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Former Choctawhatchee High basketball player Asa Newell drafted by Atlanta Hawks

Newell averaged 14.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore at the local high school before transferring.

Jared Williams

Former Choctawhatchee High School basketball player Asa Newell was selected 23rd overall in the first round of the NBA draft Tuesday by the Atlanta Hawks via the New Orleans Pelicans.

Newell was born in Atlanta and grew up in Athens, Georgia, before his family moved to Destin when he was 10 years old. He initially attended Destin Middle School before moving to Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach.

As a sophomore at Choctaw, Newell averaged 14.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game and was named area Player of the Year by the Northwest Florida Daily News. He helped the team post a 14-15 record and reach the first round of Florida’s Class 5A state tournament. His highest-scoring game that season was 34 points against Mosley High.

During his freshman year, Newell averaged 4.0 points and 1.7 rebounds for the Indians as they compiled a 26-3 record and finished as runner-up in the 5A state tournament.

Newell was coached by now-Athletic Director Andrew Thigpen as a freshman and by Michael Memmen as a sophomore at Choctawhatchee High School.

He transferred to Montverde Academy in Montverde prior to the start of his junior year, where he played his final two high school seasons.

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