Blake Peters
Blake Peters
No matter what happens from this point forward, Blake Peters probably feels like he can’t lose.
The Evanston sophomore hoops star and his 80-foot buzzer-beating shot from last January at Beardsley Gym, leading the Wildkits past Maine South, is up for Best Play at this year's ESPY awards.
As the No. 7 seed in the field of 16, Peters probably feels like he’s already beaten the odds to still be on such a national stage for doing what came second nature to him.
"When I got the rebound, there wasn't much to do so I just took the dribble and shot it and it went in," Peters told ABC Chicago. "It was pretty cool and I remember asking myself, 'Did I just make that?' I really did so I just started running."
The shot has delivered Peters into national notoriety.
"I was stunned; my parents were not surprised," he said. "Sometimes I don't really give myself that much credit, but I was stunned and just glad to be a part of it.”
Evanston coach Mike Ellis said if any of his young players can handle all the attention it would be Peters.
"If that play could have happened to any one of our players, to pat Blake on the back, he was the most capable of dealing with all the attention that goes with it,” he said. “Very humble player, student, person."
The other plays still in the running and collecting votes include No. 1 seed Arike Ogunbowale and her buzzer-beater to win the NCAA championship for the Notre Dame women’s hoops team; the No. 3 seed Philadelphia Eagles and their touchdown scoring, fourth-and-goal trick-play against the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl; and No. 5 seed Jessie Warren’s acrobatic catch to start a double play for Florida State in the Women’s College World Series.
Even in the face of such star power, Peters said he likes his chances.
"I think they are pretty good,” he said. “I have witnessed, you know sports have a great ability to bring us together. Throughout this whole process, Evanston as a community has kind of come around this one play and I think that is an amazing thing."
The ESPY Awards will air at 7 p.m., July 18 on ABC 7.