Twice The Brothers, Twice The Bond For Blackmon
3/1/2019 5:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Photo Credits: Marquise Pointer / Athletics Communications Student Intern
ASHANTAI WAUGH
Athletics Communications Student Assistant
As a walk-on for the College of Charleston men's basketball team and a new initiate of the Tau Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., senior forward Jermaine Blackmon Jr., has mastered balancing the dual-life as a student-athlete and an active member of a National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Greek organization on campus.
In the rare instance of being granted a spot on the team as a walk-on, Blackmon was introduced to a strong sense of brotherhood on the court before joining his fraternity. After being a student manager for the Cougars two years prior, CofC Head Coach Earl Grant saw potential in Blackmon and offered him a well-deserved position on the team roster prior to the 2017-18 season.
"He deserved and earned the right to be on our team," Grant said. "He has worn every hat with our program. Doing day-to-day things for our program as a manager and then moving up. He really worked hard, sacrificed and showed a great commitment. He has been a valuable member of our team, a good leader, a good student and has made an impact on a lot of his teammates."
A business administration major from Charlotte, North Carolina, Blackmon is extremely grateful for the opportunities being a part of the team has granted him. In the Fall of 2017, the Cougars took a 10-day foreign tour to Ireland and have traveled across the U.S. during his time with the program as manager and walk-on.
"Coach Grant did not have to pick me to be a walk-on at all, but he thought I was talented enough to take on that role," he said. "I love being a walk-on. A lot of people may look down upon it, because we don't get in the game as much. However, I look at it from a different perspective, considering that I want to be a coach one day. It allows me to take a backseat and really look at the game from a different standpoint."
Even with the lack of playing time, Blackmon doesn't let that interfere with his love for the game – a game he started playing 16 years ago and continued to do so in high school at Davidson Day School.
"Just because I don't get in the game, that doesn't take away from me being a part of the team or me being a part of a brotherhood that a lot of people don't get to experience," he said.
Blackmon's closest friends on the team are senior forward Jarrell Brantley and junior guard Grant Riller. Brantley describes Blackmon as the man behind the mirror and noting that he is one of the most well-respected guys in the Cougars' locker room.
"We smile, laugh and fight," Brantley said. "He is one of the closest brothers on the team to me. A lot of the guys on our team look up to him and listen to him. He is a captain in his own extent and brings us together in huddles. He is one of the guys that competes with us at a high level in practice. He has watched me grow up and I've done the same the last four years."
While actively being a part of a brotherhood on the basketball court, Blackmon also took on the challenge of participating in a Greek membership intake process simultaneously last fall. By becoming a new member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, he gained some new brothers. But this time, off the court.
Balancing being a student-athlete and participating in Greek life is no easy task.
"It's hard," he said. "Especially balancing school, basketball and Greek life. School being the top priority of them all. You just have to work on time management and be very disciplined."
If there's anything Blackmon has gained from being a part of more than just basketball, it's the impact that both have had on him that has help shaped him into the person he is today.
"It has really allowed me to network and build relationships," he said. "Being an athlete and part of student life has allowed me to be a bridge between regular students and other student-athletes on campus."
With twice the brothers, comes twice the bond with his brothers on the team and his brothers in his fraternity.
"The bond that my brothers and I have in Alpha Phi Alpha is very unique, especially my line brothers," he said. "All of us are completely different people. We come from completely different backgrounds, but we all share one passion – to be a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity."
The same can be said about Blackmon's basketball brothers – all coming from different walks of life, but sharing one passion and one common goal.
"With my brothers on the team, there's no question that it's one of the strongest bonds that I've ever had at The College," he said. "There's a lot that me and those guys go through that a lot of people don't see. People see the emotion on the court, but they don't see the behind-the-scenes."
As a senior on track to graduate in May, Blackmon was ideally looking to use his business degree to help run his family restaurant back home in Charlotte – The Original Chicken and Ribs. He has also been exploring a few different options that pertain to the sport he loves.
"My dream is to be a college basketball coach," he said. "Along with that, I would like to get into graduate school and take on a graduate assistant position and be exposed to all of the coaching aspects that goes on within a basketball program."
Extremely appreciative for his experiences at The College, Blackmon doesn't take anything for granted, especially with graduation just a few months away and Senior Day at TD Arena on Saturday.
"I fully appreciate everyone, from my coaches, my professors, my family and friends, all the way down to the event staff that works our basketball games," he said. "I want everyone to know that every little piece matters and is appreciated."
Editor's Note: The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is the governing body for the historically African-American fraternities and sororities at College of Charleston. Eight of the "Divine Nine" fraternities and sororities currently at The College include: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
ASHANTAI WAUGH
Athletics Communications Student Assistant
As a walk-on for the College of Charleston men's basketball team and a new initiate of the Tau Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., senior forward Jermaine Blackmon Jr., has mastered balancing the dual-life as a student-athlete and an active member of a National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Greek organization on campus.
In the rare instance of being granted a spot on the team as a walk-on, Blackmon was introduced to a strong sense of brotherhood on the court before joining his fraternity. After being a student manager for the Cougars two years prior, CofC Head Coach Earl Grant saw potential in Blackmon and offered him a well-deserved position on the team roster prior to the 2017-18 season.
"He deserved and earned the right to be on our team," Grant said. "He has worn every hat with our program. Doing day-to-day things for our program as a manager and then moving up. He really worked hard, sacrificed and showed a great commitment. He has been a valuable member of our team, a good leader, a good student and has made an impact on a lot of his teammates."
A business administration major from Charlotte, North Carolina, Blackmon is extremely grateful for the opportunities being a part of the team has granted him. In the Fall of 2017, the Cougars took a 10-day foreign tour to Ireland and have traveled across the U.S. during his time with the program as manager and walk-on.
"Coach Grant did not have to pick me to be a walk-on at all, but he thought I was talented enough to take on that role," he said. "I love being a walk-on. A lot of people may look down upon it, because we don't get in the game as much. However, I look at it from a different perspective, considering that I want to be a coach one day. It allows me to take a backseat and really look at the game from a different standpoint."
Even with the lack of playing time, Blackmon doesn't let that interfere with his love for the game – a game he started playing 16 years ago and continued to do so in high school at Davidson Day School.
"Just because I don't get in the game, that doesn't take away from me being a part of the team or me being a part of a brotherhood that a lot of people don't get to experience," he said.
Blackmon's closest friends on the team are senior forward Jarrell Brantley and junior guard Grant Riller. Brantley describes Blackmon as the man behind the mirror and noting that he is one of the most well-respected guys in the Cougars' locker room.
"We smile, laugh and fight," Brantley said. "He is one of the closest brothers on the team to me. A lot of the guys on our team look up to him and listen to him. He is a captain in his own extent and brings us together in huddles. He is one of the guys that competes with us at a high level in practice. He has watched me grow up and I've done the same the last four years."While actively being a part of a brotherhood on the basketball court, Blackmon also took on the challenge of participating in a Greek membership intake process simultaneously last fall. By becoming a new member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, he gained some new brothers. But this time, off the court.
Balancing being a student-athlete and participating in Greek life is no easy task.
"It's hard," he said. "Especially balancing school, basketball and Greek life. School being the top priority of them all. You just have to work on time management and be very disciplined."
If there's anything Blackmon has gained from being a part of more than just basketball, it's the impact that both have had on him that has help shaped him into the person he is today.
"It has really allowed me to network and build relationships," he said. "Being an athlete and part of student life has allowed me to be a bridge between regular students and other student-athletes on campus."
With twice the brothers, comes twice the bond with his brothers on the team and his brothers in his fraternity.
"The bond that my brothers and I have in Alpha Phi Alpha is very unique, especially my line brothers," he said. "All of us are completely different people. We come from completely different backgrounds, but we all share one passion – to be a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity."
The same can be said about Blackmon's basketball brothers – all coming from different walks of life, but sharing one passion and one common goal.
"With my brothers on the team, there's no question that it's one of the strongest bonds that I've ever had at The College," he said. "There's a lot that me and those guys go through that a lot of people don't see. People see the emotion on the court, but they don't see the behind-the-scenes."
As a senior on track to graduate in May, Blackmon was ideally looking to use his business degree to help run his family restaurant back home in Charlotte – The Original Chicken and Ribs. He has also been exploring a few different options that pertain to the sport he loves.
"My dream is to be a college basketball coach," he said. "Along with that, I would like to get into graduate school and take on a graduate assistant position and be exposed to all of the coaching aspects that goes on within a basketball program."
Extremely appreciative for his experiences at The College, Blackmon doesn't take anything for granted, especially with graduation just a few months away and Senior Day at TD Arena on Saturday.
"I fully appreciate everyone, from my coaches, my professors, my family and friends, all the way down to the event staff that works our basketball games," he said. "I want everyone to know that every little piece matters and is appreciated."
Editor's Note: The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is the governing body for the historically African-American fraternities and sororities at College of Charleston. Eight of the "Divine Nine" fraternities and sororities currently at The College include: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Players Mentioned
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