Winston Shepard of the San Diego State Aztecs is going to lead his team to the 2015 NCAA Tournament and give them their first Final Four appearance.
Let’s play a guessing game shall we, guess who I am.
I’m a 6’8 small forward that led my San Diego State Aztecs to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Last year my team had an overall record of 30-4, and 16-2 in the Mountain West conference. I was a huge part of that and last year my numbers are evidence of it. I finished second in scoring, rebounding and assists on my team.
This year I’ve gotten so much better than I’m going to drastically increase my draft stock, live out my dreams of playing in the NBA with Anthony Bennett, and lead San Diego State to a place they have never been before, the elite eight, and the final four of the NCAA Tournament.
Who am I?
If you guessed Winston Shepard, or read the headline of the story, either way it’s ok and you guessed correctly.
Turn on a San Diego State Aztecs game and there you’ll find Shepard, a 6’8 athletic small forward with a smooth handle and crafty moves. Now in his junior year, Shepard’s role expands since he’s the go to player for the Aztecs. He has the physical tools, and the game to excel in college. His NBA-level talent needs to get harnessed this year if San Diego State wants a chance at NCAA Tournament glory.
With the departure of guard Xavier Thames, the shepherd of the team is Shepard. His teammates will look for him late in games, and will depend on his scoring to help them win.
Thankfully Shepard will not have the burden of leading the team without help, what hero doesn’t need a sidekick?
One of the bright spots last year for San Diego State was Dwayne Polee II. He came along strong in the second half of the year and he’s looking to continue the success of last season when he got named the Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year.
What’s more impressive about the two, Polee II and Shepard, is that they are both aggressive defenders. Having these two players on the wings create mismatches for any opponent they face since they are both laterally quick, athletic, and when it comes to getting steals they both hunt and play like a pack of lions looking for a last piece of antelope meat.
San Diego State will earn a lot of wins before the NCAA Tournament because of their defense. More importantly, having these two on the floor and playing defense going to pay dividends in March. When guard play is at it’s finest in the NCAA Tournament, Shepard or Polee can switch off any of their opponents best player and wear them down.
Thankfully Shepard has the size and versatility to play any position on the floor except point guard. His skill set is so good that no matter what position he plays he has the physical tools, and the basketball skill to thrive. That versatility is one of the reasons why San Diego State has had a lot of success in the Steve Fisher era.
If you’ve been living under a rock, or haven’t paid attention much to college basketball then know that the San Diego State program has had major success in the last decade. Because of the guidance of Head Coach Fisher, their program isn’t an elite program yet, but they are on their way to new heights.
San Diego State is only one of 13 schools in the NCAA to win 20 games or more in nine straight seasons, putting them in the same class with elite schools such as Florida, Duke, Louisville, North Carolina and Syracuse. Also, San Diego State is also only one of 17 teams in the nation to make the Sweet Sixteen round of the NCAA Tournament twice in the last four years.
Speaking of the NCAA Tournament, for the junior Shepard, it’s already beginning to look like NCAA Tournament time.
In the opening game of the season Shepard played well scoring 14 points, and grabbing two rebound against Cal State Northridge. What was more eye-opening was that his shooting looked spot on, since his shooting woes are the only cause of concern with his game. Last year Shepard shot a pedestrian 63 percent from the free throw line, 29 percent on his two point jump shots, and an atrocious 18 percent from the three-point line.
Against CS Northride though Shepard was accurate making his lone three-point attempt, and shooting 7-of-10 from the free throw line.
Regardless of his shooting woes, this good shepherd lays his basketball life down for his team every time he plays, and might find himself in the Final Four.
Don’t sleep on this San Diego State team, they will be in the mix of things late in the season, bank on it.
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