NCAA Basketball: 10 best transfers from the 2017-18 season

SO Malik Newman – Kansas Jayhawks

2017-18 stats: 14.0 ppg 4.9 rpg 2.1 apg

As a freshman at Mississippi State, Newman was a double-digit scorer and showed the promise of a top-tier player. But he was also part of a young nucleus of players where roles weren’t defined, so he left for Kansas.

The sophomore for the Jayhawks was the sixth man at times but was inserted into the starting lineup permanently to add even more offense on a consistent basis.

It paid off big time, with Newman having several games where he was the leading scorer. But when a teammate was unable to play in the Big 12 Tournament, the former Bulldog turned it up a notch.

In the last seven games, he’s averaged 22 ppg, including a career-high 32 points in the Elite Eight overtime win over Duke. Newman was actually the only player for Kansas to score a point, having all 13 in the extra period.

Kansas will have a bunch more transfers able to play for next season. But based on the last few weeks, the offense will go through Newman. The question now is whether he’ll even make it another couple of years, as the NBA could be calling soon.