University of Connecticut Athletics
Tristen Newton Will Return To Huskies In 2023-24
5/31/2023 9:16:00 AM | General, Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications / May 31, 2023
STORRS, Conn. – UConn guard Tristen Newton has withdrawn his name from the NBA Draft eligible list and will return to UConn for his extra season of eligibility in 2023-24.
Newton, an All-Final Four selection and UConn's leading scorer (19 points) in the 76-59 victory over San Diego State in the NCAA Championship game, was the Huskies' starting point guard throughout the 2022-23 season after transferring to UConn following three seasons at East Carolina.
"Coming back to UConn was an easy decision," Newton said to reporters Wednesday afternoon. "I got some good feedback, a couple teams guaranteed some things, but I just felt like coming back to UConn and playing another year and getting better … it's like an NBA facility, an NBA program, so just being here developing, playing one more year, trying to go win another national championship is just what's best for me at this time."
The 6-5 guard (El Paso, Texas) has played four years of college basketball and is taking advantage of the extra season of eligibility granted by the NCAA to those student-athletes who went through the Covid-19 pandemic seasons.
"I am thrilled to coach Tristen for his final year of college basketball," UConn Coach Dan Hurley said. "He gained valuable experience during this pre-draft process and made an intelligent decision to return to Storrs."
Newton was invited to the G-League Elite Camp in Chicago two weeks ago, where he received valuable feedback from NBA scouts. He had until midnight of May 31 to decide whether to remain eligible for the draft or remove his name from the list and return to college for a final season.
Newton, who started 38 of UConn's 39 games in 2022-23, was UConn's third leading scorer this season, averaging 10.1 points per game, to go with 4.5 rebounds per game, and he led the team in assists (4.7) and steals (1.1), while shooting .374 overall, .366 from three-point range and .816 from the foul line. He set a UConn record with two triple-doubles in the same season, against Buffalo and Marquette.
"My team goal last year was winning the whole thing and it obviously is gonna be this year, too," Newton said. "I didn't play as well as I know I can last year, so coming back this year, knowing the players and the coaching staff a lot more than I did coming into last year, I feel like it will just be a lot better experience and I can show people who I actually am as a player."
In the NCAA championship game, Newton had 19 points, including 8-of-8 from the foul line, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals.
"Tristen is a proven producer and a champion," Hurley said. "I expect him to play at an All-BIG EAST level, to increase his value as an NBA prospect and to lead us to another excellent season. Let's go, 2."
Counting his three seasons at East Carolina, Newton has scored 1,410 points, grabbed 531 rebounds and handed out 522 assists in his college career.
Newton's decision gives the Huskies six returning scholarship players, with junior guard Andre Jackson still to make his decision regarding the NBA Draft.
