New York — At the end Thursday’s open workout at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the UConn men’s basketball team engaged in a half-court shooting contest.

Graduate guard Tristen Newton was the winner, burying his long attempt after several misses.

Newton is winning a lot of things these days.

Earlier this week, Newton became the seventh UConn player to earn Associated Press All-American first team honors, joining Shabazz Napier (2014), Kemba Walker (2011), Emeka Okafor (2004), Richard Hamilton (1999), Ray Allen (1996) and Donyell Marshall (1994).

“Before the season, I was texting my group chat with my brother and my friends and telling them the season goals that we had and All-American was one of the things that I put up there, too,” Newton said while sitting in the Barclays locker room. “To accomplish that goal is a great feeling.”

Newton also earned a spot on the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-American first team and the United States Basketball Writers Association All-American second team.

His teammates are thrilled that Newton, who also received All-Big East first team and Big East tournament Most Outstanding Player honors last week, is getting some awards for his efforts.

“It’s pretty cool to see him finally get some recognition for all of his hard work,” backcourt partner Cam Spencer said.

Newton enters Friday’s NCAA tournament first round game against Stetson leading the Huskies in scoring (15.2 points) and assists (6.0). He held the team rebounding lead for nearly the entire season until sophomore Donovan Clingan overtook him last weekend. He’s averaging a career best seven boards.

Stetson senior Stephan Swenson will battle Newton in the backcourt.

“He's a great player,” Swenson said. “I think he's aggressive. It's going to be awesome to play against another really good player and see where I am as a level and as a team and see how I can respond against a team full of great players.”

Newton would trade in all of his individual awards for a team trophy in April.

“It’s been nice,” Newton said. “Obviously everybody looks for some type of appreciation. But I get appreciation throughout the whole team. Every day they tell me I’m a good player and stuff like that.

“Just to get that award, it’s good. But I feel like the national championship would be a lot better.”

Blackmon a player to watch

Junior guard Jalen Blackmon is a lethal offensive weapon for Stetson.

Austin Peay can attest to that.

Blackmon poured in an Atlantic Sun Conference tournament record 43 points, including 34 in the second half, in a 94-91 championship win over Austin Peay on March 10.

A first team All-Atlantic Sun pick, Blackmon is averaging 21.5 points per game. He needs 12 points to break the program’s single-season scoring record. He shoots 38.9% from 3-point range.

Coach Dan Hurley called Blackmon, who started his career at Grand Canyon University, one of the better guards that UConn will face this season.

“That’s awesome,” said Blackmon when informed of Hurley’s comments. “I didn’t even hear that yet. That’s great to get that praise from a coach that’s won as many games and as many tournaments as him.”

UConn freshman Stephon Castle and veteran reserve Hassan Diarra will likely share the defensive assignment.

Quotable

If UConn sticks to its identity, the Huskies will be difficult to beat in the NCAA tournament, according to Hurley.

“We're No. 1 in the country in offensive efficiency, top-10 in defense, we generally rebound the ball as well as anyone in the country. We play harder than our opponent, and we are elite with our preparation and we don't care who the hero is on a given night. That's a formula that will keep you bulletproof in a lot of games and make it really hard for somebody to get you.

“We stick to that script. We can come in here with confidence but we respect Stetson. We respect everyone that we play because we know what this tournament is all about.”

g.keefe@theday.com