Michael Bonner

The Clarion-Ledger

STARKVILLE - Malik Newman's career at Mississippi State came to an end on Monday when the school announced the freshman is transferring.

The former Callaway High School star signed with the Bulldogs about a month after the program announced Ben Howland as its new coach. The match appeared to be a perfect one. Howland mentored NBA guards like Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook at UCLA. Newman would remain close to home and play for the same school his father attended.

So what went wrong?

Horatio Webster, Newman's father spoke exclusively with The Clarion-Ledger about his son transferring. Here is the full transcript of the 8-minute interview.

What was the decision behind Malik transferring?

Horatio Webster: From me talking to him, it was best that he and Mississippi State part ways. We really didn’t get a lot into specifics but I think Ben was on board with it as well as Malik. I think it was a trust issue. I don’t think that Malik trusted Ben and not saying he’s a bad coach or anything to that nature. I would be crazy to sit here and say he’s a terrible coach. He just wasn’t the coach for Malik. I don’t think that Ben trusted Malik. So I think the feeling was mutual. I don’t think they trusted each other.

Where do you think the lack of trust came from?

HW: I really don’t know. I think maybe in the recruiting process of Malik going in and thinking he was going to play one way and he was playing another way. Ben has to do whatever he thinks is best for his team. And who in the hell would question Ben because Ben, look at his resume. So that doesn’t mean he’s a bad coach. It doesn’t mean anyone is questioning him, it just means that the style of play just didn’t fit Malik.

When did the possibility of transferring come into play?

HW: I think he had (thought about it) before the draft workout. If you look at Malik, I don’t think you ever saw that happy kid. He was just never in a happy place. People, prior to Malik going to Mississippi State, people knew Malik had that Magic Johnson smile. He was happy and basketball was his life. I think in a sense some of that was taken away. Not saying Ben took it away but I think some of it in a sense was taken away. Due to injuries. Due to style of play. Due to his maturity. So everybody played a part of it. I think it was a perfect storm for Malik for things to go wrong.

What’s next for Malik Newman?

HW: We don’t know. We haven’t even changed to that point. We just know that he will not be going back to Mississippi State.

How long do you think it will take to find Malik’s next school?

HW: I don’t know. We’re going to play it by ear. We’re not going to rush this decision. We do know that.

We’ll sit down. The kid will do his homework. We’ll try to find a place that Malik could possibly be successful in. What that means is Malik has to change his mindset and grow up and be a mature young man and things of that nature. This transfer doesn’t have anything to do with Ben Howland personally. It doesn’t have anything to do with Mississippi State personally. It’s got everything to do with, you know, conducive with the style of play that will have him be successful, to get the best of his ability.

Malik is a smart kid. When he looked at the roster again, he felt like, well, dad, I.J. (Ready) started all year at point guard. I.J. is still there. They brought a point guard in. That means I’ll be playing the two-guard like I’ve was last year. Think about it. Ben Howland has been running his same offense since he’s been at UCLA. Think about it. It works. Ben shouldn’t change it for LeBron James. So I know damn well he’s not going to change it for Malik Newman. In the process, for Malik found himself either sitting in the corner or not being involved in the offense much.

That’s Malik’s biggest strength. Yeah, he needs to work on defense. Yeah, he needs to work on his overall game. But his biggest strength is on the offensive end. If you take that away, then you’re going to get the result that you had last year. I think all of that was a combination.

What’s it going to take for Malik Newman to play like he did in high school?

HW: Him getting in the gym and being allowed to work on his point guard skills and buying into it. Ultimately, going somewhere where the coach trusts him. Where they trust him and he trusts them. He’s going to make mistakes (on the court), whatever the case.

This year, by him sitting out this year, I think that’s the best thing that ever could have happened for him. I hate it for him to be at my alma mater and not stick. But him sitting out a year will allow him to go and work on those things and all that stuff. And I don’t think that he would have been able to work on those things at Mississippi State simply because he really wasn’t going to be the point guard or really the backup point guard.

The best path for him to be successful, he would probably have to have the ball in his hands.

How difficult of a decision was it for Malik to sit out a year?

HW: It wasn’t difficult at all. I don’t think he lost an ounce of sleep. I hadn’t either because I think it gives him the best chance of being successful in whatever that is. I don’t know. I’m not saying whatever school he goes to next is going to work out. That may not be the place for him, wherever that may be. But I just feel like he’s thinking like, I know what Ben’s offense is about. I know what’s there. And another thing is, I don’t think he thinks he has a good chance at Mississippi State of being successful. That doesn’t mean the program is bad. That doesn’t mean that Ben is bad. That doesn’t mean that his teammates are bad. That just means he has to do what’s best for Malik.

People who saw him previous, before he went to Mississippi State and saw him play at Mississippi State, everything was foreign to Malik. That’s why you saw the struggles. That’s why you saw the unhappiness. Because he just felt like, this is what I do really good. And if you take that away, I’ve got to work on a lot of stuff, but offensively, I’m pretty good at that. So if I could showcase my skills more, not just for the NBA, just for him being a part of (team).

We just felt like, he was just out there (out of the offense). If you look at probably 40 to 50 percent of the time, he was just sitting in the corner. That was basically it. (Howland) is allowed to do what’s best for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. As the coach, he has to put the best players out there in the best position to be successful. I’m not knocking him by any means. I think he was doing what was best for his program. Unfortunately, it wasn’t best for Malik.

Contact Michael Bonner at mbonner@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter.