Mike Helfer’s success as Valdosta State’s head coach is predicated on more than just talented athletes and what plays he draws up on a white board. Coach Helfer has lead the Blazers to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances and has turned Valdosta into a basketball powerhouse in the Gulf South Conference Helfer’s style of play is fast and to constantly apply ...
Read More »Justice duo make impact on Blazer Basketball
Being four years apart, Beau and Blake Justice never got a chance to play on the same team, but they got the next best thing when Blake decided to return to VSU to become the assistant coach for the Blazer’s basketball team. The brothers are from Peebles, Ohio. Both are a part of the 1,000-point club for the Blazers, and ...
Read More »Inaugural ‘Helfer’s Heroes’ camp touches community
Tuesday night, the VSU Men’s basketball team won their Gulf South Conference Quarterfinal matchup against West Georgia, putting on a sharpshooting performance on the hardwood. Off the court, they seem to have had higher success. On Feb. 24 at, head coach Mike Helfer and his team hosted boys and girls with special needs from grades 3-12 at the Complex. The ...
Read More »Blazers better equipped for postseason this go round
Despite the departure of star guard Jeremiah Hill, the Blazers are better equipped to make a tourney run this time around. At 26-3, the Valdosta State Blazers are currently ranked No. 14 in the NABC Coaches Poll and find themselves ranked No. 3 in the South region. The ranking, as well as the national perception of the team, seems to ...
Read More »Blazers claim regular season crown, top seed going into playoffs
With one game left in the regular season for the Blazers, no time was wasted when it came to be declared the Gulf South Conference regular season champions for the second straight year. Junior guard Beau Justice reflected on the feeling after realizing the achievement. “It does not hit you until you’re cutting down the net and putting it in ...
Read More »Helping Hands: Helfer’s experience extends beyond the court
Mike Helfer’s fiery passion and cool confidence make him one of the most respected coaches in the country but his success never came overnight. Helfer was born in Newark, Ohio, where he attended Newark Catholic High School. During his teenage years, Helfer was heavily involved with athletics. He was a tri-sport star, receiving All-State honors in basketball and football, while ...
Read More »Morgan flashes confidence, leadership for Blazers
Athleticism is a very profound ability to have as an individual today, but for Winston Morgan, he has much more to offer. Morgan, a junior guard for the VSU Men’s Basketball team, grew up in Manchester, Connecticut which is about a 15-minute drive from Hartford. He grew up with Jamaican parents who have been married for over 30 years, and ...
Read More »Blazers unblemished at home this season
There’s no place like home and for VSU Men’s Basketball, that statement couldn’t be truer. Currently, the Blazers hold a 13-2 record this season which places them No. 2 in the Gulf South Conference standings. The Blazers grabbed win No. 13 in a 101-78 rout of the Mississippi State Choctaws on Tuesday night. The Complex was energized from beginning to ...
Read More »