(MSUB Athletics release)
BILLINGS – Adding a new scoring threat on Friday, the Montana State University Billings Yellowjackets have added freshman guard Beijan Newbern to the 2018 recruiting class. Head coach Mick Durham sees the 6-foot-4-inch left-handed shooter as a combo guard for the Yellowjackets.
“Beijan gives us a young combo guard to develop,” Durham said of the athletic perimeter player. ”He comes from a basketball family and this reunites him with his older brother Melvin who he played with in high school. Beijan is extremely athletic and loves to attack the basket.”
Newbern has deep roots in basketball and will join his brother Melvin Newbern Jr. on the Yellowjackets. Melvin, a 6-foot-4-inch forward, transferred to the ‘Jackets earlier in the year after playing two seasons at North Dakota State College of Science. Their father Melvin Newbern played in the NBA after being drafted in 1992 following a successful college career at the University of Minnesota.
At Maranatha Christian Academy, Beijan averaged 23.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists for the Mustangs. With a long frame, Newbern showed a knack for disrupting passing lanes and averaged 2.6 steals per game while racking up 80 deflections. He shot 60 percent from the field and 30 percent from 3-point range.
Newbern is the ninth and final addition to the Yellowjackets’ 2018 class. Durham’s first recruiting class is filled with size and features five Montanans. The group will join MSUB’s six returning players in Zack Rollins, Sven Jeuschede, Hafeez Abdul, Tyler Green, Zharon Richmond and Kobe Terashima.
