TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

A Conversation With Jeremy Black

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOEY JOHNSTON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 18, 2008

Six years ago, Jeremy Black played organized basketball for the first time at Blake High School. He didn't expect it to lead anywhere - certainly not to college. But Black, a 6-foot-8, 225-pounder, is leaving the University of Tampa as one of the best players in program history. As a senior, he averaged 18.7 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, while earning first-team All-American honors.

He was recently named Sunshine State Conference Male Athlete of the Year, a reflection of his basketball performance, academic ability (degree in criminology) and community service (he was president of UT's Student Athlete Advisory Committee and did volunteer work with children). He also played in two all-star games - the NABC Division II All-Star Game at Springfield, Mass., and the Collegiate Basketball Invitational at Wadsworth, Ohio.

His first airplane flight was in November. Next month, Black, 22, begins a professional basketball career in Germany.

What was your reaction to being named Sunshine State Conference Male Athlete of the Year?

I didn't imagine something like this was possible. My assistant coach DeCarlo Deveaux was a two-time All-American at UT and he never got that. Our star player when I got here Mark Borders, he never got that. Mark saw me at my worst. I couldn't dribble. I could barely shoot. He taught me a lot. The other day, Mark told me, "Man, I'm so proud of you." Those words mean everything to me.

So how did you improve so quickly?

It's crazy, but I never played AAU, never played any summer ball. I wish I had. But I was so far behind in experience compared to everybody else. It's just work and effort, I guess. My high school coach Winston Davis always told me if I could rebound and run the floor, that would mean some easy baskets. I had a breakout season my senior year leading Hillsborough County in rebounding at 15.4. They ended up naming me "Most Likely To Succeed" in high school. That surprised me, too. I think people saw things in me that I couldn't see for myself. I didn't have an easy time growing up.

What obstacles did you have?

I feel like I had to become almost like an adult at a young age. My family was never really together. I'm the youngest of seven, and everybody has gone their own way. When I was in the eighth grade, my sister died. My stepmom, who really raised me, died when I was in college. I have a brother in prison. Two of my brothers never got out of high school. For me to take a different path, I just looked at them. They were showing me what NOT to do, so I went the other way. Not that going the other way was always easy.

Was escaping from that environment your biggest motivation?

Actually, it was. When I look to my neighborhood, the kids from elementary and middle school, I know of only one other person who got to college. Some are in prison. Some have died. Some have kids of their own already. When I got to UT, I kind of kept my head down. People said, "Man, you're so quiet." It took me a while to realize I was out of the gloomy weather. I was lucky enough to get a new family - my teammates, my coaches and the people I go to school with. Then I realized, if I work hard and grab this opportunity, I can make something of myself.

What was it like playing for UT coach Richard Schmidt?

It was an experience. A lot of players never get to know him on a one-to-one level. It's not because he doesn't care. It's because they don't try to know him. We had our differences, but I feel like I know him as a coach and a person. I know he cares about me. I didn't always agree with everything he said - or how loudly he said it - but he always had good intentions. He has my utmost respect.

What do you imagine it will be like in Germany?

Probably hard at times. I'm pretty sure everybody is going to speak German. Laughter. Well, yeah, that's obvious, right? Different weather, different food, different people. Nothing at all like Tampa. But here's my chance to see the world, meet new people and experience new things. I'm going to take that and run with it.

What's in your future beyond basketball?

I'm going to save money as much as I can. I have no reason to blow it because my contract in Germany gets me a furnished apartment, a car, most of my meals. I'll play basketball as long as I can, but I want to get a master's degree. I see myself going to a police academy and trying to work with at-risk kids. I didn't have the best of childhoods, so I want to help others in that way. You're an adult until you die. But those childhood years, you never get them back. Kids shouldn't have to worry about things. Kids should be having fun.

Reporter Joey Johnston can be reached at (813) 259-7353 or jjohnston@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT