Folks in Indiana have become accustomed to the last name Blackmon and now the stuff of legend.  Jalen Blackmon 6’1” (Marion HS) is the youngest of 3 boys’ in the family that has basketball running through its veins.  

It all started with father James Blackmon Sr. was the runner-up for Indiana Mr. Basketball to Steve Alford.  He was selected as both a Parade and McDonald’s All American and finished with 1,897 career points at Marion High School.  After high school, James. Sr. carried on his success at the University of Kentucky for Coach Joe B. Hall.

Jalen has 2-older brothers that have kept the family legacy intact.  Vijay Blackmon was a three-star shooting guard coming out of Marion in 2016.  With Marion he averaged 17.4 points and 2.9 assists for his senior season and helped lead the Giants to the 2016 Class 3A state championship coached by father James Blackmon Sr.  Vijay went on to play at Indiana University in Bloomington.  James Blackmon Jr. was a top-20 recruit his senior year at Marion putting up 33.4 points-per-game.  He ranks #9th on Indiana’s all-time scoring list and broke his father’s school record scoring 54 points in a game.  James Jr. scored 13 in the McDonald’s All-American game and was heavily recruited eventually selecting Indiana University.  

Jaylen is making quite the name for himself as well in his junior season averaging 28.9ppg 6.6apg and 5.3rpg for Marion and over 1,500 career points.  He has offers from: Ball State, Houston, Miami (OH) and Akron.  Jaylen is on-pace to being one of Indiana’s all-time leading scorers and a lock for the Indiana All Star team.  

This family affair has a love for the game that has brought joy to many Hoosiers and continues to this day.  While this may be the last of “the bunch”, the stuff of legend will continue with James Blackmon Sr. coaching at Marion his alma mater.  He has a career coaching record of 257-121 in his 16th year overall including 3 state championships.