Louisville fans to get an early look at Wayne Blackshear

by Mike Rutherford on Jan 11, 2011 8:30 AM EST in Basketball

It was announced Monday that Louisville commit Wayne Blackshear, the crown jewel of Rick Pitino's class of 2011, will be playing some basketball in the Derby City a bit earlier than expected.

Blackshear and his Chicago Morgan Park High School team will face Ryan Taylor and Western High School on Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. inside Eastern High School's gym.

Here's hoping the game gets moved to a larger venue, otherwise you're going to be hard-pressed to find a seat.

Blackshear has already had a tremendous senior season for Morgan Park. He scored 56 points in an early December game, nearly broke Jon Scheyer's scoring record at the prestigious Proviso West Holiday Tournament, and left Illinois Governor Pat Quinn saying, "I hope Wayne Blackshear is playing for the Bulls someday" after a 44-point performance on Dec. 27.

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I'm not the first to say it and I won't be the last, but Wayne Blackshear will make more of an impact in his freshman season than any other player in the Rick Pitino era at Louisville. He also might very well be the single most important individual when it comes to the success of this program over the course of the current decade. If Blackshear comes in, lives up to the hype, and helps lead a highly successful season or two, then the fans are happy, Rick Pitino's happy, and the recruits probably keep rolling in. If he doesn't and Louisville doesn't see the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament in 2012 or 2013, the fans go ballistic, Pitino probably doesn't hang around, the recruits stop showing interest, and the program slips into a state of flux.

Come out and catch an early glimpse of the future.

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Comments

Bout to get Shearious

by Card-in-nati on Jan 11, 2011 8:51 AM EST reply actions 3 recs

I see what you did there.

by CardinalDude on Jan 11, 2011 9:42 AM EST up reply actions

took me a while

by Card-in-nati on Jan 11, 2011 9:57 AM EST up reply actions

haha

by Mike Rutherford on Jan 11, 2011 10:24 AM EST up reply actions

Too bad Lou Holtz doesn't call bball games

We would probably hear that line a few times.

by guyngreen on Jan 11, 2011 11:56 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs

hahaha

by UL is my hot hot sex on Jan 12, 2011 5:58 AM EST up reply actions

So what’s the deal with Ryan Taylor?

Mike Marra is the worst Division 1 Starter in college basketball

by TheRealSlimShady on Jan 11, 2011 11:48 AM EST reply actions

Honestly, no idea

Last I heard there was no way he was going to qualify and he might reclassify to 2102.

by Mike Rutherford on Jan 11, 2011 12:05 PM EST up reply actions

I doubt he’ll be much of a Bball prospect in 2102

Mike Marra is the worst Division 1 Starter in college basketball

by TheRealSlimShady on Jan 11, 2011 12:09 PM EST up reply actions

Damnit

by Mike Rutherford on Jan 11, 2011 12:12 PM EST up reply actions

hahaha

by SpeedStudent on Jan 11, 2011 3:42 PM EST up reply actions

Will he play the 3 next year?

Mike Marra is the worst Division 1 Starter in college basketball

by TheRealSlimShady on Jan 11, 2011 11:50 AM EST reply actions

This is false

This is all false information. Morgan Park & Western High School are both coming to Eastern High School. Except Morgan Park is playing the #1 team in the state of Kentucky, EASTERN HIGH SCHOOL. Our HS coach, Coach Couch, just hasn’t told the media yet. Wayne Blackshear is about to learn the name Remy Abell, who could of been a Cardinal, and Lyonell Gaines! Everybody come out and watch the best student section in America

by jlane91234 on Jan 11, 2011 12:29 PM EST reply actions