KU basketball star Malik Newman got a special souvenir from Wichita during NCAA visit

If your name is Malik Newman and at the beginning of your NCAA Tournament experience, you practice in a gym at Newman University, you have to get a souvenir.

That's the way Malik Newman saw things when he and his KU basketball teammates were in Wichita for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament earlier this month.

The star, who led the Jayhawks to their 85-81 Elite Eight victory over Duke last weekend, was reportedly pretty excited when he walked into the gym at Wichita's Newman University, where the team was assigned for closed practices. (The Seton Hall team practiced at Newman, too.)

When Malik arrived, said Newman's head basketball coach R.J. Allen, he begged someone to find him a shirt. Not long after, Allen was posing for a photo with a smiling Newman, now wearing a shirt that said "Newman Basketball" on the front.

Malik also has a bit of a Newman connection, Allen said.

One of Malik's best friends is former Newman University point guard Jarvis Williams. The two played basketball together at Callaway High School in Jackson, Mississippi.

"We took this picture to send to him," Allen said. "It was also ironic to have Malik Newman at Newman University."

This story was originally published March 30, 2018 at 9:11 AM with the headline "KU basketball star Malik Newman got a special souvenir from Wichita during NCAA visit."