LSU guard and 2016 Freshman All-SEC selection Antonio Blakeney is poised for a great season after ending his freshman stint on a high note.
Upon finishing his high school career with the Oak Ridge Pioneers in Florida, Blakeney chose to take his talents to LSU despite offers from other major programs.
Transitioning to Baton Rouge from his hometown of Sarasota, Fla., was an easy for the McDonalds All-American.
“I love being a student-athlete at LSU. People kind of look at you different, being an athlete, it’s fun,” said Blakeney.
Blakeney started his college career with 22 points and a double-double in last season’s opener with McNeese State, which earned him SEC Freshman of the Week honors.
Blakeney finished the season with a flourish, averaging 18. 6 points per game over the last 11 games. He twice scored 30-plus points in SEC games against Mississippi State and Florida, as he averaged over 14 points a game in league play.
The consistent numbers and solid play weren’t the highlights for Blakeney his freshman year. LSU’s win in the Maravich Center against the nationally-ranked Kentucky Wildcats has Blakeney fired up for his sophomore season.
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“The Kentucky game stands out to me,” Blakeney said. “The energy was great, it was packed, and it was really fun beating a top 10 team.”
Blakeney believes his hard work during the offseason will lead to an even more productive sophomore year.
“I’ve really been working on my defense, my leadership, and being a team guy,” said Blakeney. “Every team needs a leader, and I plan on trying to fill that role this year.”
LSU coach Johnny Jones is excited to have Blakeney return for another year after he passed on the NBA draft.
“It was music to my ears when Antonio Blakeney came out and said he was coming back for his sophomore season,” said Jones. “He has a chance to make an impact on this team. I think he’s one of those guys you would automatically look to as a leader of this year’s team.”
Jones’ excitement also stems from the respect he gained from Blakeney’s gutsy performance in the SEC Tournament. He offers Blakeney’s example as a lesson for some of the younger guys to learn from.
“He played in the SEC Tournament with a 103° fever,” said Jones. “It told me a lot about him because of what he tried to give us in those two games while being under the weather.”
This offseason Blakeney not only matured as a player, but also as a leader. After observing Keith Hornsby and Ben Simmons lead the team last year, he’s learned from their examples.
“We’re all in, we want to enjoy the process of getting better,” said Blakeney. “We aren’t worried about the future; we are focused on getting better each day.”
LSU is bringing five new guys to the squad this year and will need solid contributions from everyone. The Tigers seem to be flying under everyone’s radar, and that’s fine with the team.
“That’s fine with me, and that’s fine with my team. We just have to work harder,” said Blakeney.
LSU returns two starters from last year – Blakeney and Craig Victor II. Aaron Epps, Brandon Sampson, Jalyn Patterson and Elbert Robinson II head a group of returnees that the coaching staff has plans to blend with Baton Rouge newcomers Skylar Mays and Wayde Sims, Australian products Duop Reath and Kieran Hayward, and JUCO guard Branden Jenkins.
This LSU squad is looking to achieve a few goals. They want to play fundamentally sound, play hard, and compete night in and night out.
“We want to be a competitive team,” said Blakeney. “We want every team to feel us, and everyone to know they’re going to get a good game.”
No one can question Antonio Blakeney‘s commitment to the team. He is back for a second season to sharpen parts of his game and give his all for the university that he loves dearly. It’s safe to say Antonio Blakeney is all-in.