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Cam Newton, Auburn basketball player? Tony Barbee has dreamed about it

Screen Shot 2012-07-10 at 9.04.00 AM

A man can dream, right?

In a piece dug up by Nick Fasulo over at SB Nation, Auburn head coach Tony Barbee pondered the idea of Cam Newton the basketball player.

“He might be bigger than anybody I have on my team,” Barbee said back in 2010.

A reporter then probed a bit. Has Barbee ever seen Newton play basketball?

“I don’t need to,” he said. “As fast as he is and as athletic as he is, I’ll find a way to use him.”

Of course, Cam Newton was on his way to a national title at Auburn during that season, probably with the school’s basketball team one of the farthest things from his mind.

But, if you will, just imagine Newton the basketball player. Now 6-5, 248 pounds, Newton could be a force at the small forward position. Though undersized height-wise, think of a space-eater down low and a willing rebounder.

Auburn wouldn’t mind bringing Newton in for this upcoming season (if that could ever be possible), having finished 2011-12 with a 15-16 record, including 5-11 in the SEC.

There is hope, though.

Barbee is bringing in a six-man 2012 recruiting class, led by guard Jordan Price and high-flying forward Shaquille Johnson.

If it’s athleticism Barbee was recruiting for, Johnson has it. Check out this video. We could have another Tony Mitchell on our hands.

Daniel Martin is a writer and editor at JohnnyJungle.com, covering St. John’s. You can find him on Twitter:@DanielJMartin_