Cedric Blossom, 24, just finished his two-year contract with professional basketball team Petrolero Argentino.
Now he is back home with his parents Gene and Tammye Blossom in Guilford, Maryland at least until he and his agent figure out his next professional move.
While Blossom only spent two of his high school years at Hammond High School, he left his mark in that short time.
In his freshman year he made the varsity squad of the Golden Bears where he would also be called as a starter that season.
In a recent interview with the Guilford Gazette, Blossom recounted his journey of hard work and success.
He started playing basketball late in his youth at age 12, but he had a mentor in his older brother Ira who helped him move through the ranks more rapidly than expected.
Before transferring to Montrose Christian School in Montgomery County, where he would help his team win a championship, Blossom did the same for Hammond in his sophomore year.
When he decided to leave Hammond, teachers and students were in awe. But he saw an opportunity to attend a school with a great basketball program where he could learn more.
Blossom would follow in the early footsteps of Kevin Durant, whom had also attended and played at Montrose.
Blossom had his share of naysayers, which according to him, made him more determined to improve his game.
He heard that he would not get playing time at Montrose and according to one of his coaches, he would be “committing basketball suicide.”
The story of Blossom’s basketball career was anything but suicide. At Montrose his coaches called him the “glue for the team.”
In his dogged pursuit of the game he helped Montrose win a national championship in his junior year. His team was selected to participate in the ESPN Rise National Invitational Championship where they took first place that year.
His hard work paid off. Morgan University talent scouts caught Blossom in action, which led to a full athletic scholarship at the school.
While he had the opportunity to attend schools with larger basketball programs, he said “Morgan gave me an opportunity to develop as a player, while other schools wanted me to sit out my first year.”
Coming from Howard County, where racial, ethnic, and religious diversity is common, he admitted that attending a historically black college was “more of a culture shock than going to Argentina.” At Morgan “I really focused on basketball. I had to earn my minutes,” he said.
He hit his stride in his junior year where, according to Blossom, others “said it was more so my team.”
While at Morgan, Blossom hired an agent and together they worked on a deal for a professional contract with Petrolero Argentino where he played forward for two years — becoming the team’s leader by his second year.
Blossom said his first year was “a bit of a roller coaster ride.” He lost his godfather while in Argentina. “It was tough hearing that being away,” he said. He also fractured his hand near the end of the season forcing him to take a break.
It was the support of his fans encouraging him through social media that helped him decide to return to the team.
After taking a short break, he exercised his 2nd year option and returned to the team and fans that depended on him. He said, “I really had a heart for the fans.”
In his second year, he was the third highest scoring player in the league, but again disaster struck. He got the call in December that his maternal grandmother had died.
There was another game scheduled, but he chose to be with his family and flew to North Carolina.
Again his fans encouraged him and he went back to play one of his best games, scoring 20 points. The team ended the season in fourth place.
Blossom traces his success to his family, calling out his mother who pushed him academically and his dad who pushed him to excel in sports. He also acknowledged his sister Tiffany and brother Ira for their continuous support.
For the summer, Blossom is organizing a one-day basketball camp for children six years old and up. The event is scheduled for Saturday, August 4, 2018. For more information visit the website.