Horsham wheelchair basketballer Jannik Blair, right, hugs University of Alabama team-mate Jared Arambula after the Crimson Tide won its first National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball title at the weekend. Picture: MARK ALMOND
HE won a Paralympic Silver Medal in London last year and then was honoured with the 2013 Wimmera Sports Star of the Year award.
Now, Horsham wheelchair basketball star Jannik Blair has added a college title to his ever-growing trophy cabinet.
Blair was part of the University of Alabama's first national wheelchair basketball championship at the weekend.
He scored eight points as the Crimson Tide defeated seven-time winners Texas-Arlington 71-52 in the National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Tournament.
It was a whirlwind final term from Alabama, which scored the last 17 points.
"It was fantastic to get a win in the final to cap off a great year," Blair told the Mail-Times yesterday.
"It would definitely have to be pretty high up in terms of my career achievements.
"It's the highest league here in the United States and a lot of the top players who graduate go on to play for the American national side, along with a lot of foreign players studying over here who end up representing their own countries." Blair, who was one of three Australians to play in the tournament, was named in the All-American side, despite only playing in one of the two semesters.
"I was actually quite surprised about the selection, but it's a massive honour," he said. "I'm all about the team so it was a bonus to be named in the All-Star Five."
There will be no rest for Blair, who will travel to Italy on March 24 to represent Australia.