All your favorite teams and sources in one place

Build your feed

Your Teams.
All Sources.

Build your feed

© 2024 BVM Sports. Best Version Media, LLC.

No results found.
Curtis Blair III, son of NBA official, bringing talents to Liberty basketball
The Steward School junior forward and Liberty signee Curtis Blair III has learned a lot about basketball from his dad, Curtis Blair II, a Richmond hall of famer and current NBA official. (Courtesy: Curtis Blair III)

Curtis Blair III, son of NBA official, bringing talents to Liberty basketball

RICHMOND, Va. (BVM) – The Steward School junior guard Curtis Blair III learned the intricacies of basketball from his father, Curtis Blair II. While many dads would go over the basics of the game like how to dribble, shoot a perfect jumper or make layups, Blair III got even more in-depth teaching from his dad, all the way down to the smallest rules in the sports rulebook. That’s because Curtis Blair II, following his playing days, has taken a role in the NBA as an NBA official, a position he has held since 2009.

“He’s been playing basketball, been around basketball pretty much his whole life so he’s been able to teach me a lot and how to play the right way,” Blair III said. “He’s taught me good mechanics on my shot and everything about basketball in general he helped me get to this point.”

This deeper knowledge of the game has rubbed off on the younger Curtis Blair as he has been able to use his basketball IQ, and the genetic skills he inherited from his father, to become one of Virginia’s best prep players. On March 9, Blair III committed to in-state Liberty University where he will play as the team enters into their new home of Conference USA.

Liberty showed early interest in Blair III, recruiting him since he was 14, which has paid off with his commitment to the program in March. (Courtesy: Curtis Blair III)

“I took an official visit back in October and I just saw the way they go about things and it’s this whole big family,” Blair III said. “They’ve been recruiting me since I was 14 years old so they’ve shown a lot of love and it was the best opportunity for me and something too good to pass up.” 

While it certainly wasn’t a shock to see Blair III go to the Division I level, some may have been surprised that he didn’t go the legacy route, following in his dad’s footsteps by attending nearby University of Richmond. Blair II was one of the best guards in Spiders’ history and is a member of the school’s hall of fame, finishing with 1,630 points which ranks him in the top 15 all-time. In addition to his scoring, Blair II also earned numerous recognitions including being named the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, CAA first team, All-defensive team and All-tournament team after averaging 20.3 points as a senior.

“Some of the things he tells me that’s different between us is that I’m a little bit bigger, a little taller and weigh a lot more than he did at my age,” Blair III said. “He also says I’m a little bit more athletic because he was more of a point guard.”

Blair II would end up being drafted by the Houston Rockets in the second round of the 1992 NBA Draft, though he wouldn’t see NBA action and would instead play professionally overseas.

“I definitely think I could’ve taken him one-on-one,” Blair III said with a laugh. “Growing up he’d always joke with me that if I got an offer from Richmond that I would commit right away, but things didn’t work out that way and he’s happy for me. Ever since Liberty came in he’s always liked them and that’s always the place I thought I’d go so it worked out.”

In 2001, Blair II began taking officiating classes and after officiating middle school and high school games in the Richmond area would jump to Division I basketball, the NBA Developmental League (now known as the G-League) before advancing to the game’s highest level in 2009.

Though he travels a lot during the NBA season, Curtis Blair II always helps his son with his game over the summer. (Courtesy: Curtis Blair III)

“During the season it’s kind of hard,” Blair III admitted. “But during the summer we’re together every day talking, working out, so we usually make up for the season in the summer. We will talk about this after games and stuff too.”

Being near the game from a young age has certainly paid off for Blair III. This past season, the 6-foot-5 junior guard has excelled for the Spartans to the tune of 18 points and eight rebounds a game. Blair III was named the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools player of the year after helping the Spartans win the TCIS championship and earning first team tournament honors.

“It means a lot, but it means a lot more because we were able to win our conference,” Blair III said. “When I found out I was happy for the award, but I really just wanted to win the championship and we were able to do that so I’m able to enjoy it a little bit more now.”

Though his team would fall 53-50 to Blue Ridge in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division II state semifinals, Blair was able to leave his mark by scoring 16 points in his final game of the season. The Spartans would wrap up the year with a 28-3 record, thanks in part to Blair’s excellent play.

“We just want to win,” Blair III said. “I feel every year we’re getting closer and closer [to a state title] so hopefully next year we can obtain that goal…that would mean a lot. Next year will be my sixth year so it would show off all the work we’ve put in and Coach [Curt] Kassab has put in with the program so it’d mean a lot. Kind of the finishing touches.”

In Blair III, besides getting the son of a Richmond legend, the Liberty Flames will also be getting a unanimous three-star prospect who currently ranks as a top 10 prospect in Virginia’s 2023 recruiting class. With another year to grow his game, Blair III’s ranks could continue to rise, especially if he builds off of his impressive junior season.

“I see [I can bring] shot making and shot creating,” Blair III said. “I feel like I can create my own shot and make a bucket when needed, but I also have a winning mentality. I just want to win and compete so I think I’ll bring that.”

By watching each of his father’s games and training with his dad whenever he is home from work, Blair III has been able to make himself one of Richmond’s best, just as Blair II was 30 years prior. The goal is for the Blairs to someday share an NBA court.

“That’s the plan,” Blair III said. “I don’t think it’s ever been done before so hopefully we can be the first.”

The goal for the Blairs is to one day share the NBA court together, with father as an official and son as a player. (Courtesy: Curtis Blair III)

With his excellent basketball IQ, high-level talent and a mentor like his father, expect Curtis Blair III to have similar success with the Flames that his dad had with the Spiders. Basketball just runs in the family.