The shadows and the spotlight of child phenoms

Sixth grader Julian Newman looks up to make a shot while warming up before the basketball game between University High School and Downey Christian High School on Feb. 13, 2014, in Orlando, Florida.

(Eve Edelheit/Tampa Bay Times)In 2013, 11-year-old Julian Newman was everywhere. As a starter for his high school varsity basketball team, the diminutive fifth grader first caught the attenti

Downey Christian varsity coach Jamie Newman watches his son Julian handle the basketball during a game at Downey Christian on Feb. 4, 2014, in Orlando.

(Eve Edelheit/Tampa Bay Times)Edelheit and writer Michael Kruse, who has a background in scouting high school basketball players (he watched LeBron James play as a high school sophomore), tra

Jamie shaves his son's head before a People magazine shoot at Downey Christian School in Orlando on Feb. 3, 2014.

(Eve Edelheit/Tampa Bay Times)The Julian Newman phenomenon started after his father Jamie Newman — who is also his basketball coach — pitched his son's talent to a sports website. The story w

Julian puts his head in his hands in the locker room after losing to University High School 77-41 in Orlando on Jan. 31, 2014.

(Eve Edelheit/Tampa Bay Times)

Vivian Newman consoles her daughter Jaden as she experiences pain from a stomach virus before their appearance on Daytime, a Tampa-based television show on Feb. 3, 2014. Jaden, Julian, and Jamie still went on the show, despite Jaden's

(Eve Edelheit/Tampa Bay Times)Edelheit's photos for the Tampa Bay Times story delicately reveal the often heartbreaking shadows that can lurk behind the spotlight of child stars — the grind o

Julian jokes around with his teammates before a basketball game at Downey Christian School in Orlando on Feb. 4, 2014.

(Eve Edelheit/Tampa Bay Times)

Julian falls asleep in Jaden's bed as he watches her play Guitar Hero after playing his final regulation game of the 2013-2014 basketball season in Orlando on Feb. 4, 2014.

(Eve Edelheit/Tampa Bay Times)