Recruiting begins again for ACA's Shepherd
WANNANOA - Jordan Shepherd had decided on a new home.
He’d found the right coach, right team and right college.
Then the college changed his mind.
On March 14, James Madison University “mutually parted ways” with basketball coach Matt Brady and Shepherd, a senior point guard at Asheville Christian Academy, was effectively a basketball orphan.
Gone was the coach he’d grown so fond of and who, on Jan. 8, he’d pledged to play for.
“It’s been really tough having your mind set on going somewhere and then in a blink of an eye it all changes,” Shepherd said.
The news of Brady’s departure was announced in the morning and by noon Asheville Christian Academy coach Andy Ray had five phone calls inquiring about Shepherd’s commitment.
The 2015 Carolinas Athletic Conference Player of the Year, who had 20 scholarship offers prior to his James Madison commitment, reopened his recruitment.
More calls poured in. College coaches arrived on campus. Shepherd’s phone rang incessantly.
“I’m surprised by that,” the 6-foot-3 guard said of the renewed interest. “I thought the schools would have already gotten someone in my place. It’s a blessing.”
He’s gained one new offer, from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, and schools who previously recruited him, like Appalachian State, are back in the mix.
Shepherd hasn’t set a timeline on making a new decision. He wants to see if other offers arrive and he has two official visits left to take.
“I’m looking for the same exact things,” he said. “I’m not going to settle for less than what James Madison was offering me.”
There, he would have likely moved right into the starting lineup at point guard and he had a great relationship with the coaching staff. That’s one reason for his immediate decommitment - he didn’t know who the new coach would be and if that coach would have wanted him.
What has happened to Shepherd has been a learning experience for himself and his prep coach.
“My original feeling is that I like guys to sign in the fall,” Ray said. “What I’ve learned through this is that some kids can walk through that process without it affecting how they play and who they are. Jordan has been one of those young men who handled it before he made the commitment to James Madison. He’s had a lot more opportunities by waiting but that’s not what’s right for every kid.”
Wherever Shepherd finally lands, that program is getting a good player. He averaged 19.2 points, 5.1 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game for the Lions (19-9) this winter.
Ray said he’s the type of player who can run a team on both ends of the floor and has plenty of intangibles.
“He has that rare ability to step outside of, for a better word, the system and make a big play on offense or defense,” Ray said. “Some kids make big plays occasionally but fail tons of times because they’re always gambling trying to do this or that.
“Jordan is more like an assassin. He’s quiet and stays within the program and then when you need him, all of a sudden, he does something you really needed.”
WANNANOA - Jordan Shepherd had decided on a new home.
He’d found the right coach, right team and right college.
Then the college changed his mind.
On March 14, James Madison University “mutually parted ways” with basketball coach Matt Brady and Shepherd, a senior point guard at Asheville Christian Academy, was effectively a basketball orphan.
Gone was the coach he’d grown so fond of and who, on Jan. 8, he’d pledged to play for.
“It’s been really tough having your mind set on going somewhere and then in a blink of an eye it all changes,” Shepherd said.
The news of Brady’s departure was announced in the morning and by noon Asheville Christian Academy coach Andy Ray had five phone calls inquiring about Shepherd’s commitment.
The 2015 Carolinas Athletic Conference Player of the Year, who had 20 scholarship offers prior to his James Madison commitment, reopened his recruitment.
More calls poured in. College coaches arrived on campus. Shepherd’s phone rang incessantly.
“I’m surprised by that,” the 6-foot-3 guard said of the renewed interest. “I thought the schools would have already gotten someone in my place. It’s a blessing.”
He’s gained one new offer, from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, and schools who previously recruited him, like Appalachian State, are back in the mix.
Shepherd hasn’t set a timeline on making a new decision. He wants to see if other offers arrive and he has two official visits left to take.
“I’m looking for the same exact things,” he said. “I’m not going to settle for less than what James Madison was offering me.”
There, he would have likely moved right into the starting lineup at point guard and he had a great relationship with the coaching staff. That’s one reason for his immediate decommitment - he didn’t know who the new coach would be and if that coach would have wanted him.
What has happened to Shepherd has been a learning experience for himself and his prep coach.
“My original feeling is that I like guys to sign in the fall,” Ray said. “What I’ve learned through this is that some kids can walk through that process without it affecting how they play and who they are. Jordan has been one of those young men who handled it before he made the commitment to James Madison. He’s had a lot more opportunities by waiting but that’s not what’s right for every kid.”
Wherever Shepherd finally lands, that program is getting a good player. He averaged 19.2 points, 5.1 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game for the Lions (19-9) this winter.
Ray said he’s the type of player who can run a team on both ends of the floor and has plenty of intangibles.
“He has that rare ability to step outside of, for a better word, the system and make a big play on offense or defense,” Ray said. “Some kids make big plays occasionally but fail tons of times because they’re always gambling trying to do this or that.
“Jordan is more like an assassin. He’s quiet and stays within the program and then when you need him, all of a sudden, he does something you really needed.”
