Dec. 19, 2011
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By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Calvin Newell, a talented guard who was Oklahoma's second-leading scorer this season, has transferred to UCF and will be eligible to compete in December 2012, men's basketball head coach Donnie Jones announced Monday. Newell averaged 13.0 points in 19.6 minutes per game for the Sooners this season.
The Philadelphia native will have one and a half years to compete for the Knights and will be a senior in 2013-14 when UCF joins the BIG EAST Conference.
Newell appeared in 36 games, including five this year, for Oklahoma. He recorded 19 points in the 2011-12 season-opener against Idaho State and scored 18 points vs. Washington State. As a freshman, he saw action in 31 games and made two starts. Newell averaged 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 12.5 minutes per contest.
"Calvin is a combo guard who can come in and provide us with some immediate scoring," Jones said. "He is a tough player and a terrific defender. Calvin fits in with our up-tempo style of play and we are excited about him joining our basketball family."
Before heading to Oklahoma, Newell attended Evelyn Mack Academy in Charlotte, N.C., where he averaged 26.1 points and 7.0 assists during a postgraduate year in 2009-10. Newell starred at Strath Haven High School and was a Pennsylvania Class AAA First-Team All-State honoree as a senior after averaging 29.4 points. He led Strath Haven to its first state playoff appearance in nine years. Newell scored over 1,400 points in a year and a half at the school.
UCF is off to an impressive 8-2 start this season. Jones' team owns victories over defending national champion and No. 4 UConn, College of Charleston and Old Dominion.