James Blackmon Sr. (born August 7, 1964) is an American basketball coach and former noted college and high school player. Blackmon has coached two teams to the class 2A high school basketball championship in Indiana, winning back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009. He also won the class 4A high school basketball championship in Indiana in 2016. Blackmon played basketball in college for the University of Kentucky Wildcats.[1] As a senior at Marion High School, in Marion, Indiana, Blackmon was runner-up for the award of Indiana Mr. Basketball, won that year by Steve Alford. Blackmon was named to the McDonald's All-American and Parade All-American teams in recognition of his high school success.
The 2012/13 season was Blackmon's 9th year as head coach at Bishop Luers High School. Blackmon was hired as head coach for the 2004/05 season, taking over a team whose combined record was 7–33 for the prior two seasons.[2] Blackmon has revised the boys' image at a school better known for its championship history in Indiana high school girls basketball. During his tenure, the Knights' play in the state tournament has resulted in 2 state basketball championships and 5 sectional championships. In addition, the Knights have won 3 conference tournament titles and 2 conference regular season championships.
Past players coached by Blackmon include Deshaun Thomas, the 2010 Indiana Mr. Basketball and holder of 3rd place in the list of the state's all-time leading scorers. His teams at MHS have featured his sons, James Blackmon Jr. and Vijay Blackmon.
The 2007/08 Knights won the Summit Athletic Conference holiday tournament for the first time in school history. The win was the first of 3 consecutive tournament titles. The Knights went on to win the Class 2A Indiana high school basketball championship in 2007/08 and again in 2008/09.
The Knights have won 5 sectional titles under Blackmon's leadership, in consecutive seasons starting with 2006/07 and ending in 2009/10 and later in 2012/13.
The 2010/2011 Knights won their first SAC regular season title with a win in their final regular season game.[3]
In May 2011, Blackmon resigned as head coach to accept a similar position at his alma mater, but would later remain at Luers.[4]
The 2011/2012 Knights repeated as SAC regular season champions.
In April 2013, Blackmon resigned as head coach to accept the position offered to him two years earlier at Marion High School.[5]
Marion High School, Marion, INedit
Blackmon announced he was leaving Bishop Luers after he was named head coach on May 11, 2011 by a 5–2 vote by the school board of the Marion Community Schools. With the move, Blackmon would be returning to his alma mater, a school whose rich basketball tradition includes the second-most titles in the history of Indiana high school basketball.[4][6][7] Later that same month, in a dramatic change of events, Blackmon sent his letter of resignation to Marion and announced that he would be retaining his position as head coach at Bishop Luers.[8][9]
In 2013, rumors tied Blackmon to Marion High School again when it was reported that he had been interviewed for the head coach's job.[10] On April 24, 2013, the Marion Community Schools board voted unanimously to offer the position to Blackmon after the recent resignation of the prior head basketball coach. Once again, Blackmon accepted. Blackmon commented that he reneged after the previous hiring due to problems certain board members and others had with that selection process. This time, the board's 7–0 vote was met with warmth and ovations from those in attendance.[5]
National champion Postseason invitational champion Conference regular season champion Conference regular season and conference tournament champion Division regular season champion Division regular season and conference tournament champion Conference tournament champion
* – Blackmon served a one-game suspension issued by the IHSAA in the first game of the 2011/12 season, won by the Knights. The Knights finished the season 14–9.
Playing careeredit
Professionaledit
Blackmon was drafted by the New Jersey Nets in the 5th round, the 94th pick overall in the 1987 NBA draft. However, he never played in an NBA game.
Collegeedit
Senior (1986/87)
Season schedule
Junior (1985/86)
Season schedule
Sophomore (1984/85)
Season schedule
Freshman (1983/84)
Season schedule Blackmon's value was evident right from the start. He was one of only 5 Wildcats who played in all 34 games that season.[11]
High schooledit
Blackmon finished his high school career with 1,897 points, currently listed as 66th best in Indiana boys' high school history.[12]
Blackmon scored 914 points during the 1982/83 season, the 10th best single-season total in Indiana boys high school history.[12]
Blackmon led the Marion Giants to a regional championship and the state championship semi-finals before losing a high scoring game to Anderson High School. In his last game, Blackmon scored 52 points to set a state finals tournament record that still stands today. The effort, tied for 6th best in Indiana boys high school tournament history, was not enough to overcome the 42 points scored by Anderson's Troy Lewis, the second best individual effort in Indiana's single-class state finals tournament history.[12][15]
^"Historic night for Knights". The Journal Gazette. February 26, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
^ ab"Marion hires Blackmon as hoops coach". WANE.com WANE TV 15. May 11, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
^ ab"Marion welcomes Blackmon Sr. home". JournalGazette.net. April 25, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
^"Blackmon faces major challenge to restore Marion". News-Sentinel.com. May 16, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
^"James Blackmon to Marion, and suspended for season opener". The Hoops House.com. May 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
^"Blackmon to return to Luers after all". The Journal Gazette.net. May 31, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
^. Indiana's NewsCenter: News, Sports, Weather, Fort Wayne WPTA-TV, WISE-TV, CW, and MyFOX. May 31, 2011. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
^"Report: Luers coach Blackmon Sr. leaving". The Journal Gazette. April 19, 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
james, blackmon, born, august, 1964, american, basketball, coach, former, noted, college, high, school, player, blackmon, coached, teams, class, high, school, basketball, championship, indiana, winning, back, back, titles, 2008, 2009, also, class, high, school. James Blackmon Sr born August 7 1964 is an American basketball coach and former noted college and high school player Blackmon has coached two teams to the class 2A high school basketball championship in Indiana winning back to back titles in 2008 and 2009 He also won the class 4A high school basketball championship in Indiana in 2016 Blackmon played basketball in college for the University of Kentucky Wildcats 1 As a senior at Marion High School in Marion Indiana Blackmon was runner up for the award of Indiana Mr Basketball won that year by Steve Alford Blackmon was named to the McDonald s All American and Parade All American teams in recognition of his high school success James Blackmon Sr Current positionTitleHead coachTeamMarion High SchoolBiographical detailsBorn 1964 08 07 August 7 1964 age 59 Saint Croix U S Virgin IslandsPlaying career1983 1987KentuckyCoaching career HC unless noted 2000 2003University of Saint Francis IN Assistant 2004 2012Bishop Luers HS2013 presentMarion HSHead coaching recordOverall146 63 Contents 1 Coaching career 1 1 Bishop Luers High School Fort Wayne IN 1 2 Marion High School Marion IN 2 Head coaching record 3 Playing career 3 1 Professional 3 2 College 3 3 High school 4 References 5 External linksCoaching career editBishop Luers High School Fort Wayne IN edit The 2012 13 season was Blackmon s 9th year as head coach at Bishop Luers High School Blackmon was hired as head coach for the 2004 05 season taking over a team whose combined record was 7 33 for the prior two seasons 2 Blackmon has revised the boys image at a school better known for its championship history in Indiana high school girls basketball During his tenure the Knights play in the state tournament has resulted in 2 state basketball championships and 5 sectional championships In addition the Knights have won 3 conference tournament titles and 2 conference regular season championships Past players coached by Blackmon include Deshaun Thomas the 2010 Indiana Mr Basketball and holder of 3rd place in the list of the state s all time leading scorers His teams at MHS have featured his sons James Blackmon Jr and Vijay Blackmon The 2007 08 Knights won the Summit Athletic Conference holiday tournament for the first time in school history The win was the first of 3 consecutive tournament titles The Knights went on to win the Class 2A Indiana high school basketball championship in 2007 08 and again in 2008 09 The Knights have won 5 sectional titles under Blackmon s leadership in consecutive seasons starting with 2006 07 and ending in 2009 10 and later in 2012 13 The 2010 2011 Knights won their first SAC regular season title with a win in their final regular season game 3 In May 2011 Blackmon resigned as head coach to accept a similar position at his alma mater but would later remain at Luers 4 The 2011 2012 Knights repeated as SAC regular season champions In April 2013 Blackmon resigned as head coach to accept the position offered to him two years earlier at Marion High School 5 Marion High School Marion IN edit Blackmon announced he was leaving Bishop Luers after he was named head coach on May 11 2011 by a 5 2 vote by the school board of the Marion Community Schools With the move Blackmon would be returning to his alma mater a school whose rich basketball tradition includes the second most titles in the history of Indiana high school basketball 4 6 7 Later that same month in a dramatic change of events Blackmon sent his letter of resignation to Marion and announced that he would be retaining his position as head coach at Bishop Luers 8 9 In 2013 rumors tied Blackmon to Marion High School again when it was reported that he had been interviewed for the head coach s job 10 On April 24 2013 the Marion Community Schools board voted unanimously to offer the position to Blackmon after the recent resignation of the prior head basketball coach Once again Blackmon accepted Blackmon commented that he reneged after the previous hiring due to problems certain board members and others had with that selection process This time the board s 7 0 vote was met with warmth and ovations from those in attendance 5 Head coaching record editStatistics overview Season Team Overall Conference Standing PostseasonBishop Luers High School Summit Athletic Conference 2004 2012 2004 05 Bishop Luers 12 9 7 2 2nd L Sectional first round2005 06 Bishop Luers 11 9 3 6 T 7th L Sectional first round2006 07 Bishop Luers 16 7 5 4 5th W Sectional championship2007 08 Bishop Luers 24 3 7 2 T 2nd W Class 2A state championship2008 09 Bishop Luers 23 4 8 1 2nd W Class 2A state championship2009 10 Bishop Luers 14 10 5 4 T 3rd W Sectional championship2010 11 Bishop Luers 17 5 7 1 T 1st L Sectional championship2011 12 Bishop Luers 13 9 6 1 1st L Sectional championship2012 13 Bishop Luers 16 7 4 3 4th W Sectional championshipBishop Luers 146 63 52 24Marion High School North Central Conference 2013 present 2013 14 Marion 18 5 4 3 2nd L Sectional semifinals2014 15 Marion 15 10 5 4 2nd L Sectional first round2015 16 Marion 23 7 5 3 W Class 4A state championship2016 17 Marion 10 13 4 5 L Sectional first round2017 18 Marion 20 7 6 3 W Sectional championship2018 19 Marion 19 8 7 2 W Regional championship2019 20 Marion 12 11 6 3Marion 117 61 37 23Total 263 124 National champion Postseason invitational champion Conference regular season champion Conference regular season and conference tournament champion Division regular season champion Division regular season and conference tournament champion Conference tournament champion Blackmon served a one game suspension issued by the IHSAA in the first game of the 2011 12 season won by the Knights The Knights finished the season 14 9 Playing career editProfessional edit Blackmon was drafted by the New Jersey Nets in the 5th round the 94th pick overall in the 1987 NBA draft However he never played in an NBA game College edit Senior 1986 87 Season schedule Junior 1985 86 Season schedule Sophomore 1984 85 Season schedule Freshman 1983 84 Season schedule Blackmon s value was evident right from the start He was one of only 5 Wildcats who played in all 34 games that season 11 High school edit Blackmon finished his high school career with 1 897 points currently listed as 66th best in Indiana boys high school history 12 Blackmon scored 21 points to share leading scorer honors for the victorious West team in the 1983 McDonald s Boys All American Game 13 Blackmon was selected as a member of the 2008 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Silver Anniversary team 14 Senior 1982 83 Blackmon scored 914 points during the 1982 83 season the 10th best single season total in Indiana boys high school history 12 Blackmon led the Marion Giants to a regional championship and the state championship semi finals before losing a high scoring game to Anderson High School In his last game Blackmon scored 52 points to set a state finals tournament record that still stands today The effort tied for 6th best in Indiana boys high school tournament history was not enough to overcome the 42 points scored by Anderson s Troy Lewis the second best individual effort in Indiana s single class state finals tournament history 12 15 Junior 1981 82 Sophomore 1980 81 Freshman 1979 80 References edit UK Career Statistics for James Blackmon Fort Wayne Luers Historic night for Knights The Journal Gazette February 26 2011 Retrieved April 23 2013 a b Marion hires Blackmon as hoops coach WANE com WANE TV 15 May 11 2011 Retrieved April 23 2013 a b Marion welcomes Blackmon Sr home JournalGazette net April 25 2013 Retrieved April 25 2013 Blackmon faces major challenge to restore Marion News Sentinel com May 16 2011 Retrieved April 23 2013 James Blackmon to Marion and suspended for season opener The Hoops House com May 12 2011 Retrieved April 23 2013 Blackmon to return to Luers after all The Journal Gazette net May 31 2011 Retrieved April 23 2013 James Blackmon Staying at Bishop Luers Indiana s NewsCenter News Sports Weather Fort Wayne WPTA TV WISE TV CW and MyFOX May 31 2011 Archived from the original on March 16 2012 Retrieved April 23 2013 Report Luers coach Blackmon Sr leaving The Journal Gazette April 19 2013 Retrieved April 23 2013 1 Archived July 5 2009 at the Wayback Machine a b c IHSAA Basketball Scoring Records Home McDonald s All American R Games A Basketball Rite of Passage TM Mcdonaldsallamerican com April 3 2013 Retrieved October 13 2013 Luers coach among Silver honorees FortWayne com Fort Wayne IN December 3 2007 Archived from the original on March 19 2012 Retrieved April 23 2013 IHSAA Basketball State Finals RecordsExternal links editBlackmon s game by game college statistics Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Blackmon Sr amp oldid 1157907453, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
