PITTSBURGH — Blake Hinson has reinvented his career with the Pitt Panthers – transforming himself from Iowa State cast-off to a superstar in the ACC with a professional future either in the NBA or overseas.
As he and his team are amid a stunning mid-season turnaround that has them back in the NCAA Tournament conversation, Hinson reflected on what the journey has meant and how the people around Pitt have affected him.
“For the fans, I’d love to tell y’all,” Hinson said during an appearance on the Jeff Capel Radio show this week. “Y’all literally changed my life from like a physical standpoint, but from a spiritual standpoint as well.”
Hinson admitted that his enthusiasm for life and the game of basketball had been muted when he left Iowa State after riding the bench for two full seasons due to a medical issue. He was a proven, high-caliber Division I player and proved that at Ole Miss, where he averaged 9.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game while knocking down 33% of his 3-point shots. Not being able to prove himself with the Cyclones wore on Hinson and marred the energy he has become known for.