Jeremy Black is inspiration.
When he arrived at the University of Tampa, Black was surrounded by low expectations and inhibited by a lack of basketball experience.
He left as one of the most celebrated athletes in the university’s history. Twice voted to the All-SSC team, and named an All-American in 2008, Black now enjoys a successful career overseas and stands as inspiration for not only UT athletes but also for anyone who strives for greatness despite obstacles and personal adversity.
Jeremy Black is potential.
He started playing basketball in his sophomore year of high school, a reaction to nagging and incessant pushing from teachers, in particular Coach Kenneth Muldrow. After all, that’s what you get for being the tallest kid in your class/grade/school.
Standing at 6 feet 8 inches, even without the polish and finesse that comes with experience, Black caught the eye of UT basketball coach Richard Schmidt. Pursuing the giant senior was relatively easy.
“We didn’t have to recruit hard on him. Hardly anybody else wanted him,” Schmidt said. “He didn’t have any stats and he didn’t do a whole lot in high school.”
But Coach Schmidt has built the UT program with more than just hot shot prospects. His eye in recruiting has been a critical factor throughout his 28 year career.
“I could tell he was going to be good,” Schmidt said. “I could look at him, and I could tell that he had stuff I wanted to improve.”
Jeremy Black is diligence.
“A lot of kids nowadays, they want to win, they want to be the best, but they don’t want to pay the price,” the coach said. “Jeremy is one of those guys that’ll pay the price.”
His sophomore year, Black averaged nine points a game, with eight rebounds. By his senior year, he was averaging 11 rebounds and an impressive 18.7 points with comparable minutes. This kind of jump doesn’t come without severe training and intense preparation. To put it simply- Jeremy Black put in the work.
He seldom lost any practice drills according to Coach Schmidt. That includes shooting, agility, speed, among other drills. He was in the gym when no one was around. He was the first guy to practice, and the last one to leave.
He was a nobody when he began, but he used it as motivation.
“If you lack talent, apply effort,” Black said. “Good players do what’s expected. Great players do the unexpected. They challenge themselves every day.”
He went from average to extraordinary very quickly, and the league took notice. He garnered numerous player of the week awards in the SSC as well as annual honors. He holds the school record for double doubles in a season, at seventeen. And he led his German Pro league in the same statistical category last year. He is averaging almost 19 points a game for BG Karlsruhe this season.
But although he has built an admirable career in Europe, Black has expressed a dream to play in the NBA; a dream that Coach Schmidt said, is not too out of reach.
“He’s so strong. He’s so fast. And he’s so competitive. He just finds ways,” Schmidt said. “I think if someone would give him a shot at the big time, I believe he would make it.”
Jeremy Black is strength.
In 2006, his mother passed away due to a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Although she had become sick years prior, the death was sudden and unexpected. It had an extreme effect and strain on his family.
“She was the backbone of our family. It still feels like yesterday, she left us,” Black said.
Things became distant and difficult. There was anger in him for the way his loved ones treated him. There was grief and regret. So he disconnected himself from the life he knew. Rather than face issues with others, Black took solace in himself. And he found relief in basketball.
After enrolling at UT, and eventually moving to Germany, Black began walking a long road on the way to self satisfaction and understanding. He may not ever forget how hurt he has been, but he is learning to cope, to move forward and even maybe forgive.
“I had to realize that my family was not perfect, and that they were human too,” he said. “People are not perfect. Some people don’t want to do the right thing. Some people can’t do the right thing.”
He said he can smile now though. Because he can enjoy his life, and understand that everything, eventually, will be alright. He is stronger because of it.
“Life is about the ups and downs. The sun is not always going to shine,” Black said. “It may snow some days, pour down rain sometimes but it’s life and you have to weather the storm.”
Although it has been four years, his mother remains his inspiration for everything. For listening to gospel music, for playing basketball, for making a better life; for being a better man.
Jeremy Black is an All-American. But he became more than that to his teams and coaches. He became more than that to his mom. Jeremy Black is a legend, a hero.
But when he looks in a mirror and smiles, it’s because Jeremy Black is himself.
Miles Parks can be reached at mparks@spartans.ut.edu.