Tristen Newton is headed to the Indiana Pacers.
The former UConn starting point guard, a two-time national champion, was selected with the 49th overall pick, 19th in the second round, on Thursday.
Newton’s selection makes three members of UConn’s championship starting five who heard their name called in the 2024 NBA Draft, with Stephon Castle and Donovan Clingan each picked in the lottery Wednesday night. Castle went fourth overall to the San Antonio Spurs and Clingan went No. 7 to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Cam Spencer was also drafted on Thursday, four picks after Newton at No. 53. He was taken by the Detroit Pistons, but will be heading to the Memphis Grizzlies in a trade. His selection means four of the Huskies’ five starters heard their name called, the most UConn has had in a single draft since 2006.
The 2024 Final Four Most Outstanding Player, Newton worked out with 15 teams, and was reportedly impressive, during the pre-draft process.
Newton has come a long way from when he was the East Carolina freshman who scored 25 points with five rebounds and six assists in a 21-point loss to UConn in 2020.
After two years as a Pirate, where he was a featured ball-handler and scorer, Newton opted into a challenge that would push him to work hard, to compete and develop into a professional prospect. He earned the starting point guard spot in his 2022-23 senior season with the Huskies, recorded a double-double in the national title game and tested his chances at the NBA G League Elite Camp.
He was convinced by coach Dan Hurley to return for a fifth year, a chance at becoming an All-American and improving his status for this year’s draft. Hurley credits Newton’s always calm demeanor for changing the way he mixed different personalities in the locker room. They balanced each other out.
Everything Hurley promised came true.
Newton led the Huskies in scoring (15.1 points per game) and assists (6.2), and was second to Clingan in rebounds per game (6.6). Earning the nickname “Mr. Triple-Double” after setting a UConn record with four in his two-year career. He was named the AP Big East Player of the Year in 2024 and helped lead the Huskies to a program-record 37 wins and three losses on their way to a second consecutive national title.
Immediately upon returning to campus after the title game, Newton was inducted into the Huskies of Honor.
