Saints quarterback Drew Brees greets Callaway baketball star Malik Newman (Photo: Joe Ellis, Clarion-Ledger)
JACKSON, Miss. – Malik Newman sat amongst more than 1,000 high school athletes from all over Mississippi Thursday night at the Clarion Ledger’s first Best of MS Preps awards banquet watching intently as New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees took the stage at the Jackson Convention Complex and talked about the values of leadership, perseverance, sacrifice and never giving up.
“That’s how I got my wife, by never giving up!” Brees said with a laugh. “So use that as a lesson; keep pushing!”
As impressed as Newman was with Brees’ story of how he landed his wife Brittany, the biggest thing Newman took away from Brees’ words, bigger than the American Family Insurance ALL-USA first team honor or the Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year hardware, was the realization that he hasn’t accomplished anything.
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Wait, what?
“Drew Brees talked a lot about always pushing yourself to go harder and I have to have the mindset that what I did in high school doesn’t mean anything,” Newman said. “Because the reality is, it doesn’t. It’s like if you take a test on a Monday and get an A; your teacher isn’t gonna just give you another A for your test on Friday. The past is the past; now I’m hungry to prove myself for the future.”
Brookhaven linebacker Leo Lewis’ coach Tommy Clopton received Lewis’ ALL-USA first team honor. Lewis, who racked up 76 tackles (58 of which were solo tackles) a sack and fumble recovery last season, was unable to attend. Lewis is a Mississippi State signee.
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Newman’s memory loss motivational tactic will be tough to realistically pull off; c’mon, his list of accolades reads like a lifetime achievement speech.
Newman led Callaway to four consecutive 5A state titles and a 31-3 record this season while averaging 29.8 points. 5.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He was MVP of the FIBA World Championships while playing for USA Basketball’s U17 National Team, an ALL-USA first teamer, a McDonald’s All American and a Jordan Brand All American.
All that mentally wiped away?
“Yeah because that won’t get me better in college,” said Newman, who will report to Mississippi State on June 2. “I’ll enjoy these awards tonight, but I’ve already graduated high school so that part of the book is over. This is a new chapter. I feel like we’ve got the pieces to make noise next year, but we’ve gotta work. I’m coming in there like I’m a nobody, I’m looking at the team like we’re nobody and we’ve got to make people know who we are. That takes work; I’m ready to work.”
More than 2,500 people attended the inaugural event. It was the largest dinner service in the convention center history, according to Clarion-Ledger publisher Jason Taylor.
“We’re overwhelmed at the attendance, excitement and energy in the room,” Taylor said. “Some of the stories are so powerful. I think it is really inspiring because sometimes Mississippi is treated as an underdog, but tonight we’re celebrating champions.”
Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY