Western Kentucky has lost out to one of college basketball’s bluebloods in its pursuit of high-profile transfer Malik Newman.

ESPN reported Friday morning that Newman, a former Mississippi State guard, has committed to Kansas. CBS reported Thursday night that Newman was picking between the Jayhawks and Hilltoppers.

Newman is a 6-foot-3, 180-pound former McDonald’s All-American who signed with Mississippi State after being named the No. 1 shooting guard in the Class of 2015 by ESPN.

The two-time Mississippi Mr. Basketball averaged 11.3 points per game as a freshman for the Bulldogs in 2015-16, the fourth-highest total on the team.

Newman, a Jackson, Miss., native, requested his release from Mississippi State in May. He was highly recruited by teams looking to add him as a transfer.

During the month of June, Newman visited WKU, Miami (Fla.), North Carolina State, Oregon and, most recently, Kansas.

Newman’s father, Horatio Webster, was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection for Mississippi State in 1998. WKU coach Rick Stansbury was then an assistant coach for the Bulldogs.

“I’m glad they wanted me again,” Newman, who was recruited by Kansas out of high school, told ESPN. “I love the basketball culture at Kansas, the way (coach) Bill Self holds guys accountable and love the atmosphere.”

The Newman news comes two days after Stansbury pulled off a major recruiting victory with the commitment of five-star Class of 2017 center Mitchell Robinson.

WKU is still in the mix for at least one more high-profile recruit. Four-star Class of 2017 forward Galen Alexander on Wednesday listed WKU among the final seven schools he was picking from.

New assistants bring winning pedigree to program

WKU announced last week the hires of assistant coaches Quannas White and Shammond Williams, both of whom were most recently at Tulane.

White and Williams are both still young to the coaching profession, but they both were part of winning teams during their days on the court.

Williams was part of North Carolina teams that went to Final Fours in 1995, ’97 and ’98. He averaged 16.8 points and 4.2 assists per game as a senior in 1997-98 and played alongside fellow standouts like Vince Carter, Antwan Jamison and Rasheed Wallace.

White started his college playing career at Midland (Texas) College before playing his final two seasons at Oklahoma. He helped the Sooners reach the Final Four in 2002 and the Elite Eight the next season.

“Quannas is a guy that I recruited at Mississippi State,” Stansbury said Monday at a WKU alumni event in Prospect. “I remember him committing to me and he says that he didn’t. He ended up signing at Oklahoma. He’s got amnesia on that.

“But he went to Oklahoma and went to the Final Four then. We won the SEC that year, so it worked out for both of us.”

White and Williams join Chris Cheeks, who was hired earlier this offseason, as the full-time assistants on Stansbury’s first WKU staff.

Stansbury said he likes the fact that his assistants come from winning backgrounds but said their skills as recruiters are more important.

Williams is the godfather of Robinson, the consensus top-15 recruit who Wednesday became the highest-rated commit in the modern era of Hilltopper basketball.

White and Williams both have plenty of connections through the recruiting world and are “eager to work, eager to be part of something,” Stansbury said.

“The most important thing is bringing in guys that’ll get you players,” Stansbury said. “If they have a winning pedigree with it, then you have the best of both sides.”

Leahy now on WKU’s campus

Class of 2016 signee Matineng-iakah “Marty” Leahy arrived on campus this week, Stansbury said.

Leahy, a 6-foot-6 forward out of Australia, joins guard Tobias “T.J.” Howard as newcomers that have officially enrolled and joined the WKU program. He played for the Papa New Guinea national team in the 2015 Pacific Games and averaged 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists per game last year as a senior for Ipswich Grammar School.

Grad transfers Que Johnson and Junior Lomomba will each join the team this month, Stansbury said.

Guard Damari Parris, the other newcomer whose signing has been announced, still hasn’t joined the program, Stansbury said.

“We’re still waiting on Damari,” Stansbury said.

— Follow Daily News sports reporter Brad Stephens on Twitter @Stephens_Brad or visit bgdailynews.com.