2017 Jostens Trophy Winner

"Over [Harrison's] career at Hope College I have watched him impact and transform the lives of students, teammates and coaches.  He is a fantastic young man who is leaving an incredible mark on our campus and in our community" said Hope College Director of Athletics Tim Schoonveld.

Blackledge, a native of Canton, Ohio, has been a driving force for the Hope men's basketball team all season.  He led the team in scoring with 20 points per game and was second with 5.9 rebounds per game.  He was an efficient scorer converting 56.9-percent of his field goals, 40-percent of his three-point attempts and 79.9-percent of his free throws.  He sits in the Hope records charts with the third-most career made free throws (447) and attempted free throws (571), and he ranks tenth all-time in career field goal percentage (.542). His 601 points this season rank third all-time among Flying Dutchmen players.

Blackledge was presented with the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association's (MIAA) Most Valuable Player award after finishing the year ranked third in scoring, twelfth in rebounding and fifth in field goal percentage for the conference.  He scored in double figures in 28 of 30 games this season and led the Flying Dutchman to the sectional semifinal of the NCAA tournament.

In the classroom, Blackledge maintains a 3.91 cumulative grade point average as a communications and management major.  This year he became only the second Hope men's basketball player to earn Academic All-America distinction, as the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) named him to the first team.

In addition to his on-court and classroom exploits, Blackledge has done extensive work in the community.  For the past four years he has taught basketball to underprivileged students in the community.  He also worked at the local Ronald McDonald House, after-school enrichment programs, and with Special Olympics and the Miracle League.  He also serves as a counselor at the Summer's Best Two Weeks Camp where he mentors students.

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