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SALT LAKE CITY - Blake Richelle Ahearn.
That's not the Jazz newest guard, but the daughter of former Reno Bighorn sharpshooter Blake Ahearn.
"My wife was named after her dad, so she kind of convinced me to name our daughter after me." said Ahearn.
But little Blake Richelle came a little early. Premature and born at just 4 pounds and 1 ounce, she's been in the hospital NICU the past three weeks. New papa Ahearn had left his D-League team to be with his daughter.
Then Ahearn got the call that all D-Leaguers hope and dream for.
"Excited. Guys like us, these calls never get old." said Ahearn, who's been called up twice before with Miami and San Antonio. "I had a baby girl and I was still in the hospital... I got the call, so it's been a lot of emotions these past couple of weeks for me. I'm just excited they (Jazz) picked up the phone."
With the new addition to the family, it's been a roller-coaster of emotions.
"I've been home the past couple of weeks, her still being in the ICU. She's doing better, she's doing good." said Ahern.
With a wife having just given birth and his daughter still in the hospital, the excitement and opportunity to play for the Jazz received a lot of support from an unlikely source.
"My wife played in high school and college, she knows what it is all about. When I got the call, I think she was the first to kick me out the door." said Ahearn with a big smile, "She's very supportive. She knows what I've been working for and all our family is from St. Louis, so she's in good hands."
The proud new father still keeps close tabs on his new one.
"She's doing good. She was born 4 pounds and 1 ounce. As of (Monday) she's 4 pounds 10 ounces. This is my first one, so she's getting chubby."
Although the timing is tricky, Ahearn has a new perspective on his professional basketball career, "I got a lot to play for."
