| Dallas Blocker Named Recipient of V Foundation Comeback Award |
| Wednesday, March 31 2010 |
| Courtesy of: YSU |
| Cary, N.C. – Youngstown State University basketball senior forward Dallas Blocker has been named the recipient of the tenth annual V Foundation Comeback Award, given annually by The V Foundation for Cancer Research in collaboration with ESPN. The award will be announced tonight during ESPN’s basketball coverage, and presented to Blocker at Youngstown State’s Scholar-Athlete Banquet on Tuesday, April 27. Dallas’ journey began in February, 2009 when, on a road trip, he felt discomfort in his abdomen and soon after was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He returned to his hometown, Topeka, Kansas, and missed the final seven games of the 2008-09 season. Following two surgeries to remove both testicles, he endured four rounds of intense chemotherapy – six hours a day, five days a week. This time tested his perseverance the most. As Dallas lost his hair and grew weak, he started to lose his motivation. His determination and inner strength prevented him from giving up. He continued his workout regime during chemotherapy, first walking, and then shooting baskets and light weight training. On September 11, 2009, only seven months after his original diagnosis, he was given a clean bill of health. Youngstown State opened the season at Xavier, November 13, 2009 and Dallas was in the starting lineup for the first time in his career, an emotional return to the court, reflecting on what he had been through to reach this moment. He played in of 25 (of 30) games this season, starting 23, and set career single-game highs in rebounding (11), assists (7), steals (5) and blocks (4). Following graduation, he would like to become a teacher and coach, to share his story with young people who have also been diagnosed with cancer. “It is a great honor to be named the recipient of the 10th Annual V Foundation Comeback Award,” said Blocker. “There are no winners or losers in this. All of the finalists overcame a great deal of adversity and are deserving of this recognition as well. I’m fortunate to have had a tremendous amount of support over the past year. I need to thank my family, Coach (Jerry) Slocum and the entire Youngstown State coaching staff, and our athletic trainer Todd Burkey, who was with me every day during my chemotherapy treatments. I also want to thank The V Foundation, not only for this award, but for all of the work it does for cancer research and saving so many lives of those affected by cancer,” he concluded. The V Foundation Comeback Award is open to men and women collegiate basketball student-athletes in all NCAA divisions. It is awarded to an individual or a team who has accomplished a personal triumph in the face of true adversity, be it in health, life or moral dilemma. The award is presented in memory of Jim Valvano, the late basketball coach and ESPN commentator, whose personal battle with cancer inspired the creation of The V Foundation. In his memorable speech at ESPN’s inaugural ESPY Awards announcing the creation of The V Foundation, Valvano’s “Don’t Give Up… Don’t Ever Give Up!”® motto created a legacy from which the Comeback Award has been created. “It is with great pleasure that we honor Dallas Blocker with the 2010 V Foundation Comeback Award, “ said V Foundation CEO Nick Valvano. “Dallas’ comeback from cancer is a display of courage and determination. He embodies the never give up spirit of The V Foundation, we’re honored to have my brother’s name remembered with Dallas, and we welcome him to the list of incredible young men and women who have received this award before him.” “Cancer is a disease that has affected all of our lives,” said Youngstown State Head Coach Jerry Slocum. “The V Foundation is an organization that wages the battle to fight this disease. The recognition that The Foundation has shown Dallas is one that reflects his strength and desire to beat cancer. This award is received hand-in-hand with the many that are fighting and beating cancer. We are proud of Dallas and the great perseverance he has shown this past year. He is an inspiration to all of us,” Slocum added. Past recipients of the award are Purdue’s Katie Douglas (2001), Western Michigan’s Kristin Koetsier (2002), Arizona State’s Justin Allen (2003), Texas’ Jamie Carey (2004), Washington’s Kayla Burt (2005); Western Washington’s Grant Dykstra (2006), the United States Military Academy Women’s Basketball Team (2007), Drexel’s Nicole Hester (2008) and Farmingdale State’s Tiffara Steward (2009). Blocker was selected from a group of 11 finalists who were nominated by their athletic departments. The recipient was chosen by a committee of members of The V Foundation Board of Directors. The other 2010 finalists were: Thomas Kleinschnitz, Franciscan University of Steubenville; Kelsey Griffin, University of Nebraska; Kelvin Davis, San Diego State University; Brianna Culberson, University of Denver; Tahnee Robinson, University of Nevada; Sanchez Hughley, Florida Atlantic University; D’Andre Bell, Georgia Tech University; Kristen Lucci, Waynesburg University; Devon Davis, California State University San Bernardino; Dana Pernell Smith II, Longwood University. -v- Contacts: The V Foundation for Cancer Research: Sherrie Mazur (smazur@jimmyv.org) 919-380-9505 Youngstown State Athletics: Jamie Hall (jehall@ysu.edu) 330-941-1581 ESPN: Michael Humes (Michael.C.Humes@espn.com) 860-766-2233 The V Foundation for Cancer Research The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, The Foundation has raised more than $90 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide. The Foundation awards 100 percent of all new direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs and has received seven consecutive top 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.jimmyv.org. ESPN, Inc. ESPN, Inc. is the world’s leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of over 50 multimedia sports assets. The company is comprised of six domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU, ESPN Classic & ESPN Deportes), ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU & ESPNEWS HD simulcast services, ESPN Regional Television, ESPN International (46 networks, syndication, radio, web sites), ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Enterprises, ESPN PPV, ESPN Zones (sports-themed restaurants), and other growing new businesses including ESPN360.com (Broadband, to be re-named ESPN3.com April 4), ESPN Mobile Properties, ESPN on Demand and ESPN Interactive. Based in Bristol, Conn., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN. |
| Dallas Blocker Named Finalist For Jimmy V Comeback Award |
| Thursday, March 11 2010 |
| Courtesy of: YSU |
| Cary, N.C. -- Youngstown State senior Dallas Blocker was named one of 10 finalists for the tenth annual V Foundation Comeback Award. The award is presented in conjunction with ESPN and the recipient will be announced March 30 during ESPN’s basketball coverage, The V Foundation for Cancer Research has announced on Thursday. Besides Blocker, the other finalists include: D’Andre Bell, Georgia Tech; Dallas Blocker, Youngstown State; Brianna Culberson, Denver; Kelvin Davis, San Diego State; Kelsey Griffin, Nebraska; Sanchez Hughley, Florida Atlantic; Thomas Kleinschnitz, Franciscan University of Steubenville; Kristen Lucci, Waynesburg; and Dana Pernell Smith II, Longwood. Blocker was diagnosed with testicular cancer in February of 2009 and missed the final seven games of the 2008-09 season. He returned to the court in 2009-10 and played in 25 games with 23 starts while averaging 3.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. "To be named a finalist for the V Foundation Comeback Award is very humbling," said Blocker. "The V Foundation for Cancer Research has saved so many lives and I feel fortunate to have been able to beat cancer and finish my college basketball career." "Dallas worked very hard to get back on the basketball court during and after his fight against cancer last year," YSU Head Coach Jerry Slocum. "We are proud of how he handled himself through that adversity and, more importantly, happy that he overcame this disease." The annual award is open to men and women collegiate basketball student-athletes in all divisions. It is awarded to an individual or a team who has accomplished a personal triumph in the face of true adversity, be it in health, life or moral dilemma. Student-athletes are nominated by their athletics department representative. With a great show of respect, San Diego State’s Kelvin Davis was nominated by BYU Head Coach Dave Rose, marking the first time a student-athlete was nominated by the coach of an opposing team. Both Davis and Rose are cancer survivors. The award is presented in memory of Jim Valvano, the late basketball coach and ESPN commentator, whose personal battle with cancer inspired the creation of The V Foundation. In his memorable speech at ESPN’s inaugural ESPY Awards announcing the creation of The V Foundation, Valvano’s “Don’t Give Up. . .Don’t Ever Give Up!”® motto created a legacy from which the Comeback Award was created. “We continue to be amazed at the strength and resilience of the student-athletes who are nominated for The V Foundation Comeback Award,” said V Foundation CEO Nick Valvano. “These young people are outstanding student-athletes who have faced adversity and challenges with determination and strength.” “This is the tenth anniversary of the award, and, once again, the nominees capture the ‘Never Give Up’ spirit of The V Foundation,” Valvano continued. “I would be honored to have my brother’s name remembered with each and every one of them.” The 2010 recipient will be selected by a six-member sub-committee of The V Foundation Board of Directors. Past recipients of the award are: Katie Douglas, Purdue (2001); Kristin Koetsier, Western Michigan (2002); Justin Allen, Arizona State (2003); Jamie Carey, Texas (2004); Kayla Burt, Washington (2005); Grant Dykstra, Western Washington (2006); the United States Military Academy Women’s Basketball Team (2007); Nicole Hester, Drexel (2008); Tiffara Steward, Farmingdale State (2009). |
| Men's Basketball Eliminated By Green Bay, 81-67 |
| Wednesday, March 3 2010 |
| Courtesy of: YSU |
| Green Bay, Wis. -- Senior Kelvin Bright scored 20 of his game-high 22 points in the second half and senior DeAndre Mays posted 13 points but the Youngstown State men's basketball team dropped an 81-67 decision to Green Bay in the first round of the Speedway Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship on Tuesday evening at the Resch Center. The Penguins finish the season with an overall mark of 8-22 while the Phoenix advance to play No. 7 Detroit, Friday, at 6 p.m. at Hinkle Field House in Indianapolis, Ind. The Penguins, who shot 51.7 percent in the second half, were able to slice an eight-point halftime deficit down to just two within the first six minutes of the half. and trailed 48-46 with 12:24 to go after a jumper by Mays. Youngstown State, however, committed two consecutive turnovers and 3-poitners from Green Bay's Troy Cotton and Byrquis Perine, a jumper by Rahmon Fletcher and another jumper by Perine extended the Phoenix's lead to 12, 58-46, with 7:26 remaining. The Penguins went scoreless for nearly five minutes during the Green Bay 10-0 run. Green Bay pushed its lead to as many as 15 points, 71-56, with 2:40 left and theh Penguins would not get any closer than 11 points. The Penguins started the half strong when sophomore Ashen Ward nailed a 3-pointer to spark the Penguins and Vytas Sulskis' layup brought the Penguins within three, 36-33, less than two minutes into the stanza. After two buckets by the Phoenix pushed the edge back to seven, 40-33, with 17:18 to go, the Penguins outscored the Phoenix 11-6 capped by Zack Rebillot's 3-point play to get within two, 46-44 with 14:07 left. Green Bay led the first 10 minutes of the game before a steal and layup by Mays put the Guins ahead for the first time, 16-15, with 10:22 to go. Mays also nailed a jumper just prior to his layup to get the Penguins with one, 15-14. The Phoenix responded with an 11-3 run to take a 26-19 with just over four minutes to go. The Penguins continued to chip away at the Phoenix advantage with two free throws from Ashen Ward, a 3-pointer by Vytas Sulskis and two free throws by Sirlester Martin and trailed by just two, 28-26 with 2:10 to go. After a layup by Green Bay's Rian Pearson gave the Phoenix a four-point edge, Zack Rebillot answered with a layup to bring the Penguins back within two, 30-28, with 1:41 to go. However, two 3-pointers by Seth Evans and Rahmon Fletcher with under a minute-and-a-half remaining ballooned the Phoenix lead to eight points, 36-28, at the intermission. Fletcher's trey came with 15 seconds left. For the first half, the Phoenix shot 48 percent from the field while the Penguins connected on just 35.5 percent. The Penguins outrebounded the Phoenix, 20-17, including nine offensive boards but only managed eight second-chance points. |