Exactly two weeks later, on the eve of the first day of fall classes at IU, it was reported -- first by CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein -- that Newkirk had committed to IU, claiming the Hoosiers' 13th and final scholarship.
As a sophomore, Newkirk averaged 5.9 points and 2.7 assists in 20.8 minutes per game for the Panthers.
The 6-foot-1 Raleigh, N.C., native underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee on May 6, according to ESPN, and is expected to be sidelined for four to six months. He will sit out this season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules, and then he will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Newkirk's father, Reggie, said the point guard's redshirt year will be a good thing for his development.
"It's really going to help him because the workhorse that I know he is, he's gonna come back in full throttle," he said.
Reggie Newkirk expects his son to exercise on an underwater treadmill this week -- his first as a student in Bloomington. In December, Newkirk will gradually transition back into on-court drills, according to his father.
"Since he's sitting out a year, they ain't going to rush it," Newkirk's father said. "They're going to gradually put him back in the mix."
Newkirk will fill a glaring need in IU's backcourt in the 2016-17 season as the Hoosiers look to replace seniors Yogi Ferrell and Nick Zeisloft, and potentially sophomore James Blackmon Jr. – if he chooses to enter the NBA draft next spring.
According to a press release from Pittsburgh earlier this month, Newkirk sought to transfer to a university closer to home while he recovered from his knee surgery, but those plans changed when IU got involved in his recruitment.
IU contacted Newkirk the night of Pittsburgh's announcement regarding his decision to transfer. Newkirk and his father were soon boarding a plane to Indiana for an official visit, which sealed the deal.
"It was quick," his father said. "It was a fast process."
During the visit, Newkirk was able to reconnect with an IU program that he's familiar with through the school's recruiting of him in high school and last year's ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
The Hoosiers were one of the schools to offer the three-star recruit a scholarship when he attended Word of God Christian Academy before he committed to Pittsburgh. The former Panther then played in Assembly Hall last season when IU defeated Pittsburgh 81-69 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
He scored 16 points and dished out eight assists in a losing effort.
Despite the non-conference loss, Newkirk came away impressed by Assembly Hall and the IU men's basketball program.
"That's all he was talking about when I was talking to him after the game," his father said. "He was talking about how big it was, the fan base -- it was crowded, a hyped crowd -- and he enjoyed playing in front of that crowd. He said he would love to play in front of a crowd like that."
At IU, Newkirk will be able to spearhead an up-tempo offense, unlike the one he was a part of at Pittsburgh. Out of 351 Division I men's basketball teams, the Hoosiers ranked 72nd in adjusted tempo last season while the Panthers were 323rd, according to KenPom.com.
"IU, they're really like a transition team and his style, that's what he missed playing," Newkirk's father said.
While recovering from surgery and redshirting this season, the newest Hoosier will be able to observe, compete against and pick the brain of IU senior point guard Yogi Ferrell. Newkirk's father sees several parallels between the two floor generals.
"I think him and Yogi have pretty much the same game," Reggie Newkirk said. "They're both speedsters. He probably just needs to work on his shot a little bit more, but I think they won't miss a beat because they've pretty much got the same game."
Andy Wittry
