Hoosiers Now

How Trayce Jackson-Davis Became Indiana's King of Blocked Shots

Trayce Jackson-Davis set the Indiana basketball record with 233 career blocked shots in Wednesday's win at Minnesota, passing Jeffrey Newton's previous record that stood since 2003. Take a look back at some memorable blocks from Jackson-Davis' freshman to senior year.

Jack Ankony

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Minnesota's Jamison Battle drove the lane on Wednesday night at Williams Arena, and Trayce Jackson-Davis did something most have come to expect when watching Indiana's star senior forward. But this one was special.

As his outstretched hand deflected Battle's layup with 1:24 left in the first half, Jackson-Davis became Indiana's all-time leader in blocked shots. He entered the game tied with Jeffrey Newton for the lead at 227, and as Indiana claimed a 61-57 road victory, Jackson-Davis etched his name atop the leaderboard with 233 career blocks.

"Honestly, I'm just playing basketball, really," Jackson-Davis said after scoring 25 points, 21 rebounds and six blocks against Minnesota. "It's nothing, and I'm just trying to help my teammates and at the end of the day, they're putting me in great position."

Indiana career blocks leaderboard:

  1. Trayce Jackson-Davis (2019-present): 233
  2. Jeffrey Newton (1999-2003): 227
  3. Alan Henderson (1991-95): 213
  4. D.J. White (2004-08): 198
  5. Uwe Blab (1981-85): 196
  6. George Leach (2000-04): 192
  7. Dean Garrett (1986-88): 194
  8. Ray Tolbert (1977-81): 155
  9. Juwan Morgan (2015-19): 138
  10. Eric Anderson (1988-92): 136

In all likelihood, Jackson-Davis will lead the Hoosiers in blocked shots for a fourth consecutive season, something that hasn't been done since Alan Henderson from 1992-95. Jackson-Davis' nine blocked shots on Dec. 17 were the most all-time by a Kansas opponent and rank second on Indiana's single-game blocks leaderboard behind Steve Downing's 10 on Feb. 23, 1971 against Michigan. 

In 1987-88, Dean Garrett set Indiana's single-season blocks record with 99 as well as the blocks per game record at 3.4. There's plenty of work to be done, but Jackson-Davis has a chance to break those records, too. Currently with 55 blocks through 17 games, Jackson-Davis needs 45 blocks across the final 11 regular season games to break Garrett's record of 99. Jackson-Davis would most likely need a few Big Ten and NCAA Tournament games to reach 100 blocks and to surpass Garrett's 3.4 blocks per game.

Jackson-Davis has been a double-double machine since stepping foot on campus in 2019, but he's become one of the Big Ten's top rim protectors under coach Mike Woodson. He's always been a tremendous athlete, but his timing around the rim and ability to read angles have been noticeable improvements. He was named to Big Ten All-Defensive team last season, and he was added to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List on Thursday.

Jackson-Davis averaged 1.8 blocks as a freshman and 1.4 as a sophomore, but he upped that number to 2.3 blocks per game in 2021-22 during Woodson's first season. He's now averaging 3.2 blocks as a senior, which ranks first in the Big Ten and ahead of Purdue's Zach Edey in second place with 2.3. On a national scale, Jackson-Davis is tied for third in blocks per game with Florida's Colin Castleton behind a pair of 7-foot-5 centers in Western Kentucky's Jamarion Sharp (4.3) and Oral Roberts' Connor Vanover (3.3).

With his emergence as a top-tier shot blocker, Indiana coach Mike Woodson has seen Jackson-Davis blossom into an all-around player in his senior season.

"You add his rebounding, his ability to block shots, his assists, his ability to handle the ball and pushing him to initiate the break," Woodson said. "I mean, there's nothing the guy can't do on the basketball floor. He's making his free throws. I mean, he's a beautiful player to watch. I'm just glad he's on our ball club, put it that way."

With Jackson-Davis setting the Indiana all-time blocks record on Wednesday against Minnesota, take a look back at some of his most memorable block from his freshman to senior season as a Hoosier.

Related stories on Indiana basketball

  • GAME STORY: Trayce Jackson-Davis led Indiana with 25 points and 21 rebounds, and got a huge offensive rebound and basket in the final minute to give the Hoosiers a 61-57 win at Minnesota on Wednesday. It was the first 20/20 game for an Indiana player since D.J. White in 2008. CLICK HERE
  • WOODSON OUT WITH COVID: Indiana basketball will be without head coach Mike Woodson on Wednesday night at Minnesota as he recovers from COVID. CLICK HERE
  • WHAT YASIR ROSEMOND SAID: For the first time in his college coaching career, Indiana assistant Yasir Rosemond had to call all the shots on Wednesday night at Minnesota after head coach Mike Woodson couldn't go because of COVID. He helped guide the Hoosiers to a 61-57 victory. Here is the transcript and video from his postgame press conference. CLICK HERE
  • WHAT JACKSON-DAVIS SAID: It was another epic night for Indiana senior Trayce Jackson-Davis, who had 25 points, 21 rebounds and six blocked shots in the Hoosiers' 61-57 victory over Minnesota. Here is the video and transcript of his postgame press conference. CLICK HERE
  • LIVE BLOG: Relive all the action in real time in Tom Brew's live blog straight from press row at Williams Arena. It was a nail-biter, for sure, but in the end the Hoosiers got their fourth-straight win. CLICK HERE
  • WATCH JACKSON-DAVIS ALLEY-OOP: Trayce Jackson-Davis showed impressive athleticism to catch Jalen Hood-Schifino's alley-oop and slam it home in the second half against Minnesota. Watch the video highlight here. CLICK HERE
  • WATCH HOOD-SCHIFINO'S REVERSE LAYUP: Indiana freshman point guard Jalen Hood-Schifino beat the Minnesota defense with an impressive up-and-under layup in the first half. Watch the video highlight here. CLICK HERE
  • WATCH KOPP'S THREE-POINTER: Miller Kopp knocked down a pair of three-pointers to give Indiana an early lead over Minnesota on Wednesday. Watch the video highlight here. CLICK HERE
  • INDIANA SCHEDULE: Here is the full Indiana men's basketball schedule for the 2022-23 season, with dates, gametimes, TV information and more, plus links to all the stories for games played so far. CLICK HERE
  • JACKSON-DAVIS SCORING LIST: Indiana senior Trayce Jackson-Davis continues to move up the Hoosiers' all-time scoring list. Here's the latest on where he is now, and who he's about to pass. We've got all 54 guys who've scored 1,000 points for more in their IU careers. CLICK HERE
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Jack Ankony
JACK ANKONY

Jack Ankony is a Sports Illustrated/FanNation writer for HoosiersNow.com. He graduated from Indiana University's Media School with a degree in journalism. Follow on Twitter @ankony_jack.

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