iPhones NewsSyracuse, N.Y. -- Ja'Quan Newton is seriously considering Syracuse.
Newton, a Class of 2014 guard whose stock has skyrocketed this summer, has an Orange scholarship offer. His Neumann-Goretti coach, Carl Arrigale, said Newton likely will narrow his list in the upcoming days and that Syracuse would make Newton's cut. Newton is also strongly considering Villanova and Miami on his list of potential college destinations. Other schools of interest include Minnesota, Oregon and UCLA.
Syracuse assistant coach Mike Hopkins, who recruited Scoop Jardine and Rick Jackson out of Neumann-Goretti and has a good reputation in Philadelphia recruiting circles, has been on the Newton trail.
"They're very involved now," Arrigale said of Syracuse. "He's had a terrific summer. He's been waiting for this summer for three years to be out there and to prove himself. From what I understand, he did very well."
Newton's performance at the NBA Top 100 camp in June heightened interest from college programs initially hesitant to commit. He scored 31 points in the championship game of that tournament, then continued to impress as the summer camp season stretched on.
Arrigale said Newton likely will finish his career at Neumann-Goretti as the school's all-time leading scorer. Newton, at 6-foot-3 and approximately 185 pounds, can play either guard position, Arrigale said, but prefers to play point guard in college. He's the only freshman who's ever started for Arrigale at Neumann-Goretti.
"He plays a lot like Scoop, but he's a little bigger, a little taller, more athletic," Arrigale said. "He can dunk the ball and that wasn't Scoop's game. He gets by people. He plays with pace. He can get guys on his hip and he really uses his body well. And he's a pretty good finisher."
Arrigale said Newton is in the process of finalizing visits to college campuses and expects that Newton will plan a trip to Central New York.
"I don't think he'll make a decision before the end of the summer," Arrigale said, "but I think he'll make a decision by some time in the fall."
Newton is one of a few high-profile high school targets for Syracuse, which has already secured a verbal commitment from Chris McCullough in the Class of 2014. Two other highly regarded prospects, Kaleb Joseph and Isaiah Whitehead, are also considering Syracuse.
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