F6 | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016 | THE HERALD-TIMES | IU BASKETBALL PREVIEW
BLACKMON CONTINUED FROM PAGE F5
“What I love about Yogi and what I miss is the competitive edge,” Blackmon Jr. said. “Every day, me and him would guard each other in practice trying to go at each other and get in each other’s face. I feel like I do that.” With Collin Hartman, Indiana’s lone senior, out indefinitely with a knee injury, the Hoosiers are searching for another voice. Ferrell used to help in that regard. So did former graduate transfer Max Bielfeldt. Gradually, Blackmon Jr. is showing the qualities of becoming an upperclassman who can marshal the Hoosiers within a game. But that’s not a transformation anyone is expecting to take hold overnight. That is a degree of growth that requires time. “It needs to be forced,” Crean said of Blackmon Jr.’s leadership qualities. “It needed to be forced out of Yogi as well. It really “James is the epitome did. Yogi’s leadership of a guy that has so went to a whole other level when we got into much more to give, the Big Ten season (last and we’re going to year). “What Yogi had was hold him to a high a presence, was a duraexpectation level of it.” bility, and people had a real comfort level playTOM CREAN, Indiana basketball ing with him because it coach on junior guard James was like it was safe to Blackmon Jr. play with Yogi because Yogi was so good, Yogi could do so many different things. “So there’s different forms of leadership. But verbal, demanding, make the game easier for everybody else, that takes time for guys. It’s very unnatural for most people.” That includes Blackmon Jr. “James is at the point that, as he’s maturing a bit more, he’s being more vocal,” his father said. “That’s a good thing. That’s a positive thing. He’s trying to put it all together by being a little bit more verbal. That’s why he’s one of the team captains.” CHRIS HOWELL | HERALD-TIMES Leadership and attention to detail are among the Indiana director of player personel Derek Elston slaps hands with Indiana guard James Blackmon Jr. in the locker room before an teaching points NBA decision-makers will be looking NCAA tournament practice at the Wells Fargo Arena on March 28 in Des Moines, Iowa. Blackmon missed the final 22 games of to see from Blackmon Jr. this season. He’s at least on the the season after tearing the ACL in his right knee on Dec. 22, 2015 against Kennesaw State. NBA Draft radar after declaring himself eligible this past spring. Blackmon did so to gauge his value at the next level and use those lessons learned during his upcoming The Premier junior season at Indiana. Spot for Pool Teams want to make sure he’s healthy, fully recovEnthusiasts & ered from his latest knee surgery. They want to know R E A LT O R ® Locals to he can complement one of the best shooting strokes in WATCH the conference, if not the country, with a more complete approach in other areas. THE Those professional teams, like Indiana, are ready to HOOSIERS see what Blackmon does while fueled by an urgency to 426 S. College Ave. prove himself as one of college basketball’s top players. Bloomington IN, 47403 “James is the epitome of a guy that has so much more Cell 812-325-8207 (812) 287-7608 to give,” Crean said, “and we’re going to hold him to a www.bluetipbilliards.com realestatebysteele@gmail.com high expectation level of it.” HT-147984-1
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Aaron Steele