Northwestern University Athletics
Preston Joins Northwestern as Graduate Transfer
5/24/2023 9:34:00 AM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern Sullivan-Ubben men's basketball coach Chris Collins has announced the signing of graduate transfer Blake Preston to the 2023-24 roster. The 6-foot-9 forward comes to Evanston after four seasons at Liberty and will bolster the Wildcats' frontcourt depth.
"We are very excited to announce that Blake Preston will be joining our program this year," said Collins. "Blake brings a tough, veteran presence to our frontline. He comes from a championship culture at Liberty, where he played a huge role in multiple postseason appearances. Blake is an extremely athletic and physical player that will be able to help us on both ends of the court. His talent, leadership, and experience will be a much-needed boost as we head into next season."
Preston, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, played 109 games over four years for the Flames, starting in 51. In his final season in Lynchburg, Virginia, Preston played an integral role for coach Ritchie McKay's squad, which finished tied atop the ASUN regular-season standings and ended the 2022-23 season as the No. 51 defense in KenPom.
Last season, Preston started in 22 of his 35 appearances for Liberty, averaging a team-high 5.1 rebounds along with 6.7 points and 1.4 assists per game. He also converted a team-high 66% of his field goal attempts. When the 'Cats and the Flames met in Mexico during the semifinals of the Cancun Challenge, Preston posted four points, four boards and two assists in 12 minutes of action. In 30 minutes against North Florida, he tallied a season-high 17 points. He reached double-figures in scoring 10 times and nabbed six or more boards in 14 games.
Gallery: (5-24-2023) Blake Preston Visit Photos
As a junior, Preston averaged 6.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 31 games, and recorded a career-high 18 points against Florida Gulf Coast. Preston's best campaign for Liberty came in his sophomore season, when he posted career-highs in minutes (17.8), points (9.0), rebounds (6.4) and offensive boards (2.0). In his first season under McKay as a redshirt freshman, Preston played in 14 games, averaging 2.4 points and 1.9 rebounds per contest.
Preston finished his time at Liberty with 713 points and 535 rebounds, along with a career field goal percentage of 61.8, which ranks third all-time in the Flames' program history. His career offensive rebound percentage of 15.7 is the best mark in Liberty's history.
Prepping at Charlotte Christian High School — the same high school which produced four-time NBA Champion Stephen Curry — Preston was a two-year starter and a captain his senior year. In his final year for the Knights, he averaged 13.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 1.4 assists per game on a 23-9 squad.
Solidified the frontcourt ?? @blakepreston_32 is officially a Wildcat. pic.twitter.com/2HfdioTUBd
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) May 24, 2023
"We are very excited to announce that Blake Preston will be joining our program this year," said Collins. "Blake brings a tough, veteran presence to our frontline. He comes from a championship culture at Liberty, where he played a huge role in multiple postseason appearances. Blake is an extremely athletic and physical player that will be able to help us on both ends of the court. His talent, leadership, and experience will be a much-needed boost as we head into next season."
Preston, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, played 109 games over four years for the Flames, starting in 51. In his final season in Lynchburg, Virginia, Preston played an integral role for coach Ritchie McKay's squad, which finished tied atop the ASUN regular-season standings and ended the 2022-23 season as the No. 51 defense in KenPom.
Last season, Preston started in 22 of his 35 appearances for Liberty, averaging a team-high 5.1 rebounds along with 6.7 points and 1.4 assists per game. He also converted a team-high 66% of his field goal attempts. When the 'Cats and the Flames met in Mexico during the semifinals of the Cancun Challenge, Preston posted four points, four boards and two assists in 12 minutes of action. In 30 minutes against North Florida, he tallied a season-high 17 points. He reached double-figures in scoring 10 times and nabbed six or more boards in 14 games.
As a junior, Preston averaged 6.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 31 games, and recorded a career-high 18 points against Florida Gulf Coast. Preston's best campaign for Liberty came in his sophomore season, when he posted career-highs in minutes (17.8), points (9.0), rebounds (6.4) and offensive boards (2.0). In his first season under McKay as a redshirt freshman, Preston played in 14 games, averaging 2.4 points and 1.9 rebounds per contest.
Preston finished his time at Liberty with 713 points and 535 rebounds, along with a career field goal percentage of 61.8, which ranks third all-time in the Flames' program history. His career offensive rebound percentage of 15.7 is the best mark in Liberty's history.
Prepping at Charlotte Christian High School — the same high school which produced four-time NBA Champion Stephen Curry — Preston was a two-year starter and a captain his senior year. In his final year for the Knights, he averaged 13.8 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and 1.4 assists per game on a 23-9 squad.
Men's Basketball - Purdue Postgame Press Conference (3/12/26)
Friday, March 13
Men's Basketball - Wildcats Fall to Boilermakers in Big Ten Tournament (3/12/26)
Friday, March 13
Men's Basketball - 'Cats Advance in Big Ten Tournament with 74-61 Win Over Indiana (3/11/26)
Thursday, March 12
Men's Basketball - Indiana Postgame Press Conference (3/11/26)
Thursday, March 12
