Fort Lewis College star Joshua Blaylock played his last collegiate basketball game Friday night in the Reese’s Division II All-Star Game in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Blaylock, a guard from Lancaster, California, played for the West All Stars, which lost to the East All Stars 125-114. The Skyhawks star finished the game 2-for-8 from the floor with five points, six rebounds, and three assists in 18 minutes played.
“The All-Star game atmosphere really isn’t suited for the kind of all-around, selfless player Josh Blaylock is,” Fort Lewis head coach Bob Pietrack said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “Josh likes to share the ball, make the right play, make the right pass to the right guy, and that’s what makes him so great to coach. When you’re playing a game of pickup with a bunch of talent, he’ll try to showcase everyone’s talent. After watching the game, it’s even clearer to me that he’s deserving to be an All-American.”
Tarleton State senior Romond Jenkins, who FLC shut down in the second half of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional win, finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds to lead the East team.
The game’s other participant from the South Central region, Arkansas-Fort Smith’s Seth Youngblood, was held scoreless. Shorter University (Georgia) guard Phil Taylor led the West with 24 points.
“We’re just so proud of everything Josh has done in his time with Fort Lewis,” Pietrack said. “He has represented us well wherever we’ve gone and this was just a great culmination for such a great career.”
Blaylock leaves Fort Lewis after an incredible season in which he was the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Preseason Player of the Year, Player of the Year, All-RMAC First Team, All-South Central Region First Team, NABC All-America First Team and the all-time single-season record holder at FLC with 687 points.
The Skyhawks won more games in each of his two seasons than any other seasons in school history.
jfries@durangoherald.com
