For years, Marqus Blakely has been a source of power and leadership at the University of Vermont. He was named the best player in America East two consecutive times, and this season he leads his team in every statistical category. But one thing is missing from Blakely’s repertoire: an America East crown. But before his journey ends, a portrait of where it began illustrates a portrait of a successful basketball player and an exceptional student-athlete.

THE BEGINNING OF MARQUS BLAKELY

His quest started in New Jersey, where Blakely played high school basketball in Metuchen. He averaged 19.4 points, 10 rebounds and nearly five blocks per game as a senior. His big numbers put him on the radar, and University of Vermont head coach Mike Lonergan took notice.

“I called some of my friends [in New Jersey] and asked who the best available player was, and they said this kid was pretty good,” he said. “I thought he was very under-recruited … the biggest schools were telling him to go to prep school, and a lot of people thought he was too short to play inside. I thought that he could still do that at our level, because he was just so athletic.”

When he arrived at Vermont, he spent his freshman year earning some playing time, but for the most part watching and learning from the older players on the team.

“We had good players ahead of him,” Lonergan said. “I think he knew he had to work harder. I told him after the season that after his first year, ‘You should double your stats, because you’ll play more next year but you’ve gotta work hard.’ I didn’t think he’d be a two-time Player of the Year, but I thought he’d definitely become a good player.”

THE BREAKOUT

Not even Lonergan could have seen the monstrous season that was on the horizon. Blakely exploded to average 19 points, 11 rebounds and 2.72 blocks per game, all tops in America East. He became the first player in league history to win Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.

Lonergan surely got more than he expected out of the young Blakely.

“I think he tripled his stats,” he said. “He made that big jump, but he really just became a much better ball handler and passer; he was just a raw athlete when he got here, but he’s a smart kid and he works really hard.”

That 2007-08 season was full of highlights for Blakely. He gained national attention for throwing down a thunderous dunk over Albany’s Brent Wilson in the America East championship game. He was one of only two players in the entire nation to score 30 points and tally 20 boards in a game that year (current NBA star Michael Beasley was the other). Despite these and other achievements, Blakely’s Catamounts fell in the title game against Albany. It marked the closest to winning the crown that Blakely would come in his first three years.

DEFENSIVE-MINDED

During Blakely’s junior year, teams had drawn up game plans to stop him inside. His lack of a perimeter game led teams to use physical force to punish him down low. The added pressure dropped his scoring and rebounding averages (16.1 and 9.0 per game respectively), but he boosted both his blocks and his steals on the defensive end.

“I think a couple teams in our league have a game plan to just beat the heck out of him,” Lonergan said. “I mean, we had to replace his jersey a month ago because it was ripping so bad from people hanging on it; we had to get him a new home uniform … That’s where some teams have had success against us … Usually he reacts well to it; he’s a strong kid … That’s why his scoring has gone down, mostly because teams are doubling him or sagging off guys trying to keep Marqus from being able to get as many shots.”

But Blakely found a way around it. His improvements in other areas, including increases in defensive stats and assists, led to his clinching of conference Player of the Year for the second straight time.

“When they [double-teamed] him a lot, he passes the ball a lot and gets a lot of assists,” Lonergan said. “He always makes the extra pass; he’s unselfish.”

Blakely’s field goal percentage was sixth in the nation at 61 percent, mostly because his shots all come from close range.

“What I like about him is that he doesn’t shoot jumpers because he knows it’s not really his strength,” Lonergan said. “He’s smart enough to know that people can’t stop him even though he can’t shoot it.”

ONE LAST CHANCE

Then came Blakely’s senior season. After a disappointing loss in the previous year’s quarterfinals, Blakely led the Catamounts to a 12-4 conference record. But the astounding part about his senior year is how well he has filled up the stat sheet. He leads Vermont in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks.

Even more astonishing is where he ranks in the conference with his stats: fifth in points, second in rebounds, fourth in field goal percentage, sixth in assists, first in steals and third in blocks.

“Normally when you lose your top scorers [to graduation] you take a step back, but having Marqus … he’s playing better than he did last year,” Lonergan said. “Because of Marqus, we’re gonna be competitive every game.”

Off the court, Blakely is a business major at Vermont, which Lonergan notes is an intensive major to study. As his coach notes, Blakely enjoys music, an active social life and close relationships with his teammates. But Lonergan will remember Blakely more for his presence on the court and how it affected his entire team.

“If you came and watched practice, he’s the hardest worker,” he explains. “He’s over-competitive; the assistants hate refereeing practice because he just doesn’t want to lose, every call is questioned. He really is a hard worker … he’s got a lot of strengths; he’s unbelievable. You can count on him for getting a double-double almost every game, and that’s what we’re really gonna miss, is that very special player.”

But there is a unique element to Blakely’s upcoming games: for the first time, a loss signals the end of his collegiate career. A loss means that Blakely will never get to taste a championship in his tenure at Vermont. Lonergan hopes that element will serve to motivate Blakely in the tournament.

“My hope is that he gets motivated and dominates this weekend,” he said. “He definitely has been, I think, the best player [in the conference].”