UCF’s Calvin Newell Off To Impressive Yet Underrated Start

Central Florida’s Calvin Newell is not a name that is mentioned very often, if at all in the college basketball landscape. With American Athletic Conference play beginning around the start of the new year, I have a feeling he will gain the respect he deserves.

Central Florida has certainly not had a great start to the season, currently possessing a 5-3 record with losses against Florida State, Valparaiso and Florida Atlantic. But, redshirt senior Newell has been a standout talent.

After transferring from Oklahoma following his sophomore season in 2010-11, Newell looked to build off of his 13 points in 19.6 minutes per contest as a Sooner during that season. Last season as a Knight, after sitting out a season due to NCAA rules, he started 24 out of 25 games played and averaged 11.1 points, two rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest.

This season, he is much improved, leading the team in scoring with 17.6 points per game, while posting 3.3 rebounds a game and leading the team with 30 assists. Playing 32.1 minutes per game, which ranks second on the team, Newell is the most important player on the team, and the whole team goes as he goes.

In their win at Miami, one of the few bright spots of the early season, Newell had 19 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals in 38 minutes. Entering AAC play around the New Year, the rest of the conference will get to meet Newell, and he will give quite a few teams fits in the backcourt. Remember his name.

Dan Karpuc is an American Athletic Conference basketball writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @dan_karpuc, “Like” him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google.