What Happened to Julian Newman?
Julian Newman rose to prominence as a viral basketball prodigy in elementary school, known for his exceptional ball-handling and scoring abilities against older competition. After a highly publicized high school career, he eventually enrolled at Bethesda University (NCCAA) in 2024, where he continues to play college basketball as of 2026. Recently, Newman has been in the news for publicly addressing the controversy surrounding leaked videos involving his sister, Jaden Newman.
Quick Answer
Julian Newman is currently a college basketball player for the Bethesda Lion Angels of the Southwestern States Intercollegiate Conference (NCCAA), having made his collegiate debut in October 2024. He gained early fame as a child basketball prodigy through viral YouTube videos. As of August 2026, he has also been in the public eye for defending his sister, Jaden Newman, following the leak of explicit videos online.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline11 events
Becomes Viral Sensation
Julian Newman gains national attention at age 11 as a fifth grader playing varsity basketball for Downey Christian School, with highlight videos going viral on YouTube.
Labeled 'Most Marketed 12-Year-Old'
The Huffington Post dubs him 'The Best Sixth Grade Basketball Player You've Ever Seen,' and the Tampa Bay Times calls him 'the most marketed 12-year-old basketball player in the world.'
Youngest to 1,000 Varsity Points & 'Born Ready' Series
As a seventh grader, Newman becomes the youngest player to record 1,000 career varsity points. He also begins starring in his documentary series, 'Born Ready,' on YouTube.
Surpasses Florida Prep Scoring Record
By his sophomore year in high school, Newman records 3,873 total points, surpassing the Florida prep record set by Teddy Dupay in 1998.
Reports of First D1 Offer (UTSA)
Reports circulate that Julian Newman receives his first NCAA Division I college offer from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), though the legitimacy of this offer was later questioned.
Transfers to Prodigy Prep & 'Hello Newmans' Launch
For his senior season, Newman transfers to Prodigy Prep, a new school created by his father. The reality show 'Hello Newmans' also launches on Overtime.
Graduates High School
Julian Newman graduates from Prodigy Prep in Orlando, Florida.
Undrafted in NBA Draft
Julian Newman goes undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Collegiate Debut at Bethesda University
Newman makes his collegiate debut for Bethesda University (NCCAA) against The Master's, going scoreless on 0-6 shooting in a 109-23 loss.
Declares for NBA Draft (Again) as Sophomore
As a 24-year-old sophomore at Bethesda University, Newman declares for the NBA draft again, with his team holding a 1-17 record.
Addresses Sister's Leaked Video Controversy
Julian Newman publicly responds to the controversy surrounding explicit videos involving his sister, Jaden Newman, which were reportedly leaked online, defending her and alleging an ex-boyfriend was responsible.
Follow this story
Get an email when this timeline gets a major update.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Julian Newman first captured national attention in 2012 as an 11-year-old fifth grader playing varsity basketball for Downey Christian School in Orlando, Florida. His highlight reels showcasing advanced ball-handling and scoring against much older players quickly went viral on YouTube, leading to appearances on national television shows. This early exposure, heavily promoted by his father, Jamie Newman, sparked polarized opinions, with some hailing him as a prodigy and others criticizing the intense marketing.
Throughout his middle and high school years, Newman continued to be a prolific scorer, surpassing the Florida prep scoring record by 2018. For his senior season, he transferred to Prodigy Prep, a school founded by his father. Despite his widespread fame and impressive high school statistics, including averaging 34.7 points, seven assists, five rebounds, and four steals per game in the 2018-19 season, Julian Newman did not receive offers from NCAA Division I programs, with a reported offer from UTSA in 2019 later being questioned as illegitimate.
After graduating from Prodigy Prep in 2020, Newman's basketball career appeared to stall, and he went undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft after declaring. However, in 2024, he signed with Bethesda University, a National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) institution in California, making his collegiate debut on October 24, 2024. His debut game saw him go scoreless on 0-6 shooting from three-point territory in a significant loss. As of February 2026, he was a 24-year-old sophomore at Bethesda, with his team holding a 1-17 record, and he had again declared for the NBA draft.
Beyond his collegiate play, Julian Newman has maintained a social media presence and is associated with his family's sports apparel brand, Prodigy. In August 2026, Newman garnered significant media attention when he publicly addressed the controversy surrounding explicit videos involving his younger sister, Jaden Newman, which were reportedly leaked online. He defended his sister, alleging an ex-boyfriend was responsible for the leak and suggesting the increased attention could elevate her profile.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Julian Newman made different choices?