PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A few weeks ago, we did this story on Blake Hinson. A few of the stats have changed, but not the story. Here is a look at what Blake Hinson said coming to Pitt meant to him.
Blake Hinson was really at a life crossroads. He was back home in Florida, delivering InstaCart and trying to keep his basketball dream alive playing at a local gym against guys just coming off work. Hinson was intense, wanted the competition and he wasn’t finding it.
He would sleep in later not enthusiastic about the day. The former four-star recruit out of a boarding school in Kansas was humbled. He played some good basketball for Ole Miss, transferred to Iowa State never to see the court and then for two years waited.
Now 12 points from scoring 1,000 as a Panther alone, Hinson has helped bring joy back to Pitt basketball. He’s now humbled again.
“You all literally changed my life in a physical standpoint, but in a spiritual standpoint as well,” Hinson said on the Jeff Capel Show on 93.7 The Fan about Pitt fans and coaches. “My spirit was a little broken.”
“Two years off of not playing the sport you love. I’ve always been an exuberant, confident person. When I came here, I wasn’t that guy. Because of the fans and because of these coaches, I have to add them too, because you guys wouldn’t like me if it wasn’t for these coaches.”
The senior said his life has been flipped upside down and instead of sleeping in late, he pops out of bed early every morning ready to go. He took it for granted and said he realizes now he’s blessed to have the opportunity to play college basketball again.
He’s not only playing it, but the 6’7” forward from Deltona, Florida leads the ACC in made three-pointers (82) and is fifth in the league in scoring (18.3 ppg). Now in just his 62nd game as a Panther, he has a legit chance to be one of only 48 players to score 1,000 points with Pitt. He will be the only one to do it playing in two seasons with the Panthers, only Don Hennon, Billy Knight and Brian Shorter did it in a fewer number of games.
He believes there is only one reason he’s having success. Jeff Capel understands his game and allows him to play to his strengths, even if that means an occasional bad shot.
“All the credit to Coach (Capel),” Hinson said on Capel’s Show. “This is my third school and it hasn’t worked like this in other places. There is a reason, the coach.”
“(He has) faith in my abilities. The faith in my will to win is also what it is. He lets me feel out the game the way I want to because he knows I want to win.”
“He’s one-of-a-kind,” Capel said. “He’s one of the best guys I’ve ever coached. He talked about the impact that this place has had on him. He’s had an equally huge impact on me, our coaching staff and our program.”
Asked if he would likely cry on Senior Day, Hinson said he’s not going into it with that mindset. He admits when he’s in that moment and if he takes a reflective approach of where he was and where the program was before coming to Pittsburgh. It’s probably going to get a little dusty.
“Look at everything that has happened the last two years, it would be hard not to,” Hinson said. “It’s nothing but happy emotion.”