Korey Blair has impressively kept busy and productive in his four years at Overlea. He’s a two-sport standout, in the midst of a four-year varsity career in basketball while also excelling in outdoor track. He maintains a 3.1 GPA as an honor roll student, is the school’s president of the principal advisory committee and a member of the school’s chorus.
He’s developed a fine knack for being able to stay in the moment and much of his focus right now is on the basketball court where the No. 10 Falcons are 11-0 on the season going into Wednesday’s game against Perry Hall. A high-scoring guard and three-year captain, Blair is averaging 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists this season. Still weighing college options, he plans to continuing his basketball career at the next level and is considering kinesiology or business as potential college majors.
What do you enjoy most about basketball?
Probably just doing what I love. I’ve loved this game since I was 7 years old when I first started playing. Just seeing myself grow and grow with the more work I put in. It puts you in that mindset that I can be good at this and it makes me want to put in even more work. Having people that believe in you and see that in you, it really motivates me. I love getting in the gym, love getting up my shots. As a shooter, seeing the ball go in the net multiple times in a row, it’s definitely cool.
What are your thoughts on your senior season?
We’re off to a great start. It’s been a really fun senior year for me, practicing and games. But it’s kind of bittersweet because it’s my end. So I’ve been taking it one game a time and it’s flying by rapidly. Every game, I go over the same motivation and mindset that like ‘OK, this could be my last game and I’m going to play as hard as I can and give everything I can.’ Being a leader, a lot of the guys look up to me. I’m a senior, I’ve been here all four years, so I know the ropes and everything like that. It feels good having people that look up to me and I can motivate and even teach them some things.
What would it mean to help bring home the program’s first state title?
It would really mean a lot. For four years, our coaches have been preaching to us that we want a state championship. If we win this, it would bring so much joy to me and I would also feel good that I was finally able to do it for the coaches who have stuck with me for all these years. And I feel it would bring a lot of positive attention to our school and community. It would be a really good celebration, a good time.
What are the benefits that come with being part of a team and member of the various clubs you’re involved in?
Being part of the team and all the different groups, you learn a lot of things and gain qualities and characteristics that you need in everyday life. Being part of the team, you learn communication and teamwork. I feel those things carry you a long way throughout the future because one day the ball will stop bouncing and whatever career or job you are in, you’ll have those skills and qualities to help you. Having good coaches, teachers, leaders, mentors and me able to mentor others, it’s always good to listen and learn.
What is the key to successfully managing you busy daily schedule?
Senior year, next year going to college, I just try to stay positive with a lot of things going on. You have to have good time management and try to do things when you can and then focus on things that’s important right now. We preach to be where your feet are. So if my feet are on the basketball court, I only worry about basketball. if my feet are in the classroom, I’m not worried what’s going on outside of that and focus on getting my work done.
What does your role of president of Overlea’s principal advisory committee entail?
I’ve been the president of the principal advisory committee since my junior year. Every month, we meet with the principal and assistant principal and we talk about what’s going on in the school that they can’t see. So we talk about problems that’s going on, things that can help Overlea become better. Things that are honestly not working and we always come up with things that better the school. This year, we came up with a food drive and a coat drive that did way better than we thought they were going to do … It’s a good thing because we have a great group of students that maintain good grades and have good character. Being able to talk to your principal about things you feel may help students and the school and then her agreeing with it and giving you the ability to make the things happen is something that’s really cool.
How are you feeling as your senior year is winding down?
It’s bittersweet. The good part is I’m still playing basketball with all my friends from my freshman year and even farther back in middle school. The bitter part is that it’s coming to an end and I won’t be able to see my guys anymore going off to college. I’ll always support the school and everything, but soon won’t be wearing the Overlea gear and walking these hallways talking with all the people that have helped me along the way. So I’m still feeling good taking it one day at a time and staying optimistic.
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