Photo courtesy of Mark Blair / Nathan Minese
Dedicated. Focused. Motivated. Three words that instantly come to mind when you are in the presence of Mark Blair. The standout junior from Rosedale, New York, is in the midst of a stellar season for Dean College Men’s Basketball, averaging 16 points per game, 10.4 rebounds per game, all while shooting 50 percent from the floor.
There’s much more to Mark than you may see on the court. Growing up, Blair’s father recognized his talent at a young age. He had the natural ability and athleticism early on, but it was not until later in his basketball journey, that he would be able to harness those skills and dominate the parquet. He started taking basketball more seriously around the time of ninth grade as he entered high school. With a new high school, Blair and his teammates faced numerous challenges as the inaugural class of the school in 2014.
The early stages of existing within the new school were difficult on the court. Blair’s team wore t-shirts rather than jerseys and played in a variety of leagues, whoever was willing to play the upstart squad. During this time, Mark Blair was a shooting guard, someone who focused their game on the perimeter, a drastic difference from the GNAC star that we see on the court today.
As time went on, Mark recognized that his game play style on the court may need some adjusting, “I noticed as my game developed shooting wasn’t the way of getting better”. It was at this time he began to focus on becoming a “tough finisher and a hustler”. As he began to get looks from colleges, the coaches focused primarily on Blair becoming a force in the paint.
Although many saw the raw talent, there was lots of negativities thrown in Blair’s direction. Throughout his life, Blair has been counted out on numerous occasions, told “you can’t make it.” While tirelessly working towards transforming his play on the court, he worked on his mindset that helped to drive his ever-running motor. “I feed off hatred, negativity and losing” Blair stated.
Taking all this in, Blair arrived at the junior college level and received tremendous support from Head Coach of Queensboro Community College, Coach Emengo. It was Emengo who saw the motor in Blair that was always running, something that NBA caliber players struggle to capture. This motor is something we see on display on a nightly basis, a motor Blair possesses that can carry the Bulldogs to victories and rally the team. While at JUCO, Blair was coached up on the aspects of becoming an improved rebounder. He worked on learning how to read a rebound, box out, and become comfortable in the paint. Coach Emengo was an instrumental part into the transformation from shooter to slasher. “He would make me sprint and run every day, sprints after I would miss a shot” Blair said.
By the time he was ready to transition from JUCO to NCAA III basketball with the Bulldogs, Blair had become an entirely new player from what recruiters saw on highlight tapes years before. He was ready. Ready to take over the Division III level and catapult his basketball career to a new level. However, for Blair it wasn’t just on the court that he was ready to take over.
Outside of the game of basketball, Mark Blair is a spiritual person who has an incredibly strong mental focus. He believes in daily affirmations and manifestations, which help to harness the negative energy and create a positive headspace that leads to success. He affirms to himself that “I will be great,” a way of manifesting a successful day and basketball contest. Having such a connected mindset, undoubtedly helps Blair think big picture and understand how he can influence those around him. Blair gave credit to his mindset and how it has helped his basketball career, “Spirituality has to be the main reason I’m here playing today.”
The recognition of the connection between mind and body is something young athletes often fail to comprehend. With Blair, this connectivity leads to success on the court as often times, “I don’t even think about the moves I do on the court; they just happen naturally.” The acrobatic finishes that Bulldog fans are used to aren’t something Mark practices but are more of a result of the mindset he takes onto court.
Throughout the entirety of his journey, Mark Blair’s grandmother, brother, and family have been incredibly important pillars of support in his life. As I sat across from Mark, in the Smith Dining Center, it was evident that family was not just important to him, but something that he valued deeply.
It is rare to find someone of Mark Blair’s skillset with such a positive, down to earth, caring personality. And the Bulldogs are undoubtedly thrilled to have Mark Blair on and off the court.
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