By ADAM ZAGORIA
UConn got one key piece of its NCAA championship back early Wednesday.
Tristen Newton withdrew from the NBA Draft ahead of Wednesday’s deadline and will join Donovan Clingan and Alex Karaban as key returners for Dan Hurley’s championship team.
Junior guard Andre Jackson later announced that he would remain in the Draft, joining sophomore guard Jordan Hawkins and junior forward Adama Sanogo.
Hawkins is projected as the No. 13 pick by ESPN.com, with Jackson now at 32. “Andre was our vocal leader last year, and talking with Coach he’s not gonna ask me to be exactly like Andre – Andre was a great leader, I’ll try to take some of his leadership tendencies and put them into [mine],” Newton told reporters on a conference call Wednesday. The 6-foot-5 Newton returns after averaging 10.5 points, 4.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds. UConn also brings in a top-5 recruiting class featuring point guard Solo Ball, shooting guards Stephon Castle and Jayden Ross, small forward Jaylin Stewart and big man Youssouf Singare. “I am thrilled to coach Tristen for his final year of college basketball,” Hurley said. “He gained valuable experience during this pre-draft process and made an intelligent decision to return to Storrs.” Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram And Like ZAGS on FacebookTristen Newton was doubted this past year. He went through adversity, and battled it. After he helped lead UConn to a title, he had the line of the night:
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) May 31, 2023
"I don't care if you call me a point guard or not, call me a National Champion."
He’s coming back.pic.twitter.com/IVoMtdQYbd
