Winston Shepard

Winston Shepard
Shepard with the San Diego State Aztecs in 2014
No. 24 – FUS Rabat
PositionForward
LeagueRoad to BAL
Personal information
Born (1993-09-22) September 22, 1993 (age 31)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High schoolFindlay Prep (Henderson, Nevada)
CollegeSan Diego State (2012–2016)
NBA draft2016: undrafted
Playing career2016–present
Career history
2016–2017Alba Fehérvár
2017–2018Santa Cruz Warriors
2018Canterbury Rams
2018Maccabi Ashdod
2018–2019Westports Malaysia Dragons
2020Rayos de Hermosillo
2020–2021Atomerőmű SE
2021Titanes del Distrito Nacional
2021–2022BC Odesa
2022Southland Sharks
2023Macau Black Bears
2023–presentFUS Rabat
Career highlights and awards

Winston Shepard III (born September 22, 1993) is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for San Diego State, where he was a two-time second-team All-Mountain West Conference honoree.

High school career

Shepard attended Findlay Prep in Henderson, 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] Rivals.com, meanwhile, ranked Shepard as the 21st best player.[4]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Winston Shepard
SF 		Fresno, TX Findlay College Prep 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 207 lb (94 kg) Feb 16, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:4/5 stars   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 94

College career

Shepard in December 2012

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] His best game was an 18-point outing against UNLV.[5] 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] On December 28, he had a career-high 21 points in an 83-point rout of St. Katherine College.[6] 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."[7] He was named second-team All-Mountain West as a junior.[8] 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.[9] He claimed he needed to work on free throw shooting and finishing around the rim. "I have a chance to be part of something that can really, really be special, whatever special is," said Shepard of his decision to come back.[4]

In 37 games as a senior in 2015–16, Shepard averaged career highs with 11.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.[10]

Professional career

Alba Fehérvár (2016–2017)

Shepard went undrafted at the 2016 NBA draft, but played in the 2016 NBA Summer League with the Golden State Warriors. On August 28, 2016, Shepard signed with Hungarian team Alba Fehérvár.[11] He helped the team win the Hungarian Cup title and the Hungarian League championship. In 43 league games, he averaged 11.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. He also appeared in 12 FIBA Europe Cup games, averaging 10.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

Santa Cruz Warriors (2017–2018)

Shepard participated in the 2017 NBA Summer League with the Atlanta Hawks. On December 21, 2017, Shepard was acquired by the Santa Cruz Warriors of the NBA G League.[12] In 19 games for the Warriors, he averaged 9.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game.[13]

Canterbury Rams (2018)

In April 2018, Shepard signed with the Canterbury Rams for the 2018 New Zealand NBL season.[14][15] He was named Player of the Week for Round 4.[16] In 18 games, he averaged 18.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.3 steals per game.[17]

Mornar / Maccabi Ashdod (2018)

On July 21, 2018, Shepard signed with Montenegrin team Mornar.[18] He left Mornar before appearing in a game.

On October 11, 2018, Shepard signed a one-month deal with Israeli team Maccabi Ashdod as an injury cover for Mark Tollefsen.[19] In six games for Ashdod, he averaged 12 points, 5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.

Westports Malaysia Dragons (2018–2020)

On December 6, 2018, Shepard signed with the Westports Malaysia Dragons of the ASEAN Basketball League.[20]

Rayos de Hermosillo (2020)

In March 2020, Shephard played four games in Mexico for Rayos de Hermosillo.[21] The season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[22] He averaged 18.5 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game.[23]

Atomerőmű SE (2020–2021)

On June 30, 2020, Shepard signed with Atomerőmű SE of the Hungarian NB I/A.[23]

Titanes del Distrito Nacional (2021)

In August 2021, Shepard had a five-game stint with Titanes del Distrito Nacional of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto.[24]

BC Odesa (2021–2022)

Between December 2021 and February 2022, Shepard played in Ukraine for BC Odesa.[25]

Southland Sharks (2022)

On May 6, 2022, Shepard signed with the Southland Sharks for the rest of the 2022 New Zealand NBL season.[26]

Macau Black Bears (2023)

In January 2023, Shepard played one game for the Macau Black Bears in the 2023 ABL season.[25][27]

FUS Rabat (2023)

In October 2023, Shepard made his debut for FUS Rabat of the Division Excellence. He also played for FUS in the Road to BAL tournament.[28]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Winston Shepard Bio". San Diego State Aztecs. San Diego State University. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b Zeigler, Mark (April 23, 2015). "SDSU's Shepard returns for senior year". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  5. ^ Kahn, Andrew (January 13, 2014). "Rising Star: San Diego State Forward Winston Shepard". CBS Philadelphia. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  6. ^ "No. 20 San Diego State demolishes St. Katherine College by 83". ESPN. Associated Press. December 28, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  7. ^ Brown, C.L. (June 11, 2014). "Shepard next in line for Aztecs, Fisher". ESPN. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Posner, Ryan (April 24, 2015). "Winston Shepard Says No to NBA, Will Return to SDSU". The Times of San Diego. Retrieved May 1, 2015.
  10. ^ "Winston Shepard College Stats". sports-reference.com. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  11. ^ "Alba Fehervar inks rookie Winston Shepard". sportando.basketball. August 28, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  12. ^ "Warriors Acquire Winston Shepard and Returning Rights to Markus Kennedy Via Trade". NBA.com. December 21, 2017. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  13. ^ "Winston Shepard G-League Stats". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  14. ^ "CANTERBURY RAMS PRESS RELEASE- 8/4/2018". Rams.org.nz. April 8, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  15. ^ "RAMS ANNOUNCE XAVIER THAMES, WINSTON SHEPARD & TROY TEMARA AS ROSTER ADDITIONS". Rams.org.nz. April 13, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  16. ^ "2018 National Basketball League Media Guide Round Five" (PDF). nznbl.basketball. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  17. ^ "Player statistics for Winston Shepard III". SportsTG.com. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  18. ^ "Mornar keep Mićović and sign contracts with 3 American players". aba-liga.com. July 21, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  19. ^ "ווינסטון שפרד חתם באשדוד לחודש". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). October 11, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  20. ^ "Westports Malaysia Dragons Sign Replacement Import". aseansports.com. December 6, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  21. ^ Arredondo, José Francisco (March 3, 2020). "Rayos de Hermosillo tendrá plantel renovado para defender título" (in Spanish). gradanorte.mx. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  22. ^ "Rayos tuvo un comienzo arrollador" (in Spanish). El Imparcial. March 27, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  23. ^ a b "Atomeromu tabs Winston Shepard, ex Hermosillo". Eurobasket. June 30, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  24. ^ "Peña llevó a los Soles a un triunfo sobre Titanes". Liga Nacional de Baloncesto (in Spanish). August 15, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  25. ^ a b "Winston Shepard". eurobasket.com. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  26. ^ "Shepard to return to NZNBL with Sharks". sharksbasketball.co.nz. May 6, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  27. ^ "Eastern stay undefeated with gutsy win over Black Bears, Louvre get first win". abl.basketball. January 5, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023. The Black Bears were the first team to make a major change in the 2023 ABL Invitational, with former Saigon Heat import player Deangelo Hamilton rostered in for Winston Shepard in this game.
  28. ^ "F.U.S de Rabat at the Africa Champions Clubs ROAD TO B.A.L. 2024 2023". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
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