Oklahoma State University Athletics
Newberry Relished Tour Of China, Making A Name For Himself Overseas
July 11, 2016 | Cowboy Basketball
STILLWATER – Jeff Newberry scored 561 points on 33 percent shooting from 3-point over his two-year Cowboy basketball career, and capped it off by walking across the stage in Gallagher-Iba Arena to grab his OSU diploma.
The Atlanta native has capitalized on his success in Stillwater, and recently completed a two and a half week basketball tour of China in which he played in a pair of tournament that showcased his talents to overseas basketball clubs.
OKState.com caught up with Jeff Newberry after a workout in his hometown, and got the scoop on his trip to China and what's next on his agenda.
• OKState.com: You just returned from a two-week basketball tour of China. How did it go and what was the experience like for you?
Jeff Newberry: It was a two and a half week tour of China that included tournaments in two different cities. We flew into Shanghai, which is a very pretty city. Then we drove to a city called Suzhou, where we played our first tournament. We ended up placing third with a 2-1 record. We lost a close game to a team from Iran, who ended up winning the tournament, but it was a lot of fun. I think I played pretty well throughout the tournament, and I really enjoyed the entire experience.
• OKState.com: We've heard that China is a basketball-crazed country. How was the crowd support?
JN: The crowd support was unreal. We played in front of packed houses every night, and it made me feel like I was back in the Big 12. The people in China love basketball, and if they hear there's a game in town they're going to it.
• OKState.com: Which one of your teammates made the biggest impression on you?
JN: I played with a guy named Xavier Thames, who played at San Diego State during their big run through the NCAA Tournament a few years ago. He got drafted No. 59 overall by the Raptors, and he was actually my roommate on the trip. It was really good getting to learn from him about life in pro basketball both on and off the court. I honestly didn't realize what a big deal this trip was until he explained it to me, and told me how lucky I was to be a part of it at such a young age. He gave me some great advice about taking advantage of every opportunity, and even teaching me things on the court about coming off screens and learning how to be a point guard at the professional level.
• OKState.com: You played point guard a ton in high school and junior college, but were asked to play more of a shooting guard role at OSU. Do professional teams see you more as a point guard, and is that going to be a tough transition for you?
JN: I see myself as a pretty versatile guard. I have always enjoyed playing the point guard position, but at OSU we had great point guards my entire time there; Jawun Evans, Tyree Griffin and Anthony Hickey. Those guys are really good, so my role shifted a little. I still brought the ball up quite a bit, especially when we experienced all of the injuries last season. The transition back to point guard has been a good one for me. I'm able to come off screens downhill now has really benefitted my game.
• OKState.com: What were you able to experience away from the court on your trip to China?
JN: Everybody knows that I'm a pretty picky eater, so at first I was hesitant on trying a lot of the food over there. But after a week or so, a few of my teammates who had played overseas encouraged me to try a few new things. I actually started liking the local food, and I've been craving it ever since I got back to the States. Culturally, it was really peaceful at night. The city lights were beautiful and you could just take a walk and clear your mind.
Plus, there were so many people over there that just love basketball, and they love having you there. If they see an American they just assume you're there to play basketball.
There were definitely a few culture-shock moments. From the food, the language and the people. Plus the fact that they drive more mopeds than cars. But at the end of the trip I didn't want to leave. It was my first time out of the country and I really loved it.
• OKState.com: What's next for you?
JN: I have a few good offers on the table to play basketball overseas, and my agent and I are currently in negotiations with a few teams. My goal is to play overseas for a year or so and just soak it in. I want to learn about the professional game, and hopefully make the transition over to the NBA eventually. We explored the NBA Summer League and NBA D-League route, but I just feel that at this time that I need the on-court experience that I can get playing overseas. I am currently exploring my options with teams in Italy, France, Macedonia, Serbia and Germany, and I hope to have something decided by the end of July.
• OKState.com: How much of a jump was the level of competition from the college game to the pro game?
JN: It's so much different. It's the Big 12 times two. Everyone plays so hard on every possession, especially the foreign players. They might not have as much talent as some, but they play so hard – 110-percent at all times – that it makes up for it. Another big difference is how you can screen over there. You don't have to be totally still like in the American college game, so the moving screen becomes part of the strategy. That's a game changer, as you could imagine. It makes people really tough to guard coming off a screen. It's just a different world, and it can be a tough transition. It's going to take some getting used to, but I'm excited to get started on this journey.
The Atlanta native has capitalized on his success in Stillwater, and recently completed a two and a half week basketball tour of China in which he played in a pair of tournament that showcased his talents to overseas basketball clubs.
OKState.com caught up with Jeff Newberry after a workout in his hometown, and got the scoop on his trip to China and what's next on his agenda.
• OKState.com: You just returned from a two-week basketball tour of China. How did it go and what was the experience like for you?
Jeff Newberry: It was a two and a half week tour of China that included tournaments in two different cities. We flew into Shanghai, which is a very pretty city. Then we drove to a city called Suzhou, where we played our first tournament. We ended up placing third with a 2-1 record. We lost a close game to a team from Iran, who ended up winning the tournament, but it was a lot of fun. I think I played pretty well throughout the tournament, and I really enjoyed the entire experience.
• OKState.com: We've heard that China is a basketball-crazed country. How was the crowd support?
JN: The crowd support was unreal. We played in front of packed houses every night, and it made me feel like I was back in the Big 12. The people in China love basketball, and if they hear there's a game in town they're going to it.
• OKState.com: Which one of your teammates made the biggest impression on you?
JN: I played with a guy named Xavier Thames, who played at San Diego State during their big run through the NCAA Tournament a few years ago. He got drafted No. 59 overall by the Raptors, and he was actually my roommate on the trip. It was really good getting to learn from him about life in pro basketball both on and off the court. I honestly didn't realize what a big deal this trip was until he explained it to me, and told me how lucky I was to be a part of it at such a young age. He gave me some great advice about taking advantage of every opportunity, and even teaching me things on the court about coming off screens and learning how to be a point guard at the professional level.
• OKState.com: You played point guard a ton in high school and junior college, but were asked to play more of a shooting guard role at OSU. Do professional teams see you more as a point guard, and is that going to be a tough transition for you?
JN: I see myself as a pretty versatile guard. I have always enjoyed playing the point guard position, but at OSU we had great point guards my entire time there; Jawun Evans, Tyree Griffin and Anthony Hickey. Those guys are really good, so my role shifted a little. I still brought the ball up quite a bit, especially when we experienced all of the injuries last season. The transition back to point guard has been a good one for me. I'm able to come off screens downhill now has really benefitted my game.
• OKState.com: What were you able to experience away from the court on your trip to China?
JN: Everybody knows that I'm a pretty picky eater, so at first I was hesitant on trying a lot of the food over there. But after a week or so, a few of my teammates who had played overseas encouraged me to try a few new things. I actually started liking the local food, and I've been craving it ever since I got back to the States. Culturally, it was really peaceful at night. The city lights were beautiful and you could just take a walk and clear your mind.
Plus, there were so many people over there that just love basketball, and they love having you there. If they see an American they just assume you're there to play basketball.
There were definitely a few culture-shock moments. From the food, the language and the people. Plus the fact that they drive more mopeds than cars. But at the end of the trip I didn't want to leave. It was my first time out of the country and I really loved it.
• OKState.com: What's next for you?
JN: I have a few good offers on the table to play basketball overseas, and my agent and I are currently in negotiations with a few teams. My goal is to play overseas for a year or so and just soak it in. I want to learn about the professional game, and hopefully make the transition over to the NBA eventually. We explored the NBA Summer League and NBA D-League route, but I just feel that at this time that I need the on-court experience that I can get playing overseas. I am currently exploring my options with teams in Italy, France, Macedonia, Serbia and Germany, and I hope to have something decided by the end of July.
• OKState.com: How much of a jump was the level of competition from the college game to the pro game?
JN: It's so much different. It's the Big 12 times two. Everyone plays so hard on every possession, especially the foreign players. They might not have as much talent as some, but they play so hard – 110-percent at all times – that it makes up for it. Another big difference is how you can screen over there. You don't have to be totally still like in the American college game, so the moving screen becomes part of the strategy. That's a game changer, as you could imagine. It makes people really tough to guard coming off a screen. It's just a different world, and it can be a tough transition. It's going to take some getting used to, but I'm excited to get started on this journey.
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