Before the World Wide Web brought us countless NBA draft projections updated hourly, John Newman studied Basketball Digest and The Poop Sheet. Those paper-and-ink publications analyzed available talent for NBA teams, and what kind of personnel organizations lacked.
"Those were my tools, and I did the research," said Newman, 47 and a Richmond resident. "It doesn't seem like 25 years ago."
The 6-foot-7 forward from Danville completed his illustrious University of Richmond career as the Spiders' all-time leading scorer (2,383 points), and prepped for the 1986 draft with knock-'em-dead auditions at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, and in Hawaii, at a camp for the top 50 college prospects.
"The book on me was 'great athlete, great shooter,'" Newman recalled Monday.
But he also remembered the questions. Could his mid-major game translate to the NBA? Could this lean swingman defend and rebound against top talent?
Newman said he expected to be a first-round choice. Denver had the 16th and 18th picks in the 24-slot first round. Newman's research indicated the Nuggets would call his name. Draft night was June 17, 1986. Denver took Saint Joseph's guard Maurice Martin at 16, and Duke forward Mark Alarie at 18.
"I knew I was better than those guys," Newman said.
In the second round, with the 29th choice overall, the Cleveland Cavaliers picked Newman.
"To be honest, I was upset. Not with the team. But with the selection," he said.
It turns out Newman — who became "Johnny" because the 1986-87 Cavs had two other Johns on the roster — was right, and Denver was wrong. Alarie played five NBA seasons. Martin lasted two. Newman spent 16 seasons in the NBA, playing in 1,159 games for seven teams.
A quarter-century after Newman started a professional career that distinguished him as one of Virginia's finest all-time players and greatly enhanced the brand of Spiders' hoops, another UR alum awaits his NBA opportunity. Forward Justin Harper, according to most analysts, will be picked late in the first round or early in the second in Thursday's draft.
UR guard Kevin Anderson, like Harper, has worked out for several NBA teams since the Spiders completed their 29-8 season with a loss to Kansas in the Sweet 16. Anderson, the 2010 Atlantic 10 Conference player of the year, is not expected to be chosen in the two-round draft. But Spiders coach Chris Mooney said he believes the 6-footer, who averaged 16.2 points as a senior, will get a chance to make an NBA roster as a free agent.
Newman spent many evenings the past few seasons watching the Spiders play from a courtside seat at the Robins Center, and traveled to see UR in the past two NCAA tournaments. NBA scouts called Newman seeking an evaluation of Harper, 21.
"I think he has a great, prototype NBA body," Newman said of the long-armed, 6-foot-10, 228-pound Harper.
While at UR, Newman scored from everywhere. The 3-point line was not part of the college game during his career (1983-86), yet he averaged 21 or more points in each of his last three seasons. Harper (17.3 ppg as a senior) starred as a 3-point shooter in UR's variation of the spread Princeton offense. His challenge as a pro will be expanding his repertoire, noted Newman.
"I think he has an outstanding chance, and I wish him the best," Newman said. "As long as he didn't break any of my records, we are still good buddies. I love him to death."
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