Newcomer Feature: Aijha Blackwell
11/4/2019 12:54:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Blackwell sets lofty goals for her upcoming freshman campaign
Ranking as the state of Missouri's top recruit and a top-10 player nationally in the Class of 2019 by ESPNW HoopGurlz, freshman Aijha Blackwell enjoyed a standout high school career. Her success on the basketball court is impressive, but it's her family ties to Mizzou and the program's family atmosphere that brought the freshman guard to Mizzou Women's Basketball.
From Berkeley, Mo., Blackwell became the top prep player from the St. Louis area after she earned Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 3 All-State distinction three times and WBCA High School All-America honors in 2018-19. As a junior, Blackwell averaged 24.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game, and led Whitfield School to a 22-7 record and Class 3A state semifinals appearance.
Blackwell has experience at the international level as a member of the 2018 USA U18 National Team that captured a gold medal at the 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championships. She averaged 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game in Team USA's gold medal run. She hopes to continue that success at Mizzou, and has lofty goals for herself and the team.
"For personal goals, Freshman of the Year in the SEC sounds nice, so I am going to try and work toward that," Blackwell said. "As a team, I want my team to win championships – SEC, NCAA, and just do things here that haven't been done before."
She's excited to work hard this season and knows she has a lot to play for. Blackwell will be wearing the number 33 this season, which is the number her father, Ernest, wore during his football career at Mizzou. The elder Blackwell was a four-year letterwinner for Mizzou Football from 1994-97, and was draft by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1998.
"My dad was a big impact on my decision to come here, but the family aspect here is just something that I think everyone should have," Blackwell said. "Mizzou is special."
There was one thing standing in the way, however. Blackwell's desired number was already retired by Joni Davis, who was Mizzou's all-time leading scorer before Sophie Cunningham broke the 34-year-old record a season ago. After discussion between Davis and head coach Robin Pingeton, Davis graciously let Blackwell don the number once again.
"Joni Davis, she's amazing," Blackwell said in a post-game press conference on Oct. 24. "I'm just appreciative of her letting me wear that number. It means a lot. It's more than a number, so it just means a lot to wear it on the court."
Blackwell knows it's a very special opportunity to not only carry on her family's legacy at Mizzou, but create her own. Family ties are very important to her, and she says that her biggest supporters are her mom and especially her big sister.
"She is just a strong individual and a hard worker," Blackwell says of her sister, Annta. "She always knows how to get things done and she looks out for her family."
Like her sister, Blackwell has the hard-working trait, and she is bringing that mentality to her collegiate career. Already in exhibition play, she has been a huge part of the team's success and she is excited to see her role grow as the season progresses.
"I am most excited about winning. Let's get a winning streak going," Blackwell said. "We know what the outside expectation of our team is, but we are just worried about winning."
