Saijon Blackwell feels like he has found his basketball community at Caney Creek High School.
Blackwell, a 2012 Atascocita High School alum, moved about the country as a child. Not staying anywhere for more than a couple years at a time, Blackwell struggled to maintain friendships.
“It was difficult times finding friends, finding a community,” Blackwell said. “I don’t have many childhood friends. But basketball has been that childhood friend of mine and something I just love. I knew from an early age that I wouldn’t be a super professional or anything. But I always had a love to teach others.”
Blackwell was named the new head coach of the Caney Creek girls basketball team back in the spring.
He is now home.
“I see a lot of potential in this squad and for years to come,” Blackwell said. “The community deserves a win and deserves to be acknowledged. I’m just glad I’m in this position to bring that to them. Exciting is an understatement.”
Blackwell takes over for Kasey Teich, who is now an assistant at Montgomery.
“My dad was in the Army and I was a military brat,” Blackwell explained. “We moved around quite a lot. Being born in Oklahoma, moving to Texas for a little while, then to North Carolina, then to Pennsylvania, then to Louisiana. I’ve been around the block quite a few times. Basketball has been kind of that thing that was still with me throughout those (stops).”
As Blackwell entered high school age, Atascocita was the next stop on he and his family’s path.
These were the days of Eagles basketball prior to David Martinez becoming head coach, when the team went to state three times, before Carsen Edwards was in the NBA, and prior to Fabian White reaching big heights at the University of Houston.
“I came to Atascocita the middle of my freshman year,” Blackwell said. “It was kind of hard for me because I didn’t play my freshman year. They put me on the sophomore team that following year. Some people look at it like a demotion. But I looked at it as an opportunity.”
When all was said and done, Blackwell had three varsity letters from Atascocita, was an All-District selection his upperclassmen years and averaged 11 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in his high school career.
Blackwell signed with McMurry University, an NCAA Division program in Abilene, and eventually landed at Henderson State, an NCAA Division II program in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.
It was during this time in life that Blackwell found joy in helping younger teammates grow with the game.
“I just got a lot of satisfaction seeing them get that love for the game,” Blackwell said.
After college, Blackwell joined a coaching staff at an NCAA Division III program.
“I jumped right in,” Blackwell said. “I was a December grad and ended up being a graduate assistant at Hardin-Simmons for women’s basketball. It was great. The first year I was there, we didn’t win a whole lot of games. The culture was shifting. The coach that was there knew she was heading out.”
Blackwell flourished under new Hardin-Simmons head coach Kendra Whitehead. His opportunity took off and he considers Whitehead a mentor and friend to this day.
“It really helped me a lot,” Blackwell said. “It helped me develop a hunger to get players better. In the film room. I had to scout every week. I had to make sure I was (on top of things) to make us successful. I think we won 20 games that year.”
Blackwell eventually moved back to the Greater Houston area.
He was a boys basketball assistant briefly at Conroe Covenant Christian before he became a long-term substitute teacher for Conroe ISD.
The last two years, Blackwell taught at York Junior High, a feeder for Grand Oaks.
It was there, the coaching itch returned. It fueled his fire as he helped with basketball, football, soccer and track.
When the Caney Creek job opened after the season ended, Blackwell jumped at the opportunity. From afar, the Panthers’ athletic program led by football coach/campus athletic coordinator Kendall Hineman and girls soccer coach/girls athletic coordinator Gretchen Kloes was a place he wanted to be.
“Just the opportunity,” Blackwell said. “I’ve been paying attention to the Caney Creek feeder for a long time. I just saw a hunger from just about every sport. I would always say I wish I had the opportunity to get there. When this position came about, it was something I had to jump for. I’m just glad to be here. From the first day, it’s been simply amazing.”
Blackwell started the job with just a couple weeks of school left. He was able to meet the team and start developing relationships.
“I was able to build a foundation with them,” he said. “I was glad to be there that early. I got ahead of the game really fast. The girls have been great and responded well to me. It’s always hard changing coaches. I’ve been in that situation at the college level.”
In the Panthers’ first year in Class 6A, growing pains occurred. The team went 4-27, but picked up three wins in the nine-team District 13-6A.
In Teich’s first season, Caney Creek returned to the playoffs in 2021. Since then, just eight games have been won the past two seasons.
“The biggest thing for me is just changing their mindset,” Blackwell said. “Just getting out of that mindset ‘We’re just going to lose.’ We have to change that mentality in everything we do. Rather that’s stretching, putting the right things in our bodies, rather that’s showing up everyday. Change our mindset and change our mentality everytime we step into the building.”
“Once they changed their mindset, it’s been night and day. It has to be a winner’s mentality.”
