Gabe Newhof: Big man from big family putting up big numbers

Spring Arbor’s Gabe Newhof puts up a shot against Indiana Tech on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 during a tournament in Fort Wayne, Ind. He finished with 34 points and 13 rebounds. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - A little boy wearing a No. 33 Newhof basketball jersey was running around the gym and rarely stopped to watch the games this weekend.

But make no mistake, 6-year-old Easton was rooting for his big cousin Gabe Newhof, the sophomore forward from Spring Arbor University. 

Newhof, the son of Jon and Bobbi Newhof, had his four younger siblings and a host of little cousins watching Spring Arbor play in a two-day WHAC/Crossroads Crossover to open the season.

“It’s awesome seeing how they look up to me and how I’ve inspired them to play sports,” Gabe Newhof said. “It’s a cool way to connect with them, especially when we’re not close in age.” 

There’s sisters Anna, 18 and Kitrah, 13, and brothers Soren, 12, and 6-year-old Truman.

“There’s a lot of little Newhofs,” his mother Bobbi said.  

At left, Gabe Newhof visits with his sister Kitrah and brother Soren before a game Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. At right, his 6-year-old cousin Easton wears a Newhof jersey while watching a game. (Photos | Lenny Padilla).

The Hudsonville Unity Christian High School grad had a monster two games in Fort Wayne over the weekend. He had 22 points in Game 1 vs. Cornerstone University and tied a career high with 34 points and 13 rebounds against Indiana Tech.

He was getting double teamed every time he touched the ball, which is pretty normal for the 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward.

“At some point, you just come to expect it,” Newhof said. “But, for me, it’s about not expecting to get the foul called and going through (the defenders) and not trying to avoid contact. I also have to be smart and make the right pass if I’m getting double teamed.”

Newhof was the Crossroads League Freshman of the Year last season when he averaged 19.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.

“I knew I’d get a lot of playing time last year,” he said. “But I’m excited to change my role, since teams kinda know about me now.”

Spring Arbor’s Gabe Newhof shoots a jumper against Indiana Tech on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 during a tournament in Fort Wayne, Ind. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

He’s added a short jump shots to his game, which he tried out in the first two games, with limited success.

“Last year, about 90 percent of my shots were within a couple of feet of the rim,” Newhof said. “So I’m trying to expand my game a little bit and shoot a jump shot to keep the defense honest so it makes it harder to defend me.”

Since he often gets fouled, he’s also trying to improve at the free-throw line. He shot 61 percent from the line last year. He was 6-of-11 (54 percent) in the opening two games this year.

“It’s something that I work on all the time,” Newhof said. “I’ll also try to (practice) shooting free throws when I’m tired just like you’d be in a game. I’d like to increase my free-throw percentage from last year.”

While Newhof was warming up for the opening game, a player from Indiana Wesleyan said “When we played him last year, we knew he was good. And he was big. But he looks even more jacked this year.”

Newhof’s dad, Jon, got him working out when he was young. But he really put on muscle entering his junior year of high school.

“I kind of started lifting when I was in middle school,” Newhof said. “But coming into high school, I was always skinny. Football is really what got me into the weight room and taking lifting seriously. That’s when I started putting on some real mass.”

Newhof was a lineman on the Unity Christian football team that went 20-2 in his final two seasons. His senior year, the Crusaders were 13-1 and set the state record with 803 points.

He still works out a lot.

“During the offseason, I try to lift five or six times a week,” he said. “I’ll slowly get that down to two times a week when I’m in season.”

Spring Arbor was 11-17 last season. Gabe Newhof has higher expectations this season.

“I have high expectations for myself and how I want to play,” he said. “But I have more expectations for our team. I’d like to reach the Crossroads League tournament and finish in the top of the league (standings).”

PHOTOS: For more photos from Spring Arbor’s first two games, click here.

Unity Christian’s Gabe Newhof gets fouled by Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s Luka Ressler during a district championship game at Calvin College on March 11, 2022. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).