Indiana State University Athletics

Jerry Newsom was perhaps the finest basketball player at Indiana State before Larry Bird donned the Blue and White.  A former Indiana All-Star from Columbus, Newsom held all the ISU scoring records of his time. His three-year total of 2,147 points still ranks second on the all-time Sycamore scoring list.

Three times Newsom-led Indiana State teams qualified for the NCAA College Division Tournament and in his senior year he led the Sycamores to the championship finals before losing to Kentucky Wesleyan.

Newsom was the "Most Valuable Player" in the 1968 NCAA Tournament and was voted an NCAA All-American.  He was also chosen to participate in the 1968 Olympic Trials.

At the time of his induction, Newsom was Vice President for Sales of Newsom Industries, a manufacturing firm, and still lived in Columbus.

• Finished as school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder 

• First Sycamore to reach 2,000 point plateau in career (2,147) 

• Led Sycamores to three straight ICC Championships and three NCAA College Division Tournaments 

• Consensus All-American in 1968, 2nd team in 1966, 1967 

• Scored 41 points in 1966 vs. Eastern Illinois 

• Tournament Most Valuable Player in 1968 NCAA Division II Tournament 

• 6th round selection of Boston Celtics in 1968. 

• Inducted into Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997 

• Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary Team in 1989 

• Inducted into Hall of Fame February 3, 1984