Indiana Freshman Guard Jakai Newton Could Miss Entire Season With Knee Injury

Though Indiana coach Mike Woodson hasn't made an official decision yet, he said this Monday night in regards to freshman guard Jakai Newton: "Unfortunately he's not going to probably play this season because of the knee injury."

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana coach Mike Woodson shared an update on the health status of freshman guard Jakai Newton Monday night on the "Inside Indiana Basketball" radio show with play-by-play announcer Don Fischer.

The program announced on Aug. 16 that Newton was out indefinitely after undergoing a procedure to treat a pre-existing injury. He has not played this year.

"Unfortunately he's not going to probably play this season because of the knee injury," Woodson said Monday. "So we just got to get him ready this summer and get him ready for next season. I haven't made that decision for sure yet, but it looks like it's heading in that direction."

Indiana's Jakai Newton is announced during Hoosier Hysteria at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Friday, October 20, 2023 :: Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

Newton joined the Hoosiers as a 6-foot-3 guard out of Newton High School in Covington, Ga. He was ranked No. 118 in the nation by the 247 Sports Composite and No. 15 among combo guards.

Newton missed some of his senior season with a knee injury, but as a junior he averaged 14.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game and helped Newton reach the state semifinals.

Woodson is intrigued by Newton's defense and ability to play multiple positions. 

"He's a tough competitor, a little bulldog," Woodson said. "He just plays hard. He loves to compete ... He can play the one and the two, that's what he played in high school. That's what attracted us to him, in terms of him being able to play both ways and score and initiate the offense. But defensively is where I think he's going to really excel because he's just tough."

If Newton misses the entire season, he could likely earn a medical waiver and have four more years of eligibility. 

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