Hard Knocks: Callaway's Malik Newman named Mr. Basketball for 2nd straight year

• Callaway%27s Malik Newman improved in every major statistical category.
• Newman wins Mr. Basketball for the second straight year.
• Nation%27s top-ranked junior fought through hard fouls and being double-teamed this season.

Malik Newman couldn't hide this season.

The two-time Dandy Dozen star, who is ranked the nation's top prospect, was the focus of the opposing team every single game.

When Newman stepped on the court, he had to overcome tugs at his jersey, bumps off his spot and hard fouls to get him off his game.

"I have realized every game means a hard foul after hard foul after hard foul," Newman said.

Yet the Callaway junior hardly let it bother him. He improved in every single major statistical category this year and guided the Chargers to their third consecutive MHSAA Class 5A state championship. For the second year in a row, Newman is The Clarion-Ledger's Mr. Basketball.

"Malik is just one of those kids that loves a challenge, and every night someone is challenging him," Callaway coach David Sanders said. "He just wants to go out there and show his opponents that you ran into the best player in the country."

Newman has been a known commodity in Jackson for years, but he upped his national profile last summer on the AAU circuit and with Team USA. The summer boosted him up the recruiting rankings and put a huge target on his back in Mississippi. Everyone wanted to say they shut down the nation's top junior.

He more than justified his high ranking this season, averaging 29.2 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-3 junior showed off an overpowering combo of a silky-smooth jump shot and improved athletic ability. The effortless scorer could look like he was having an off night and still finish with 25 points.

Watch: Malik Newman, Victoria Vivians go head-to-head in H-O-R-S-E

"The beauty of Malik's game is the stability of it," said Jerry Meyer, the director of basketball scouting for 247Sports. "It's so solid; it's not highlight dunks."

But opposing teams tried to take away that stability and tried to make it as difficult as possible for him to show off his scoring prowess. He faced double teams almost every night, and on the few occasions he didn't, it was usually because a team used a box-and-one on him.

"No coach in his right mind is going to play (him) straight up," Sanders said. "It's a death sentence."

Past Mr. Basketball, Coach of the Year winners

That was on full display in the state championship semifinals against Laurel. The Golden Tornadoes threw a variety of looks at Callaway, including double teams on their star, daring someone other than Newman to beat them. It somewhat worked, but Newman still finished with 28 points and the Chargers slipped past Laurel in overtime. Callaway then defeated Vicksburg for the fifth time of the year in the state championship game.

Games like the one against Laurel are why Newman puts in long hours before and after school. Sometimes he'd work out four times a day, pushing his body to the limit to prepare for the rigors of opposing defenses. He'd work out with his father, former Mississippi State star Horatio Webster, at 5 a.m., before most of his competition was even awake.

Watch: Mr. Basketball Malik Newman breaks down film from junior season

Those long hours helped him score nine points in the last 90 seconds of regulation to force overtime against McComb, all while he had flu-like symptoms. It gave him the strength to shake off any frustration from being double-teamed constantly and still find a way to will his team to victory after victory.

"I just keep working on my game each and every day," Newman said. "With the things I'm already good at, I try to make them great. The things that I'm weak at, I try to make them good."

To contact John Talty, call (601) 961-7284 or follow @JTalty on Twitter.

Newman takes next step

Callaway's star junior improved in most statistical categories from his sophomore season.