Julian Newman was a FL basketball prodigy; Where is he now?
ORLANDO, Fla. (BVM) 鈥� Julian Newman was predicted to be the next big basketball player when he was just 11 years old. The 4-foot-5 fifth grader was the starting point guard for the varsity team at Downey Christian High School in 2012. But, as of today, the 21-year-old has failed to live up to the hype.聽
Here鈥檚 more information on Julian Newman and what he鈥檚 up to these days.聽
Why was Julian Newman so hyped?聽
Newman was labeled as a basketball prodigy for his eye-popping stats. As a fifth grader, Newman was on the varsity squad at Downey Christian. As a (2013-14 season), he averaged an astonishing 17.4 points, 9.8 assists and 3.6 rebounds.
As a in 2015, Newman became the youngest player to record 1,000 career varsity points at just 13 years old. He finished his with 19.8 points, 10.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds on average.聽
As an , Newman averaged 23.9 points, 11.4 assists and 3.6 rebounds. The future looked promising, especially because of his highlights (shown below) that continuously went viral.聽
Julian Newman鈥檚 high school career聽
By his (2019-20), Newman was averaging 32.3 points, 6.9 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game. However, the hype had died down. The likes of ESPN and never ranked him for the Class of 2020.聽
Newman isn鈥檛 playing high school basketball anymore. He attended Downey Christian for the majority of his career before he transferred to Prodigy Prep for his senior season. He graduated high school in 2020 鈥� after a seven-year-long varsity basketball career.聽
Newman finished his high school career with 6,246 total points. This lands him at No. 4 overall on the That point total includes Newman鈥檚 years on varsity from 2013 to 2020.
Newman is also the (1,178) and the (2,211).听
Is Julian Newman still playing basketball?
Unfortunately, Newman has never played college or professional basketball 鈥� and many believe it鈥檚 because of his height. So, how tall is Julian Newman?聽
鈥淚鈥檓 5-foot-5/5-foot-6, 5-foot-7 on paper,鈥� Newman stated on the (May 2023).聽聽
Although there were claims by others that Newman , he himself has described it differently.聽
鈥淸Around the 11th grade] I was thinking about colleges,鈥� Newman said on the in May 2023. 鈥淚 had a couple: UTSA, USF, UCF 鈥� hometown schools 鈥� and a couple more. More importantly, I had a couple of deals to go overseas. I had a deal to go to the NBL 鈥� it fell through. That was my plan after high school.鈥澛�
In a February 2023 interview on , Newman further described why he didn鈥檛 play in the National Basketball League:聽聽
鈥淚 definitely had a deal,鈥� Newman said. 鈥淚 was talking to the coach and everything. But, I don鈥檛 know what happened.鈥�
Where is Julian Newman now?聽
Newman moved from Orlando and currently 听听听听
On the (May 2023), Newman stated that he鈥檚 in the process of starting a YouTube channel. He鈥檚 also working on a show that will likely be called, 鈥淏eat Julian Newman鈥� 鈥� where players can play one-on-one with him.聽
It appears that Newman is finally getting that YouTube channel off the ground. In mid-July, he with the caption, 鈥淭he wait is finally over. Watch me and [my friends] get active on the tube this Saturday.鈥� Based on the teaser, Newman will likely focus more on 鈥渃omedy鈥� than basketball.聽聽
In terms of Newman鈥檚 playing career 鈥� he鈥檚 waiting for a shot in the G League.
鈥淗e (Mark Cuban) told me to stay ready,鈥� Newman said on the in May 2023. 鈥淗e told me he鈥檇 give me a shot on [his] G League team and everything. He told me when I鈥檓 ready 鈥� and I鈥檓 ready.
鈥淚’m ready for any opportunity to come 鈥� to play real basketball because that is my goal,鈥� Newman continued. 鈥淓ntertainment is cool, but fame is not what I want. I really want to hoop.鈥澨�
After a shot in the G League, Newman plans to play professional basketball. The NBA is not far out of reach for his dreams.聽
鈥淒efinitely (going pro) 鈥� that鈥檚 my number one goal,鈥� Newman said on (February 2023). 鈥淭hat鈥檚 been my goal since I was a kid. It鈥檚 been my fault in anything I鈥檓 lacking 鈥� as in weight, or anything, it鈥檚 been my fault. I鈥檇 already be playing somewhere pro if I got my act together years ago, two years ago 鈥� as in gain weight, simple stuff like that. I鈥檝e gotten smarter, matured more, so now it鈥檚 simple. I have to eat more, gain weight, stay in the gym and I could play somewhere pro.鈥澛�
However, if basketball never works out, Newman still has his family鈥檚 clothing company, , to fall back on. He told that he wants to make a designer brand one day.聽
鈥淲hether I鈥檓 a legend in the NBA, or I never play in the NBA, I feel like I want to take the Brand Prodigy to the next level and make it a brand for everybody,鈥� Newman said on the (May 2023).聽
Newman鈥檚 net worth is unclear, but he does have countless sponsorship deals. Those include Fashion Nova, Boost Mobile, Ethika and Trustnonela, according to his He also has an in the works.聽
Although Newman has multiple sources of income to fall back on, he claims that he鈥檒l never give up on basketball.聽
鈥淚 would hate to just stop and let this be the end for me, especially because a lot of kids look up to me and I鈥檇 love to inspire them,鈥� Newman said on the in May 2023.聽
Overall, Newman is very active on and often posts videos of himself hooping on . While he may not have a future in the NBA, he does have a lot going for him as a social media influencer.聽
