Central Michigan University Athletics
Justin Blevins Profile
11/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 28, 2004
By Fred Stabley Jr.
Sports Information Director
Central Michigan University basketball coach Jay Smith can thank Chippewa standout defensive end Daniel Bazuin for making freshman Justin Blevins a basketball player.
It was back in seventh grade in Marion when Blevins ran a bootleg in a youth football league game against McBain.
"Bazuin was on the other team and he drove me back about five yards and knocked me out cold," Blevins said. "It was right then that I decided that basketball was going to be my sport."
It proved to be a wise decision for Blevins who committed to CMU at the beginning of his junior year in high school.
"I started out going to camps at CMU back in seventh grade and felt comfortable here," Blevins said. "When CMU offered me a scholarship, I accepted it because I liked the players and coaches. Plus, when you're from a school as small as Marion, you're not sure how much you'll ever get noticed."
Blevins was noticed enough as a senior to earn first team Class C all-state laurels after averaging 17.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 6.0 blocks per game.
A general business administration major with an accounting minor, Blevins was redshirted last year.
"I didn't like sitting out but it was good for me to watch and learn," Justin said.
He also spent some time in the weight room and is now much better suited to take a hit from Bazuin or any big player he may come across during the basketball season.
Blevins gained 25 pounds and now packs a solid 245 pounds on his 6-foot-7 frame.
"The coaches want me to stay above 240 pounds," he said. "It hasn't effected my quickness but it did my vertical jump a little. But, I can get that back with a little hard work."
He will be used as a backup at either the power forward or center positions. He saw action at both positions in Tuesday's 68-55 win over Valparaiso, scoring six points and grabbing four rebounds in 14 minutes of action.
Blevins, who ran track and played baseball in high school, tries to get back to Marion as often as possible.
"It's only 45 minutes from here which is one reason I wanted to go to CMU, " Blevins said. "It's easy for my parents to get down here and see me play."
In his spare time, Justin enjoys playing golf, fishing and video games.
