Asa Newell is walking a path that Jalen Johnson once knew all too well - a top-ranked high school prospect with sky-high expectations and the weight of a program on his shoulders. But while their stories share some familiar beats, the way they’ve handled adversity - and grown from it - reveals just how different their journeys really are.
Let’s rewind for a moment. Johnson, once the No. 13 player in the country and the pride of Wisconsin, landed at Duke with the full backing of Coach K.
He was handed the keys to the offense almost immediately. But things didn’t go as planned.
Johnson made the controversial decision to leave the program midseason - a move that raised eyebrows and led to whispers about his character, even though his talent was never in question.
That decision sent Johnson to the G League, a place that felt beneath him at the time. After his debut, he found himself staring across an empty court, not with joy, but with frustration.
He believed he was “way better” than what he was being asked to prove. And yet, that humbling experience became the turning point.
Looking back, Johnson now calls his G League stint “probably the best thing that has ever happened to me.” It lit a fire, sharpened his game, and set him on the path to becoming the player he is today.
Now, it’s Asa Newell’s turn in the spotlight - or rather, just outside of it.
Newell came into college as the No. 19 player in the country, hailing from the powerhouse Montverde Academy. That roster was stacked - Cooper Flagg, Derik Queen, Liam McNeeley - but Newell still managed to carve out his own space. Listed as an Athens, GA native, he chose to stay home and suit up for the University of Georgia, instantly becoming the face of a program better known for Saturdays than March Madness.
And he delivered. As a freshman, Newell carried UGA into the NCAA Tournament, leading the team in points, rebounds, and minutes. That’s no small feat, especially for a program trying to build a basketball identity.
But the NBA is a different beast. And even though Newell has flashed serious potential - a smooth shooting stroke, real vertical pop, and an explosive first step - he’s found minutes hard to come by in a crowded, healthy rotation.
The box score might not pop yet, but the tools are there. What he needs now is reps - and that’s where the G League comes in.
Newell has been sent down to the College Park Skyhawks a few times this season, but in late January, he joined the team full-time on a five-game West Coast swing. This isn’t just a developmental detour - it’s a showcase. And Newell is making the most of it.
In his last two games, he’s averaged 27.5 points, 9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 3 blocks per night. He’s shooting 41.1% from deep and 65% inside the arc. That’s not just good - that’s dominant.
With two games left in the G League season, Newell is likely to finish out the stretch with the Skyhawks. But make no mistake: this isn’t a demotion.
It’s a proving ground. Just like it was for Jalen Johnson.
Newell’s combination of size, skill, and scoring instincts is rare. If he continues to embrace the physicality of the pro game - and adds some strength to his frame - he could be a real problem at the next level.
The defense needs work, sure, but that’s what this time is for. The G League is where the rough edges get smoothed out.
It’s where young talent learns how to impact winning at the NBA level.
So while Newell might not be lighting up the league just yet, he’s doing exactly what he needs to do: putting in the work, building confidence, and showing flashes of the player he can become. And if Jalen Johnson’s story is any indication, this could be the best thing that ever happened to him, too.