Huskies as a freshman, was a top priority for Dan Hurley and the UConn staff as the program looks to rebuild it roster.
Newton arrives as UConn loses players to the portal. Akok Akok, Corey Floyd Jr ., Rahsool Diggins and Jalen Gaffney are transferring. The Huskies also lost four seniors, including point guard R.J. Cole.
So Newton has an opportunity.
“UConn was my first and only visit, so I pretty much knew I wanted to go there the whole time,” Newton said Wednesday. “I wanted to get a feel for the guys and the coaches. When I got that, I just pretty much knew I was going there.”
Newton exactly fits one of the main items UConn was looking for through the portal — a scoring point guard, with size. He averaged 17.7 points per game for ECU this season while averaging a team-best 5 assists, as well. Newton shot 33.3% on 3-pointers, a number that could use some improvement. “Super, super smart, quiet kid,” said Raphael Chillious, the former UConn assistant who was an assistant at ECU for Newton’s freshman season. “His game, I would consider unorthodox, because you watch his shot, it doesn’t look like the perfect form. But it goes in. He’s always had a knack for scoring.”
Chillious added that Newton, who hails from El Paso, Texas and was the top scorer in Texas as a senior at Burges High at 37.4 points per game, is equally adept at playing off the ball.
Newton said UConn’s history of sending players to the NBA factored into his decision. His goal, he said, is to play at the next level.
“Coach Hurley is a great coach and he can help me go to the league, like I really want,” Newton said. “His vision for me is exactly what I need and I feel like his role for me is exactly what I want.”