Opponents for Orlando’s Downey Christian School basketball team might notice a pint-sized, lightning-quick point guard in Downey’s starting lineup, Julian Newman. Pint-sized because he’s still in the fifth grade.
At 4-foot-5, Newman is probably at least a full foot shorter than any player on his team or opposing teams, but that hasn’t stopped him from imposing his will on games. In Downey’s 79–65 loss to Agape Christian School on Wednesday night, he recorded 14 points, 8 assists and 3 steals.
Skeptics will be quick to point out that Newman’s father, Jamie, is the coach at Downey and suggest nepotism. As a rebuttal to that, it’s worth noting that the school has only 300 students, pre-K through 12th grade, and is probably in dire need of players for all of its high school varsity teams.
Plus, if you look at the videos below, you’ll see how preternaturally talented Newman is. Offering a scholarship to an 11-year old never made so much sense.
[MaxPreps]
