We missed the chance to tell you about the initial diagnosis, but we’ve since learned that Julian Blanks, a four-year starter at La Salle from 1998-2002, is holding his own in his battle with lymphona. Duane Rankin, a columnist for the Times-News in Blanks’ native Erie, Pa., wrote today about an upcoming streetball game in which Blanks said he “hopes” to play:

Blanks, an Erie native who was diagnosed with cancer in March, said he’ll get his final treatment Thursday and hopes he’ll be OK to play.

“It would mean a lot,” Blanks said. “It would be my first step going back to Europe this year. It would really be the first time I’ve played competitively since I got diagnosed.”

Which is good news, to be sure.

Links: Fundraiser for former La Salle guard Julian Blanks [La Salle University]
Blanks may play in Erie streetball game [Erie Times-News]
Photo credit: [La Salle University]