Houston PG Jamal Shead Declares for 2024 NBA Draft
Houston guard and reigning Big 12 Player and Defensive Player of the Year Jamal Shead has declared for the 2024 NBA Draft.
One of the best Cougars in recent memory, Shead will forego his final year of eligibility to enter the draft, leaving Kelvin Sampson to look for a new answer at point guard in 2024-25.
Shead gave Chancellor Johnson of KPRC 2 an exclusive interview in order to announce the decision, which was shared on social media Thursday morning.
”I feel like it’s my time to move on. It’s time to go and chase my dreams,” Shead told KPRC 2. ”It was a big decision, my family and coach talked it over and right now I feel like it’s just that time.”
Shead appeared in 138 games over four seasons, starting in 108 games for the Cougars over that stretch. In an average of 27.1 minutes per game, Shead averaged 9.7 points, 5.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals for his career.
In his best season to date (2024-25), Shead averaged career highs in points (12.9), assists (6.3), rebounds (3.7) and steals (2.2), while shooting 40.9% from the floor and 30.9% from three.
Shead appears to be the only starter who won’t return to Houston in 2024-25, as J’Wan Roberts, L.J. Cryer, and Emanuel Sharp have all announced they’ll return next season, while Ja’Vier Francis is expected to return, as well.
If Kelvin Sampson can find someone to run point next year, the Coogs should once again be a team to watch in the Big 12 race and the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
