Mason Blackwood Talks Visits, and Recruiting
Boasting a powerful lineup and a roster with depth and versatility, the Albany City Rocks possess a wealth of talent on the EYBL circuit.
The emergence of the City Rocks on a national level has run parallel with the play of Mason Blackwood (New Hampton School, NH ‘25). At 6-foot-7, Blackwood is an inside-outside scoring threat with an ability to put the ball on the deck comfortably at his size and create his shot off the dribble. A ferocious above-rim finisher who has been a proficient around-the-rim threat, Blackwood turned in multiple games of 30+ points at New Hampton Prep in New Hampshire this past season. Now hearing from the likes of Rutgers, Virginia, Wake Forest, Oklahoma, Penn State, and others, Blackwood is coming off an official visit to Rutgers this week. The Scarlet Knights, of course, boast arguably the top 2024 recruiting class in the country with 6-foot-5 All-American point guard Dylan Harper and a versatile 6-foot-9, jack-of-all-trades threat in Airious Bailey.
"I loved it out there," said Blackwood of Rutgers. "Coach Pikes (Steve Pikiell) and the entire coaching staff, they all showed me a lot of love. They respect my game and I appreciate that. Coach Pikes, is big on family. He's big on role-play. I like his principles as a coach and you have to respect the direction they are moving in right now."
Rutgers is also recruiting Blackwood's teammate and close friend, Class of 2025 guard Keyshuan Tillery. A hard-driving point guard with a vaunted first step and a purity of vision as a traditional dish first facilitator, Tillery has offers from the likes of Florida, Rutgers, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Oklahoma, Villanova, Syracuse, Northwestern, Tennessee, Wake Forest, and various others.
With college-ready physicality and reliability in the catch-and-stick game from beyond the 3-point arc. Blackwood has an offensive uniqueness and aspects of his game that should translate instantly at the next level. Rutgers has capitalized on the transfer market this season, having picked up gritty 6-foot-5 guard Jordan Derkack (17.7 PPG, Northeast Conference Player of the Year and Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Year at Merrimack), 6-foot-7 sharpshooter Zach Martini via Princeton, and several other unique pieces. With themes of interchangeability and versatility resonating throughout the 2024-25 roster, Blackwood has a game that certainly aligns with the style emphasized at Rutgers.
"I can see myself fitting their system with my ability to shoot it from the perimeter and spread the floor out," Blackwood explained. "I'm able to pass it. Rebound. I can score it at all three levels. Really, at Rutgers, I could see myself doing the same things that I'm doing now (on the AAU circuit). Just trying to help the team win." Blackwood brings a high motor and tenacity on the offensive and defensive glass. He gathered nine double-doubles and turned in eight games of 20 points or more this past season at New Hampton School.