Ahearn Chooses A School

Blake Ahearn, a 6-1, 175 pound shooting guard from DeSmet Jesuit H.S. in St. Louis, Mo., committed to Southwest Missouri State. Ahearn was down to SW Missouri State and Southern Illinois. He also considered Creighton, Indiana State, SMU, and Loyola of Chicago.

"There were three things I looked for in a school," Ahearn said. "And SW Missouri State fit them all. I wanted to go close to home where my family could see me play. I wanted to go to a good academic school and go somewhere where I could play right away."

Ahearn is a player RivalsHoops.com liked a lot when his games were watched this past summer. He can be a damaging offensive player from the perimeter. He hit a lot of key shots during the Eagles championship run at the Showcase in July in Orlando, Florida.

He also had a solid Peach Jam tournament. Against Team Texas Elite, Ahearn knocked down six three pointers as the Eagles erased a 12-point second half deficit to force overtime in a heartbreaking 64-63 loss. He finished with 22 points in defeat.

Several Division I programs took a look at Ahearn this summer. He told the Insiders Report that Indiana State and SW Missouri State had offered, while St. Louis, Georgia Tech, Missouri, Oklahoma and UConn had all inquired at one time during his recruiting process. Ahearn took unofficial visits to SW Missouri, Southern Illinois, and Indiana State.

He won't razzle or dazzle you with athletic high-jumping skills, but he is a solid lead guard who can drop down a jumper if given room.

Ahearn averaged 17.7 points, three rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.2 steals per game this past season at DeSmet. The Creve Coeur, Mo., native said he holds a 3.0 GPA and took the ACT for the first time in June (awaiting results).