Jacob Newhouse Talks Improvement, FVA
Earlier this week, Kaukauna forward Jacob Newhouse told me, “There’s no other big in the FVA who can guard me.” Let’s give this some context. The FVA conference features many elite programs and big men. The POTY in the FVA…
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Continue ReadingEarlier this week, Kaukauna forward Jacob Newhouse told me, “There’s no other big in the FVA who can guard me.”
Let’s give this some context.
The FVA conference features many elite programs and big men. The POTY in the FVA last year, Levi Nienhaus-Borchert, was a big man. One of the better upcoming players in Wisconsin, Max Nelson, is a forward for Appleton North. And with Tyrese Haliburton making his way onto draft boards after one year at Iowa State, Jordan McCabe making an immediate impact at West Virginia, and plenty more players kick-starting their collegiate careers, the conference has solidified their reputation as a conduit to college. So, even in an assumed “down year” for the FVA, claiming to be an unguardable big man in the conference — that’s bold.
But it’s hard to rebut.
Newhouse is a do-it-all forward that is a player you can have as your centerpiece. And, following Kaukauna’s back-to-back years of key departures (Jordan McCabe in 2018 and Donovan Ivory in 2019), his senior year may have been perfectly timed.
Passing, though a nuance of a trait for big men, has added to his unique toolset. At 6-foot-5, his ability to locate cutters and find shooters (which practically grow on trees at Kaukauna) makes him one of the top 2020 forwards. His jump shot has also been on a steep trend upwards. “I really wouldn’t shoot many threes but over the summer I got my shot down,” said Newhouse. “Now I have the green light for any shot.” And his frame, athleticism, and physical attributes have been beneficial in his play within the paint and on defense.
Without getting too into his statement, his versatility truly makes him a tough player to guard. But there’s a reason he’s developed so nicely, and it began as a freshman.
“Coach Bowers, he made it clear to everyone freshman year that if you wanna be a player you gotta get in the gym.” So, in what has become the Newhouse fashion, he went to work.
“In the morning shooting, weight room all week,” Newhouse stated about his workouts. When comparing sophomore to junior year, the theme of improvement was obvious. He went from 5.2 points per game to 10 as a junior, and was also incredibly consistent, rarely hitting a rut scoring the ball. In addition to the scoring, he went from journeyman to a vital piece in their success, taking on more minutes and responsibility in the offense.
Kaukauna head coach Michael Schalow also has some praise for the forward. “Jacob is a hard worker and team player,” said Schalow. “A quiet leader who leads by example.”
While his senior season with Kaukauna is still months away, he already set goals for being FVA champions, a title that narrowly eluded them last season. This year, they’ll count on him to take another step in his game to be frontrunners in the conference, as they’ll need his scoring and frontcourt play after both Donovan and Brayden Ivory graduated.
It’s not long until recruiters descend on Newhouse. The forward does have interest from Winona State and Minnesota Duluth, though his play and skill level are bound to pique more interest as the grassroots season and Kaukauna season progress.