Blacksher outperforms year, size

Thursday, Feb. 20 \| 8 p.m. (Phoenix time) \| Seattle, Wash.

	GRAND CANYON LOPES (12-13, 7-4)	VS	SEATTLE U REDHAWKS (12-14, 5-6)

WATCH: ESPN+ \| LISTEN: 1580 the Fanatic, 99.3 FM, 95.9 FM \| STATS: View

Jovan Blacksher Jr. is not able to be defined by the Grand Canyon basketball roster.

The columns can only note that he is a freshman, stands 5 feet 11 and weighs 155 pounds.

The GCU season is telling a different story.

Unlike a freshman, Blacksher ranks among only WAC upperclassmen in every statistical category.

Unlike a 5-foot-11 player, only two WAC senior power forwards grab more defensive rebounds per game than his 5.1 average.

GCU tops UTRGV on the road.

Unlike a 155-pound player, Blacksher can play 35 minutes per game and play his best basketball down the stretch just as his team does, by no coincidence.

Entering GCU's Thursday night game at Seattle U, Blacksher is the only freshman basketball player in the nation averaging at least 10.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Only six other players from any class have that statistical line this season.

"The game has slowed down for him," GCU head coach Dan Majerle said. "To be a freshman playing 35 minutes per game, to have to learn the whole offense, handle the ball with new players and learn the defense, it's a lot. But he did a good job. Now, he's comfortable and knows the plays and where he's comfortable on the court. He's making great decisions. I'm not surprised at how he's playing now. I was surprised that he was doing so well in the beginning. It just shows his maturity, work ethic and IQ. He has been unbelievably good."

During this 4-1 stretch for the Lopes, Blacksher is averaging 14.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.2 turnovers per game while shooting 50% from the field and 41% on 3-pointers. The long-distance touch was one of the final pieces to his season because he was previously making 19% of his 3s.

"I feel like I've progressed a lot," Blacksher said. "When I first got here, I was a good basketball player but I didn't have the little details, like the pace of ball screens, the IQ to read the defense and stuff like that. My coaching staff helps me out a lot when I make mistakes. My jumper has got better. In college, you have to have a jumper. I've been shooting a lot. Ball-handling, rebounding, defense."

In other words, everything in his game is better.

Blacksher entered GCU matching Majerle's highest recruit rating as a four-star player. He had a championship pedigree with four state championships at Phoenix Shadow Mountain High School, where he played for another former NBA star in Mike Bibby.

He entered the program with a maturity level beyond his years and national prep experience that most players do not get.

Blacksher also has received a college opportunity most freshmen do not receive. Only four other freshmen in the nation average more minutes than Blacksher (34.8) and he is the top freshman in the WAC for points per game (10.7), rebounds per game (5.7), assists per game (3.6), steals per game (1.6) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6 to 1).

Only upperclassmen rank ahead of him in all of those categories, except for New Mexico State sophomore Jabari Rice in scoring.

"Jovan is a winner," Majerle said. "He plays at the highest level. Great kid. Smiling every day. Talks to me every day. He just wants to win. If you get a squad full of guys like Jovan, you're going to be successful."

Blacksher has made obvious adjustments in his game. He stopped taking risks that put him in foul trouble, knowing the team needs his playmaking. He became more selective with his 3-point shot and capitalized on the mid-range game that Bibby emphasized to him in high school. On fastbreaks and drives, Blacksher does not always try to score against size and makes smart reads to pull the ball back out or find a cutter in those situations.

"That was very different for me," Blacksher said. "Transition in high school was more simple than here. Especially because I'm small, I've got big guys trying to block my shot so I've learned how to play with that. It's just being smart and know we had not a smart play and not try to be a hero."

Blacksher looks like a future leader for the program, saying that his passion in games and practices is following what he sees in his head coach.

For this season, Blacksher leads by example with effort, dedication and discipline. In the future, that might come more by voice.

"He's got the respect of all the players," Majerle said. "The biggest thing for me is he's my type of guy. He just wants to win. He doesn't care if he scores or not. He just wants to win and is going to compete. As a leader, he's going to be really good because he does it the right way."

Lope tracks

GCU is 7-2 since switching to the starting lineup of Blacksher, junior guard Mikey Dixon, senior small forward Carlos Johnson, freshman power forward Bryce Okpoh and junior center Alessandro Lever.
Johnson has scored in double figures for 13 consecutive games.
Lever needs 23 points to pass DeWayne Russell for second in scoring during the Lopes' Division I era.
GCU is 7-0 when its bench outscores the opponent's reserves.
The Lopes have made 49.5% of their 3-pointers in their past five road games.
At 7-4 in conference, GCU is in position for the WAC Tournament No. 2 seed with five regular-season games remaining. UT Rio Grande Valley is next at 7-5.

Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.

Thursday, Feb. 20 | 8 p.m. (Phoenix time) | Seattle, Wash.

VS

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jovan Blacksher Jr.

Mikey Dixon

Carlos Johnson

Alessandro Lever

Bryce Okpoh

DeWayne Russell

Grand Canyon University Athletics