Blackburn had a big time performance against Blair Academy, one of the best prep schools in the country, at HoopHall last weekend. The 6-foot-6 wing had 30 points and was consistently scoring at both the rim and from the perimeter. He loves the hesitation dribble with his right hand and generates an incredible amount of explosiveness at the rim. He also has proven that he can make spot up threes. Defensively, he uses his athleticism to protect the rim and is willing to put his body on the line for charges. Scholarship player.

30p 4r 1a 2s 11/15 FG 4/5 3P 4/6 FT 6 TOs 32 mins vs Blair

-Blackburn got off to a roaring start in a matchup with one of the best prep teams in the country in Blair Academy with 17 first half points to go with three rebounds and one steal. His athleticism (particularly the leaping ability) really stood out from the opening tip when he drove the ball in transition on one of the first possessions and almost landed a massive poster dunk on an opponent before he was fouled. Loved the activity as an off-ball mover that is always putting pressure on the defense with well-timed face cuts to the weak side of the rim whenever a ball-handling teammate started a drive towards the paint. Blackburn splashed a deep C+S 3 over a big then drove straight through the same opponent’s chest the next possession in transition before laying it in with the left through the contact. He then hit another 3 right in his opponent’s face, hit a rhythm 3 off the bounce that splashed through nothing but net, and even timed the catch and bump from the big in the low post to draw a foul on his opponent. Easy target for most Ivy and High-Academic schools looking for an explosive wing that can also knock down shots from beyond the arc.

Blackburn was maybe the most electric above the rim athlete I saw over the entire weekend. The 6-foot-6 wing probably dunked the ball 10 times in one of the Saturday games I watched him play; whether it was off one or two feet, with one or both hands, or with a windmill flare, the junior absolutely lit up the gym with his athleticism. He has some solid dribble moves to get into the paint, and then his finishing is quite impressive as a result of his hops. He should be one of Worcester Academy’s best players this season and should look to improve his IQ, passing, and shooting ability with more on-ball reps.

Blackburn, an athletic hybrid forward out of Worcester Academy in Massachusetts, makes loud plays on both ends of the floor with his physical gifts. An elite athlete, he’s a highlight waiting to happen in transition, but has also started to channel his athletic gifts to be a strong defender and help side shot blocker. Offensively, he’s at his best when he gets downhill and attacks the basket, but continues to improve month by month in his shot creation and ability to knock down catch and shoot threes.

Blackburn really impressed in his first weekend with Worcester Academy (after coming from BB&N). The 6-foot-6 wing was actually playing a lot of small ball five and really impressed me with his ability to defend big men and fight for rebounds on the glass. He also played well as a post hub and threw some really nice backdoor passes. He’ll really excel with Jenkins and Haley, two point guards who love to push the pace and set up their teammates; Blackburn is a freak athlete and should have a field day in transition with Worcester.

Blackburn is a do it all forward whose game flashed on both ends of the floor. He was able to score downhill on the attack and showed he can stretch defenses with his shooting. Blackburn is an unselfish teammate who found others for scoring opportunities. He has good size and length at the swingman spot. Blackburn should see a ton of traction from college coaches over the next several months.

Blackburn was maybe the most athletic prospect at the college showcase. The 6-foot-6 guard/forward can really get up for rebounds and has the toughness to fight with other bigs in the paint. Once he gets a board, he’s off and running, showcasing his deer-like athleticism. He can be a bit out of control at times, but he shows flashes of great potential on the offensive end. If he can figure out his shot selection and getting to two feet in the paint, he can be a really great player.

Runs the floor well for his teammates to find him. A high energy player on and off the court, great use of his body, good bounce, and had some great passes in the zone half court offense in tight spaces. One special play created great momentum for his team. He sprinted from the defensive top of key to the mid-range wing area on the other side of the court to dive for a 50/50 ball. Made a nice assist as his teammate was running down for an easy layup all while on the floor. On the bench he can be passionate standing, clapping and cheering on his teammates. He even tried coaching/giving feedback to a teammate during a timeout.

Blackburn is a 6-foot-6 wing who’s lanky, explosive, and skilled. He’s quite difficult to stop when he grabs a defensive rebound, because he glides up the court effortlessly and uses his physical tools to overwhelm opponents while attacking the rim. He even threw down a dunk on someone’s head that got the entire gym going crazy. A D1 scholarship is almost definitely coming, and Blackburn is too young for me to confidently say he can’t play at the high major level.

Cole Blackburn Cole Blackburn 6'6" | SF Worcester Academy | 2027 State New E is a small forward who is simply a professional scorer. He is a must-see from beyond the arch, already performing jab step, pull-up, and side step threes off the bounce. Blackburn can also create his own shot in the mid-range and defenses have to pay attention to him at all times. Even with increased defensive game planning against him, he recognizes double teams well and can pass to open shooters on the perimeter, making him unstoppable at times. Blackburn is a willing rebounder in the post while also putting back missed shots often. Additionally, he has displayed shot-blocking instincts down low. Blackburn’s calling card will be his dynamic offense, but his other skills on top of that make him perfect for a college program in the future.