Fresno State Athletics
Cleveland Signs Shepp
4/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
April 27, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - Head Coach Steve Cleveland added another key piece to his "Built to Last" program by signing point guard Steven Shepp of Woodbridge, Va., to a National Letter of Intent. Shepp will compete to direct a Bulldog offense that has topped the Western Athletic Conference in 3-point shooting the past three seasons.
"The thing that I love the most about Steven is that he makes everyone around him better," Cleveland said of his first spring signing for the 2009-10 season. "He is a pass-first point guard that has great range to knock down 3-pointers and does the little things that are needed to excel at the Division I level since he has such great court vision."
Shepp (6-1, 185) sparked Allegany College of Maryland to the JUCO Nationals by winning the Maryland state JUCO tournament this past season. He led the Trojans in the NJCAA Region 20 by distributing the ball efficiently, running a dynamic offense and exhibiting exceptional leadership characteristics. On the season, Shepp averaged 12 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals per game. He also completed over 36 percent from his attempts beyond the 3-point arc. In the JUCO National Tournament, Shepp led the way with an average of 16 points and six assists per contest.
"Steven is a great young man, who is humble, but a strong leader," Cleveland added. "He understands and respects the game. He has a very high basketball IQ and his passion for the game will do very well with our group of young men that have the same passion for the game that he brings every day."
Shepp also earned respect from scouts across the country, including Tony Jimenez, who rated the JC standout as a high mid-major prospect.
"He is quick, a good ballhandler who jumps well and is a very good passer," Jimenez said in an independent scouting analysis of Shepp.
But the fire to go hard for every ball and play to the whistle won over Cleveland.
"One of the things that impressed me the most early on was how he dove for every loose ball, took a charge and got in position to get rebounds," Cleveland said. "He is a threat to drive down the lane and also hit shots from 22 to 25 feet from the hoop."
After using a medical redshirt during his first year at Allegany, Shepp will enter Fresno State as a sophomore with his AA degree and three years of eligibility for the Bulldogs. He will be expected to contribute immediately, improving an already loaded 2009-10 recruiting class as signees from the early signing period - Greg Smith, Garrett Johnson and Jerry Brown, Jr. - were ranked as the 12th best mid-major group by Rivals.com before the addition of Shepp.
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