Winston Shepard

Winston Shepard

Shepard shooting a free throw
No. 13 San Diego State Aztecs
Position Forward
League Mountain West Conference
Personal information
Born September 22, 1993
Houston, Texas
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight 210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nevada)
College San Diego State (2012–present)
Career highlights and awards
  • Second-team All-Mountain West (2015)

Winston Shepard (born September 22, 1993) is an American college basketball player for the San Diego State Aztecs.

High school career

A 6'8 forward, Shepard attended Findlay Prep in Nevada. As a senior, he led the team to a 32-1 record and No. 2 ranking by USA Today. Findlay ended up winning the ESPNHS National High School Invitational title.[1] He committed to San Diego State wanting “so bad,” he said, to become the greatest recruit to ever sign with the school.[2] 247Sports.com listed him as the 33rd best recruit in his class.[3]

College career

Shepard was suspended the first three games of his freshman year due to receiving improper recruiting benefits. He admitted to not being fulling engaged while playing.[2] As a freshman, Shepard averaged 5.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists in 20.3 minutes of play.[1]

Shepard was again suspended for one game in his sophomore season because he violated team rules. In the Aztecs’ win over McNeese State on December 21, 2013, he scored seven straight points to ensure a victory.[2] As a sophomore, Shepard averaged 11.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. He started 34 of the team's 36 games.[1] Ben Estes of The Sporting News wrote that "Shepard is able to do nearly everything, and that is especially true on defense, where his aptitude for matching up with almost any opposing player is a big boon to the Aztecs’ swarming, stifling unit."[2]

Coming into his junior season, C.L. Brown of ESPN commented that "his outside shooting could keep him from being a potential All-American and Mountain West Player of the Year candidate."[4] He was named to the Second Team All-Mountain West as a junior.[5] He led the team with 11.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Following the season, Shepard decided to turn down a possible selection in the 2015 NBA Draft and return to school for his senior campaign.[6]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Winston Shepard Bio". San Diego State Aztecs. San Diego State University. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Estes, Ben (March 8, 2014). "Winston Shepard's versatility could be San Diego State's key to March". The Sporting News. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  3. "2012 Basketball Top Recruits". 247Sports.com. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  4. Brown, C.L. (June 11, 2014). "Shepard next in line for Aztecs, Fisher". ESPN. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  5. Southorn, Dave (March 8, 2015). "Mountain West media unanimously picks Marks player of the year, Rice top coach". The Idaho Statesman. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  6. Posner, Ryan (April 24, 2015). "Winston Shepard Says No to NBA, Will Return to SDSU". The Times of San Diego. Retrieved May 1, 2015.