Indiana guard Jakai Newton had surgery and will be out indefinitely, IU Athletics said in Wednesday release:
“Indiana redshirt freshman guard Jakai Newton underwent successful surgery to treat an injury to his lower body. He will be out indefinitely but is expected to return this season. This injury is not related to the one he had prior to the start of the 2023-24 season,” according to the release.
Injuries have been a recurring theme for Newton, who missed all of the 2023-24 campaign with a knee-related issue. If there are silver linings in this news, they would be (1) the injury is not related to his prior issue that limited his availability for more than two years, and (2) this latest setback is of a nature that a return later this season is possible.
The 6-foot-3 product of Covington, Ga. has played in three games this season and scored six points in a total of 14 minutes. He missed multiple games with a hamstring issue.
Newton is the second reserve guard to have surgery since the start of the 2024-25 season. Gabe Cupps had knee surgery and will likely miss the rest of the season.
While neither player had a significant role to this point, IU’s depth is getting dangerously thin in the backcourt. Indiana is down to four available scholarship guards: Myles Rice, Kanaan Carlyle, Trey Galloway and Anthony Leal.
Indiana (8-3) will host Chattanooga at Noon ET on Saturday.
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