Blake Ahearn Explained

Blake Ahearn
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:190
Birth Date:27 May 1984
Birth Place:St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Highschool:De Smet Jesuit
(Creve Coeur, Missouri)
College:Missouri State (2003–2007)
Draft Year:2007
Career Start:2007
Career End:2015
Career Position:Point guard
Career Number:6, 18, 2
Coach Start:2015
Years1:2007–2008
Team1:Dakota Wizards
Team2:Miami Heat
Team3:San Antonio Spurs
Years4:2008
Team4:Austin Toros
Years5:2008–2009
Team5:Dakota Wizards
Years6:2009
Team6:Estudiantes Madrid
Years7:2010
Team7:Bakersfield Jam
Years8:2010–2011
Team8:Erie BayHawks
Years9:2010
Team9:Teramo Basket
Years10:2011–2012
Team10:Reno Bighorns
Team11:Utah Jazz
Years12:2012–2013
Team12:Dongguan Leopards
Years13:2013–2014
Team13:Budivelnyk Kyiv
Years14:2015
Team14:Capitanes de Arecibo
Years15:2015
Team15:Santa Cruz Warriors
Cyears1:2015–2016
Cteam1:Clayton HS
Cyears2:2016–2017
Cteam2:De Smet Jesuit HS
Cyears3:2017–2020
Cteam3:Austin Spurs
Cyears4:
Cteam4:Memphis Grizzlies (assistant)
Highlights:As player:

As coach:

Daniel Blake Ahearn (born May 27, 1984) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who was an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for Missouri State.

High school career

Ahearn attended De Smet Jesuit High School in St. Louis, Missouri.[1] He played three years of varsity. He averaged 17.7 points per game as a junior and 18.5 as a senior. He was an All-Metro Selection his junior and senior years and an All-State selection his junior year. In his junior year, he broke his hand in the divisional semifinal game. He was unable to play for the duration of his junior year. His team was state runner-up his junior year losing to Missouri powerhouse Vashon High School in the state championship game.[2]

College career

Ahearn played collegiately for the Missouri State Bears from 2003–2007. He was poised to finish his career with four straight NCAA free-throw titles but failed, and finished with an accuracy of 92.5% during his senior year. He finished his college career as a 94.6% free throw shooter, 435 for 460, all-time best percentage. He also holds a single-season record at 97.5%. He made 60 consecutive free-throws twice in his career (December 20, 2003, through February 14, 2004, and December 19, 2004, to February 26, 2005) which are school and Missouri Valley Conference records. He missed his final attempt against the San Diego State Aztecs in the NIT on March 24, 2007, his final college game. He holds the record for career three-pointers at Missouri State with 276 and was selected the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Freshman of the Year (2004), also being a two-time all-MVC first teamer (2006 and 2007). He came within one game each season of making the NCAA tournament but failed to reach any. His team lost in double overtime to Northern Iowa in the MVC Tournament finals his freshman year and to Creighton in the MVC finals his sophomore year. His team was rated 21st in the RPI his junior year and 33rd his senior year, which included a win over #7 in the nation Wisconsin.

Professional career

2007–08 season

NBA D-League

In the 2007–2008 season, Ahearn played with the NBA Development League's Dakota Wizards. He worked his way to the starting lineup, averaging 19 points, with a 96% free-throw percentage, shooting 49% from the field and 44% from 3-point range in 41 games.

NBA

On March 21, 2008, Ahearn was signed to a 10-day contract by the NBA's Miami Heat, whose roster had been depleted by injuries.[3] On March 27, Ahearn scored a team-high 15 points in a loss to the Detroit Pistons.[4]

On April 10, Ahearn was named the Rookie of the Year of the D-League and All-NBA Development League Second Team.[5]

2008–09 season

Despite posting a solid NBA preseason during which he averaged 8 points per game, Ahearn was cut by the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 23, 2008. After being waived by the Timberwolves he joined the Dakota Wizards. On November 16, Ahearn was signed by the San Antonio Spurs becoming the 2008–09 season's first D-League call-up.[6] Ahearn was in camp with the Wizards prior to signing with the Spurs.[6] On November 30, Ahearn was assigned to the Spurs' D-League affiliate Austin Toros.[7]

The Spurs waived Ahearn on December 15, 2008, and he re-joined the Dakota Wizards. He was selected to play in the D-League All-Star Game on February 14, 2009, where he was awarded MVP alongside Courtney Sims.[8]

2009–10 season

The following season Ahearn signed a contract with Estudiantes Madrid in Spain, until he moved back and played for Bakersfield Jam and for Erie BayHawks in the NBA Development League.

2010–11 season

On August 1, Ahearn signed a contract with the Italian team Teramo Basket but he was waived after a few games.

On December 29, he re-signed with the Erie BayHawks.

2011–12 season

Blake started the 2011–12 season participating for the United States Basketball Team in the 2011 Pan American Games. The United States won the Bronze medal with a win over the Dominican Republic in the Medal Rounds. Blake was second on the team in scoring, averaging 10 points per game, including a team-high 21 points vs Brazil in round robin play.[9]

After the games, Blake signed with the Erie Bayhawks in the NBA Development League. On draft day Blake was traded to the Reno Bighorns.[10]

Blake attended training camp with the Los Angeles Clippers during the first part of the D-League season. He then returned to the Bighorns.

During the 2011–12 season Blake led the NBA-D League in scoring at 23.8 points per game[11] He was selected to play in the D-League All-Star Game and had 21 points and 8 assists during the game. Blake also set the NBA and NBA D-League mark of 110 consecutive free throws during his season in Reno. Blake set the all-time career points record for the NBA Development league in 2012.[12]

On April 10, the Utah Jazz signed Blake Ahearn to a 10-day contract.[13] On April 20, he was signed for the remainder of the season.[14]

2012–13 season

In September 2012, Ahearn signed with the Indiana Pacers of the NBA.[15] On October 22, 2012, Ahearn was waived by the Indiana Pacers.[16]

In December 2012, he signed with the Dongguan Leopards of the CBA.[17]

2013–14 season

On August 12, 2013, Ahearn signed with Budivelnyk Kyiv.[18]

2014–15 season

On December 18, 2014, Ahearn signed with Capitanes de Arecibo for the 2015 BSN season.[19] However, he left the club in February 2015 after appearing in just three games.

On March 11, 2015, he was acquired by the Santa Cruz Warriors.[20] On April 26, he won the D-League championship with the Warriors.[21]

Coaching career

In 2015, Ahearn became head boys' coach at Clayton High School in Clayton, Missouri. Following a 7–17 season there he was hired to coach his alma mater, De Smet Jesuit.[22]

On August 1, 2017, Ahearn was named the head coach of the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League.[23]

On June 20, 2020, the Memphis Grizzlies announced that they had hired Ahearn as assistant coach.[24]

Career statistics

NBA

Regular season

|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Miami| 12 || 0 || 14.8 || .263 || .294 || .968 || 1.6 || 1.6 || .5 || .0 || 5.8|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| San Antonio| 3 || 0 || 6.3 || .333 || .500|| 1.000 || .3 || .7 || .3 || .0 || 2.7|-| style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| Utah| 4 || 0 || 7.5 || .286 || .222 || .000 || .5 || .3 || .0 || .0 || 2.5|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 19 || 0 || 11.9 || .273 || .298 || .970 || 1.2 || 1.2 || .4 || .0 || 4.6

Playoffs

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2012| style="text-align:left;"| Utah| 3 || 0 || 2.7 || .667 || 1.000 || .000 || .0 || .7 || .0 || .0 || 1.7|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 3 || 0 || 2.7 || .667 || 1.000 || .000 || .0 || .7 || .0 || .0 || 1.7

NBA D-League

Regular season

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2007–08| style="text-align:left;"| Dakota| 41 || 15 || 29.4 || .486 || .439 || style="background:#cfecec;"| .960* || 2.0 || 3.5 || .7 || .0 || 19.0|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09| style="text-align:left;"| Austin| 6 || 6 || 34.3 || .444 || .531 || style="background:#cfecec;"| .914* || 2.3 || 6.0 || .8 || .0 || 18.8|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2008–09| style="text-align:left;"| Dakota| 41 || 41 || 38.7 || .445 || .420 || style="background:#cfecec;"| .957* || 2.4 || 5.0 || .7 || .0 || 22.7|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2009–10| style="text-align:left;"| Bakersfield| 17 || 10 || 32.8 || .367 || .277 || style="background:#cfecec;"| .932* || 2.1 || 4.1 || 1.2 || .1 || 14.3|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2009–10| style="text-align:left;"| Erie| 13 || 13 || 45.1 || .433 || .440 || style="background:#cfecec;"| .961* || 4.5 || 6.7 || 1.2 || .3 || 25.7|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2010–11| style="text-align:left;"| Erie| 31 || 25 || 33.7 || .406 || .354 || style="background:#cfecec;"| .962* || 2.7 || 5.8 || 1.1 || .2 || 16.9|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2011–12| style="text-align:left;"| Reno| 37 || 37 || 37.5 || .469 || .409 || style="background:#cfecec;"| .962* || 3.5 || 5.1 || 1.1 || .1 || 23.8|-| style="text-align:left;background:#afe6ba;"| 2014–15†| style="text-align:left;"| Santa Cruz| 9 || 0 || 21.2 || .397 || .375 || .944 || 1.9 || 2.7 || .7 || .0 || 9.6|- class="sortbottom"|style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career| 195 || 147 || 34.7 || .444 || .404 || style="background:#e0cef2;"|.956 || 2.5 || 4.8 || .9 || .1 || 19.9

Domestic leagues statistics

SeasonTeamLeague
2009–10 CB EstudiantesLiga ACB13 25.1 .294 .414 .983 1.1 .8 .7 .1 14.2
2010–11 Teramo BasketLega A6 24.5 .286 .345 1.000 1.7 1.3 .5 .0 9.3
2012–13 17 28.6 .468 .333 .905 3.1 3.4 .9 .0 23.0
2013–14 20 24.8 .449 .383 .853 1.7 3.2 .7 .2 11.6

International statistics

SeasonTeamLeague
2013–14 9 20.8 .378 .361 .905 1.6 1.7 .0 .1 9.6
10 23.7 .525 .457 .978 1.5 2.6 .6 .0 15.0
2014–15 3 25.0 .125 .316 .750 2.02.3 1.0 .0 8.7

Personal life

Ahearn and his wife had their first child in 2012.[25]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brase . Justin . Ahearn strives for big goals . The Standard . November 29, 2023 . December 9, 2003.
  2. http://www.desmet.org/s/109/desmet.aspx?sid=109&gid=1&pgid=364&cid=1859&ecid=1859&crid=0&calpgid=408&calcid=4528 Alum Blake Ahearn Signs With Miami Heat
  3. https://archive.today/20120630060545/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=280321014 Butler logs first 20-point game since return as Wiz crush hapless Heat
  4. http://ca.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idCASP24136820080328 Pistons rally past Heat and clinch division title
  5. http://www.kspr.com/sports/17465404.html Ahearn Named NBDL Rookie of the Year
  6. http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/spurs_sign_blake_ahearn_081116.html Spurs Sign Blake Ahearn
  7. http://www.nba.com/dleague/austin/ahearn_081130.html San Antonio’s Blake Ahearn Assigned To Austin Toros
  8. News: All-Star History: NBA D-League All-Star Game. NBA.com. 2017-02-08. en-US.
  9. Web site: 2011 Pan-Am Basketball: Blake Ahearn Leads USA to Victory over Brazil. 27 October 2011.
  10. Web site: Erie BayHawks trade Ahearn, McCullough to Reno | GoErie.com/Erie Times-News . www.goerie.com . 22 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140725004635/http://www.goerie.com/article/20111105/BASKETBALL05/311049876/Erie-BayHawks-trade-Ahearn-McCullough-to-Reno . 25 July 2014 . dead.
  11. Web site: Utah Jazz to Sign Blake Ahearn. 9 April 2012.
  12. Web site: Ahearn Becomes NBA Development League's All-Time Leading Scorer. 2014-01-15. 2012-01-21. NBA.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140116122358/http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/ahearn_scoring_record_2012_01_21.html. 2014-01-16.
  13. Web site: Jazz to Sign Blake Ahearn to a 10-Day Contract. NBA.com.
  14. Web site: Jazz Signs Blake Ahearn for the Remainder of the Season. NBA.com.
  15. http://www.nba.com/pacers/news/pacers-sign-blake-ahearn-sam-young-sundiata-gaines Pacers Sign Three Free Agents
  16. Web site: Pacers Exercise Option on George, Release Three Players. NBA.com.
  17. http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=90366 Blake Ahearn jugará junto con Haislip en los DongGuan Leopards de China
  18. Web site: BUDIVELNIK KIEV lands scorer Ahearn. Euroleague.net. 12 August 2013.
  19. http://www.sportando.com/en/world/america/145343/blake-ahearn-signs-with-capitanes-de-arecibo.html Blake Ahearn signs with Capitanes de Arecibo
  20. http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4936725 Santa Cruz Warriors Acquire Blake Ahearn
  21. News: Title Wave: Santa Cruz Wins NBA D-League Championship. April 26, 2015. NBA.com. April 26, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150429105409/http://dleague.nba.com/games/20150426/FWNSCW/. April 29, 2015. dead.
  22. Web site: Thornton . Larry . Former Spartan Blake Ahearn hired as De Smet's new coach . ksdk.com . July 14, 2014 . August 15, 2016.
  23. News: Blake Ahearn Named Head Coach of the Austin Spurs. August 1, 2017. NBA.com. August 1, 2017.
  24. Web site: Grizzlies Add Assistant Coach. June 20, 2020. NBA.com. June 20, 2020.
  25. Web site: Luhm . Steve . Oh, baby! New dad Blake Ahearn arrives to help short-handed Utah Jazz . The Salt Lake Tribune . November 29, 2023 . April 11, 2012.