Youngstown State senior Dallas Blocker was named one of 10 finalists for the tenth annual V Foundation Comeback Award. The award is presented in conjunction with ESPN and the recipient will be announced March 30 during ESPN's basketball coverage, The V Foundation for Cancer Research has announced on Thursday.
Besides Blocker, the other finalists include: D'Andre Bell, Georgia Tech; Brianna Culberson, Denver; Kelvin Davis, San Diego State; Kelsey Griffin, Nebraska; Sanchez Hughley, Florida Atlantic; Thomas Kleinschnitz, Franciscan University of Steubenville; Kristen Lucci, Waynesburg; and Dana Pernell Smith II, Longwood.
Blocker was diagnosed with testicular cancer in February of 2009 and missed the final seven games of the 2008-09 season. He returned to the court in 2009-10 and played in 25 games with 23 starts while averaging 3.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
"To be named a finalist for the V Foundation Comeback Award is very humbling," said Blocker. "The V Foundation for Cancer Research has saved so many lives and I feel fortunate to have been able to beat cancer and finish my college basketball career."
"Dallas worked very hard to get back on the basketball court during and after his fight against cancer last year," YSU Head Coach Jerry Slocum. "We are proud of how he handled himself through that adversity and, more importantly, happy that he overcame this disease."
