Grad-transfer forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. ranks second on the team in scoring at 13.2 points and rebounding at 7.5 per game.
'Grad-Transfer Day' Offers Big (Blue) Opportunity for Blackshear, Gators
Friday, March 6, 2020 | Men's Basketball, Chris Harry
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By: Chris Harry, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — When news broke late last spring of Kerry Blackshear Jr.'s graduate-transfer to Florida, the buzz was instantaneous and grew into full-fledged orange-and-blue hype in time for the 2019-20 regular season. Blackshear was voted the Southeastern Conference's preseason player of the year and the Gators entered tipped of the campaign as the nation's No. 6 team and a fashionable pick to reach the Final Four.
"He was going to be Shaquille O'Neal," UF coach Mike White said Friday.
OK, so that's somewhat hyperbolic, but there's no denying the expectations for both Blackshear and his team were not only sky high but also — especially looking back — completely unrealistic. Yes, Blackshear was a second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection and box-score stuffer at Virginia Tech. He was joining a team that returned three starting sophomores, but also one with five freshmen (yes, two of them McDonald's All Americans) with nary a clue of what was about to come at them.
Fast forward five months. Florida has been unranked since late-November and Blackshear, though the second-leading scorer and top rebounder on the team, will not be SEC Player of the Year. He won't be all-league, either. That's not important now. Not to Blackshear, not to his team. It took some time — more than the coaches and players would have liked — but the Gators (19-11, 11-6) have put together their best month of basketball and did so just in time for Saturday's regular-season finale against league champion and sixth-ranked Kentucky (24-6, 14-3) at sold-out Exactech Arena/O'Connell Center and whatever awaits them afterward. Before the game, Blackshear will watch a video of his highlights in a UF uniform (some good ones), then walk to mid-court with his family as part of the annual "Senior Day" ceremonies. Make that "Grad-Transfer Day."
Either way, it's gone by fast.
It's also not over, yet.
[Read senior writer Chris Harry's "Pregame Stuff" setup here]
"I think we've just been gradually taking that next step. Like, this will get better one game and then the next game another aspect of our defense will get better," Blackshear said. "I think we're just building toward getting better. That's been the focus. Even in the games where we've come out pretty solid on defense, we realize there are a lot of plays we wish we could have back, so we could be even better. If we can maintain that mindset, I think we'll keep getting better on defense. When our defense is better, I think our offense is better as well."
The UF defense was really, really good for the final 35 minutes in winning Wednesday night at Georgia. In that one, the Bulldogs hit their first seven field-goal attempts, including four 3s, to jump in front by 13 just five minutes in. The Gators settled down, never panicked, worked themselves back into the game and took it over in the final seven-plus minutes behind the latest gem from sophomore forward Keyontae Johnson (18 points, 11 rebounds) and some deadly down-the-stretch 3-point shooting by sophomore guard Noah Locke (17 points).
Blackshear, meanwhile, had a quiet eight points, eight rebounds and was solid in the post. Did his job. The game before, a close road loss at Tennessee, he had 20 points and nine boards. In fact, over the previous eight games, Blackshear has had double-figure scoring every other game, including an 18-point, six-rebound outing in a six-point road loss at Kentucky when he outplayed UK forward Nick Richards, who actually is a candidate for SEC player of the year. It's been that kind of season both for Blackshear and his team.
So where would Florida be without him?
"In a world of hurt," White said.
Kerry Blackshear Jr. (24) has scored at least 20 points a team-high seven times this year and has eight double-doubles, including 24 points and 16 rebounds in a double-overtime win over Alabama to open the SEC season.
Blackshear is averaging 13.2 points, but on a career-low 44.3 percent shooting, to go with 7.5 rebounds over 27.7 minutes per game. He hasn't been afforded the kind of favorable whistles he got during non-league play, which has led to some frustration, but his 183 free throws rank fifth in the SEC and he's converted at 79.2 percent.
The totality of Blackshear's game, including the ability to pass (his 49 assists rank second on the team), has allowed UF to spread the floor and spread the ball around, with the biggest beneficiary being Johnson, the team's top scorer, and now best candidate for postseason honors.
"He's opened up the game for a lot of us, especially me," Johnson said.
Added Kentucky coach John Calipari: "He's physical. He's smart. He ball fakes. He gets you in bad positions. He creates fouls. Throws himself into you. If you're not ready to play, he physically throws his body at you. He's good. He's a terrific player. He's one of the best big men in our league."
On the youngest team in the SEC, Blackshear has also had to be a steadying hand at times behind the scenes; the adult in the room, per say. It hasn't always been rosy — kind of like the UF season — but Blackshear and the Gators have managed to play themselves into a decent spot relative to the postseason. They currently sit in a three-way tie for second in the SEC standings and can wrap up the No. 2 seed in next week's league tournament with a victory over the Wildcats. They'll also be playing in the NCAA Tournament in a couple weeks.
Blackshear is a huge reason for all that.
CHARTING THE GATORS Kerry Blackshear Jr. became the fourth graduate-transfer to come to Florida. Here's how they fared.
Player
Pos.
Season
From
Key stats
The season
Jon Horford
F/C
2014-15
Michigan
31 games, 28 starts, 6.5 ppg, 48.4% FG, 78.8% FT
UF went 16-17 (no posteason)
Canyon Barry
F
2016-17
College of Charleston
35 games, 1 start, 11.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 42.2% FG, 33.6% 3pt, 88.3% FT, 2017 SEC Sixth Man of Year.
"He's had a great year. Talk about playing through a guy, he catches the ball everywhere on the floor. The more he touches it the better we are," White said. "Defensively, he's been an anchor. From a consistency, toughness, intelligence, focus standpoint; scouting report, preparation standpoint he's the guy on our team. Leadership characteristics. As smart of a guy as I've ever coached. Impressive with how he's dealt with all the crazy exterior stuff that's been thrown at him. … He's just stayed the course. Comes with a great attitude every day. He's helped this team, put us in a position where we're pretty competitive. We've got a chance to finish strong. If he doesn't come to Florida, it could've been a tough year."
Not that he didn't have options. Every top-flight program in the nation reached out to Blackshear when he's name popped into the transfer portal last April. Eventually, the Orlando native narrowed his choices to UF, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Arkansas and (of course) Kentucky.
Blackshear was asked Friday which team finished second. He smiled.
"I ended up here," he said.
Yes he did. Right up the road from home, where some dozen family and friends (including his parents, plus younger brother and sister) will make the trip to watch the final home game of a stellar collegiate career —1,548 points, 842 rebounds and counting — against a top-10 opponent in what figures to be the best O'Dome atmosphere of the year.
Complete with great expectations, of course.
"I'm glad everybody here wanted me," Blackshear said. "And still glad that everybody here appreciates me."
