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Insider: Blackmon adapts to college role, level
12/15/2021 11:11:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro, Lopes Insider Blog
Last season's Indiana prep scoring leader carves out time at GCU
When Jalen Blackmon last played a basketball game before arriving at Grand Canyon this summer, the Marion High School star finished as the Indiana prep scoring leader with a 55-point game in March.
In joining a team that spent its March winning the WAC and went to the Big Dance, Blackmon has gone from the high school standout who logged nearly every minute and carried the scoring burden to a college freshman battling for a role amid a loaded Lopes backcourt.
Against Arizona State last week, Blackmon had not played in the game until GCU head coach Bryce Drew turned to him with the Lopes trailing by nine points and 12:39 remaining in the game. Five minutes of play later, Blackmon made a 3-pointer to cut ASU's lead to two.
"The more Jalen plays, the more you're going to appreciate him, the better he gets," Drew said. "He has such a knack for scoring the ball. He's just really gifted in that way."
Instead of struggling with a situation in which he averages 11.7 minutes per game, Blackmon has embraced the chance to reach the level that surrounds him. GCU veteran guards Jovan Blacksher Jr. and Holland Woods II have mentored Blackmon since the summer and now play with the 6-foot-3 guard more than ever in a 9-2 Lopes season, which continues Saturday against San Francisco in the Jerry Colangelo Classic.
"Those guys taking me under their wing has been helpful," Blackmon said. "I'm learning the flow of the game and when to be aggressive. I'm just doing whatever I can to help the team. It's not really nerveracking.
"It's been an adjustment for sure, but I don't have a problem with it. I'll just do whatever it takes to help us win."
Six of Blackmon's 12 assists this season have come in the past three games, as Drew entrusts him with more opportunities to run the point for GCU. His 41.7% 3-point shooting gives the Lopes five guards who shoot at least 39% from 3-point range.
Blackmon's acumen for the game is not surprise. His father, James Sr., was his high school coach and an Indiana Hoosiers star who had a nine-year pro career. Jalen broke his father's Marion High scoring record and finished 18th in Indiana for career points (2,269) despite only playing six games as a junior.
His brother James Jr. played at Indiana and is a pro guard in Turkey while brother Vijay, also a former college player at St. Francis, Indiana and Lindenwood, is part of the GCU staff, assisting associate director of sports performance Jordan Jackson.
"It's great to see how he's accepted his role," Vijay said of Jalen. "He's positive every day. He cares for his teammates. He works hard for them every day. I'm excited to see his growth.
"He's really close to his teammates and we're really comfortable with the staff. Jalen's going to do great here for the time to come. I get to see how hard he works every day. I kind of see myself in him."
Blackmon and sophomore guard Chance McMillian provide GCU with a second look of interchangeable guards, much like how Blacksher and Woods are combo guards who can be playmakers or shooters.
Blackmon relishes the atmospheres he experiences with teammates outside of games and with the Havocs during games. His work in the GCU Basketball Practice Facility never stops once practice ends because of the bar he is trying to meet to help the Lopes.
"Practice isn't easy," Blackmon said. "It's been a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be. I feel like I've got a lot better since my first day being here with how detailed Coach Drew is and how important every single rep is. I feel like it's made me a lot better. In games, I just let my instincts take over and try to not think too much."
In joining a team that spent its March winning the WAC and went to the Big Dance, Blackmon has gone from the high school standout who logged nearly every minute and carried the scoring burden to a college freshman battling for a role amid a loaded Lopes backcourt.
Against Arizona State last week, Blackmon had not played in the game until GCU head coach Bryce Drew turned to him with the Lopes trailing by nine points and 12:39 remaining in the game. Five minutes of play later, Blackmon made a 3-pointer to cut ASU's lead to two.
"The more Jalen plays, the more you're going to appreciate him, the better he gets," Drew said. "He has such a knack for scoring the ball. He's just really gifted in that way."
Instead of struggling with a situation in which he averages 11.7 minutes per game, Blackmon has embraced the chance to reach the level that surrounds him. GCU veteran guards Jovan Blacksher Jr. and Holland Woods II have mentored Blackmon since the summer and now play with the 6-foot-3 guard more than ever in a 9-2 Lopes season, which continues Saturday against San Francisco in the Jerry Colangelo Classic."Those guys taking me under their wing has been helpful," Blackmon said. "I'm learning the flow of the game and when to be aggressive. I'm just doing whatever I can to help the team. It's not really nerveracking.
"It's been an adjustment for sure, but I don't have a problem with it. I'll just do whatever it takes to help us win."
Six of Blackmon's 12 assists this season have come in the past three games, as Drew entrusts him with more opportunities to run the point for GCU. His 41.7% 3-point shooting gives the Lopes five guards who shoot at least 39% from 3-point range.
Blackmon's acumen for the game is not surprise. His father, James Sr., was his high school coach and an Indiana Hoosiers star who had a nine-year pro career. Jalen broke his father's Marion High scoring record and finished 18th in Indiana for career points (2,269) despite only playing six games as a junior.
His brother James Jr. played at Indiana and is a pro guard in Turkey while brother Vijay, also a former college player at St. Francis, Indiana and Lindenwood, is part of the GCU staff, assisting associate director of sports performance Jordan Jackson.
"It's great to see how he's accepted his role," Vijay said of Jalen. "He's positive every day. He cares for his teammates. He works hard for them every day. I'm excited to see his growth."He's really close to his teammates and we're really comfortable with the staff. Jalen's going to do great here for the time to come. I get to see how hard he works every day. I kind of see myself in him."
Blackmon and sophomore guard Chance McMillian provide GCU with a second look of interchangeable guards, much like how Blacksher and Woods are combo guards who can be playmakers or shooters.
Blackmon relishes the atmospheres he experiences with teammates outside of games and with the Havocs during games. His work in the GCU Basketball Practice Facility never stops once practice ends because of the bar he is trying to meet to help the Lopes.
"Practice isn't easy," Blackmon said. "It's been a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be. I feel like I've got a lot better since my first day being here with how detailed Coach Drew is and how important every single rep is. I feel like it's made me a lot better. In games, I just let my instincts take over and try to not think too much."
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