Jawaun Newton - Men's Basketball Coach

Jawaun Newton

Title:
Graduate Assistant
Email:
jjnewton@iastate.edu

Jawaun Newton spent two seasons on the Cyclone men's basketball staff, serving as a graduate assistant.

In 2025-26, Iowa State went 29-8 overall and 12-6 in the Big 12, finishing the year ranked No. 8 in the country, tied for the highest final ranking in program history. ISU has been ranked for 52-straight weeks, the fourth-longest streak in the nation and the second-longest streak in school history. The 29 wins are tied for the second-most in program history. The Cyclones started the year 16-0, the best start and longest winning streak in program history.

Jefferson became the fifth consensus All-American in program history, while also being one of five finalist for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award. Drafted with the 28^th pick of the 2026 NBA Draft, Jefferson was a first round pick. Jefferson earned All-Big 12 First Team honors, while Tamin Lipsey and Milan Momcilovic were named to the All-Big 12 Second Team. All three were also named to the NABC All-Central District First Team. Momcilovic set the Iowa State single-season record for 3-pointers (136) and 3-point percentage (.487) was named a Top 5 finalist for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award. Lipsey was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team for the third time. Off the court, Lipsey was named to the Allstate NACDA Winter Good Works Team, while he was named the CSC Men’s Basketball Academic All-American of the Year after earning CSC Academic All-American honors for the third-straight year.

In his first season on staff, the Cyclones finished the year 25-10 overall and 13-7 in the Big 12 with an appearance in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Iowa State climbed to as high as No. 2 in the country in the AP Poll, the highest ranking in program history. ISU finished the season ranked No. 17 in the AP Top 25, the 12th time in program history the Cyclones have been ranked in the final poll. Iowa State has been ranked for 32-straight weeks, the seventh-longest streak in the country. The Cyclones ended the season with four Top 25 victories, tied for the 10th-most in program history.

Newton played four years of basketball at Evansville (2018-22) and used his COVID season as a graduate transfer at Southern Illinois (2022-23). In his lone season with the Salukis, he saw action in 33 games, including 15 starts, as SIU went 23-10 and advanced to the Missouri Valley Tournament semifinals. He averaged 5.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.

In his four-year career with the Purple Aces, Newton appeared in 103 games with 65 starts. He averaged 8.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in his career. He averaged 13.5 points per game as a junior, while averaging 12.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game as a senior. Newton scored a career-high 30 points in a triple-overtime loss to Rice. In November 2019, he started for the Purple Aces in a 67-64 victory over No. 1 Kentucky, the first win over the nation's top-ranked team in program history for the Purple Aces.

Newton's younger brother, Tristen, won a pair of national titles with UConn and was drafted in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers and currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is cousins with Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones and former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Alvin Jones.