Kerry Blackshear Jr.

Kerry Blackshear Jr. (born January 28, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for Hapoel Gilboa Galil of the Israeli Premier League. He played college basketball for the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Florida Gators.

Kerry Blackshear Jr.
Blackshear in January 2020
No. 15 – Hapoel Gilboa Galil
PositionPower forward
LeagueIsraeli Premier League
Personal information
Born (1997-01-28) January 28, 1997
Orlando, Florida
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight241 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High schoolMaynard Evans
(Orlando, Florida)
College
Playing career2020–present
Career history
2020–presentHapoel Gilboa Galil
Career highlights and awards

Early life and high school career

Blackshear's father, Kerry Blackshear Sr., played in college at Stetson, where he was the second-leading scorer in program history and the 1994–95 Atlantic Sun player of the year before embarking on a professional career. His mother, Lamilia Ford Blackshear, is the third-leading rebounder for the Stetson women.[1] By the time the younger Blackshear reached high school at Maynard Evans in Orlando, Florida, he had been raised around the world and his game resembled a European big man.[2] Blackshear was regarded as a four-star prospect in the 2015 class, ranked by 247Sports as the 25th ranked power forward and 88th overall player.[3]

College career

Virginia Tech

As a freshman at Virginia Tech, Blackshear posted 6.2 points per game off the bench. He was forced to redshirt his sophomore season due to a foot injury.[1] Blackshear averaged 12.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game as a redshirt sophomore for Virginia Tech.[3]

Blackshear in 2019

After roommate Justin Robinson went down with a foot injury on January 30, 2019, Blackshear picked up his production, scoring 29 points and grabbing nine rebounds in a win at Pittsburgh.[1] As a junior, Blackshear averaged 14.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, shooting 50.8% from the field and 33.3% from behind the arc. He was named to the Second Team All-ACC. Blackshear helped lead Virginia Tech to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, contributing 18 points, 16 rebounds, five assists and two blocks in a narrow defeat to Duke. After the season he declared for the 2019 NBA draft. Blackshear withdrew from the draft shortly before the deadline but announced he was transferring from Virginia Tech. On June 26, 2019, he announced he would play at Florida in his final season of eligibility.[4]

Florida

In his first game in a Florida uniform, Blackshear had 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Gators defeated North Florida 74–59.[5] On January 4, 2020, Blackshear scored 24 points and had 16 rebounds in a 104–98 win over Alabama in double overtime, during which Florida overcame a 21 point deficit, the largest comeback in school history.[6] Blackshear sprained his left wrist during the season finale versus Kentucky. He averaged 12.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game at Florida.[7] At the conclusion of the regular season, Blackshear was named to the Second Team All-SEC.[8]

Professional career

On August 9, 2020, Blackshear signed with Hapoel Gilboa Galil of the Israeli Premier League.[9]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2015–16 Virginia Tech 35519.2.553.235.5584.5.6.5.46.2
2016–17 Virginia Tech
Redshirt
2017–18 Virginia Tech 333225.2.558.306.7475.91.2.8.912.5
2018–19 Virginia Tech 353530.0.508.333.7367.52.4.7.814.9
2019–20 Florida 313127.2.436.305.7927.51.6.6.612.8
Career 13410325.3.509.308.7316.31.4.6.711.6

References
  1. Berman, Mark (March 10, 2019). "Kerry Blackshear Jr. blossoms into Virginia Tech star". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  2. Wood, Norm (January 23, 2016). "Blackshear, Robinson carve out big freshmen roles for Virginia Tech as it preps for No. 2 UNC". The Daily Press. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  3. Ramey, Grant (June 26, 2019). "Vols out of the race for Kerry Blackshear". 247 Sports. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  4. Rollins, Khadrice (June 26, 2019). "Kerry Blackshear Jr. Transferring to Florida From Virginia Tech". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  5. "Blackshear gets double-double, No. 6 Florida beats UNF 74-59". ESPN. Associated Press. November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  6. "Florida rallies from 21 points down, beats Alabama in 2OT". ESPN. Associated Press. January 4, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  7. "Florida's Kerry Blackshear may miss SEC tournament with sprained wrist". ESPN. Associated Press. March 9, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  8. "SEC announces 2020 Men's Basketball Awards" (Press release). Southeastern Conference. March 10, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
  9. "Kerry Blackshear inks with Hapoel Galil Gilboa". Sportando. August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
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