Completed Event: Men's Basketball at UNLV on February 7, 2026 , Loss , 78, to, 80
M Basketball
at UNLV
L 78-80
Grand Canyon University Athletics
2023-24 Men's Basketball Roster
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Jersey Number 10
Jovan Blacksher Jr.
- Ht./Wt.:
- 5-11 / 165
- Position:
- Guard
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Oakland, Calif.
- High School:
- Shadow Mountain HS
- Major:
- B.S. in Sports Management
| Read | Blacksher works both ways Watch | Lopes Insider with Blacksher |
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Grand Canyon |
Career Summary
- With 1,354 points, finished his GCU career in seventh on GCU's all-time scoring list and third at the Division I level.
- The 26th member of GCU's 1,000-point club and fourth at the D-I level.
- A member of the first three GCU teams to win WAC Tournaments and appear in D-I NCAA tournaments (2021, 2023, 2024).
- His 151 made 3-pointers are second-most in GCU's D-I history (Joshua Braun, 257).
- Finished career in second all-time in GCU career assists (432) and first at the D-I level.
- Finished career in fourth all-time in GCU career steals (277) and first at the D-I level.
- Returned from previous season's injury on Dec. 16 against Portland, a 345-day period between knee injury and return to floor.
- Was GCU's sixth man, appearing first off the bench a team-high 20 times.
- Connected on 41.9% of his 3-point attempts, a team-best mark and a career-best mark (min. 50 attempts). It was the second-best mark in the WAC behind future GCU player Makaih Williams (45.3%).
- In his only start of the season, logged a team-high 20 points in a Dec. 27 win against Bethesda in his third game back from injury.
- Shared team-high scoring honors with Tyon Grant-Foster after scoring 18 in a blowout win over Southern Utah on Feb. 10.
- Was key in GCU's WAC Tournament Championship victory over UT Arlington, scoring 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting with three assists.
- Named the WAC Preseason Player of the Year.
- Only played in 12 games, suffering a season-ending knee injury in a win at Sam Houston on Jan. 5.
- Scored in double figures in half of his 12-game season including the first three games of the year.
- Tied GCU's D-I record with seven steals in a win over Grambling on Nov. 19.
- Had a season-high 21 points on a perfect 7-for-7 day from the field in a win over Alcorn State on Nov. 29. Just the fifth time in GCU's D-I era that a player was perfect from the field with at least seven makes.
- In third Lopes season, was named to the All-WAC first team and NABC All-District second team.
- Named to the Lou Henson Award Mid-Season Watch List for the top player in the mid-major ranks.
- Became the fourth member of GCU's 1,000-point club in the program's Division I era on Feb. 16, needing less than three seasons to join DeWayne Russell, Joshua Braun and Alessandro Lever. Was GCU's 26th player to accomplish the feat all-time.
- Set GCU's D-I career steals record with 139, surpassing DeWayne Russell's mark of 119. Also set the GCU single-season steals mark with 53, passing his own mark of 48 set in 2019-20.
- Started 31 games, running his career total to 85 starts.
- His mark of 490 points on the season was fifth-most in a Lopes D-I season.
- Led GCU and ranked seventh in the WAC in scoring at 15.8 points per game. Also ranked fourth in the conference in assists per game (4.0) and seventh in steals per game (1.7).
- Hit the fourth-most 3-pointers (61) in GCU's D-I era, a mark that ranked ninth in the WAC.
- Scored a career-high 26 points against Seattle U on Feb. 3 on 10-of-20 shooting.
- Made five 3-pointers in a game for the first time in his career on Dec. 30 against Chicago State.
- Reached double-figure scoring in 28 of 31 games, including a streak of 22 straight games to open the season.
- Landed on the All-WAC second team.
- Named the MVP of the WAC tournament following 34 points in the Lopes' two games while committing just one turnover in 59 minutes of play. Led GCU in scoring in both victories. Helped put New Mexico State away in the title game with a 15-point first half.
- Ranked 31st nationally and second in the WAC with 5.4 assists per game. Ranked 41st nationally with a 2.41 assist-to-turnover ratio.
- Led GCU with 130 assists, 58 steals and a 80.7% free throw shooting clip. Tied for second on the team with 31 made 3-pointers.
- Posted back-to-back 20-point performances to lead the team in games against Nevada (career-high 22) and No. 25 Arizona State (21) and was named WAC Player of the Week.
- A lob from Blacksher to Sean Miller-Moore landed as the No. 7 play on SportsCenter's top 10 on Jan. 15.
- Named the WAC Freshman of the Year, an award GCU last claimed with Alessandro Lever in 2017-18.
- Was the only freshman in the country to accumulate 300 points, 150 rebounds and 100 assists.
- Set GCU's all-time freshman assists record with 109.
- Led the Lopes in assists (109), steals (48), defensive rebounds (146) and minutes (1,038).
- Finished seventh nationally among freshmen in minutes per game (34.6).
- Scored in double figures in his first three career games (15, 14, 14).
- Recorded his first double-double in his third career game against eventual top-10 team San Diego State on the road, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
- Had a season-high 10 assists compared to just one turnover in a GCU win over Montana State on Nov. 19.
- Recorded a second double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds in an overtime win over Kansas City on Feb. 13.
- Scored a season-high 21 points on 7-for-10 shooting in a road loss to Seattle U on Feb. 20.
- Played over 30 minutes in all but two games.
Shadow Mountain HS |
Phoenix, Ariz. |
- Helped lead the Matadors to a state title in all four years of high school under the guidance of former NBA star Mike Bibby.
- Averaged at least 15 points and four assists in each of his final three seasons. Finished his four-year career averaging 4.1 steals.
- Improved 3-point shooting each season to peak at 43 percent (44 for 103) as a senior.
- Heralded nationally for his floor intelligence and elite defense.
- Joined former teammates J.J. Rhymes and Carlos Johnson as alumni of Shadow Mountain where he shared the court with Rhymes as a freshman.
- A four-star recruit, matching the top-rated recruit in program history.
Personal |
- Parents are Jovan Blacksher Sr. and Lashaun James.
- Longtime teammate of Jaelen House, son of Eddie House and a member of the men's basketball team at New Mexico.
- Local talent who stayed in tune with GCU program, attending four of the five Midnight Madness events prior to his college career.
GCU Men's Basketball vs. UNLV - Postgame Radio with Jaden Henley
Thursday, February 26
GCU Men's Basketball vs. UNLV - Postgame with Bryce Drew
Thursday, February 26
GCU Men's Basketball vs. UNLV - Postgame with Jaden Henley, Makaih Williams
Thursday, February 26
GCU Men's Basketball vs. UNLV - Postgame Radio with Bryce Drew
Thursday, February 26
