Shackleford Signs with USC; Allegany MD Update
Dwayne Shackleford picked the right time to shine.
A stocky 5-10, 185 pound sophomore combo guard from Allegany College in Cumberland, Md., Shackleford erupted for 40 points in a game at last month's NJCAA Tournament as a multitude of Division I programs watched.
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One of those programs who saw Shackleford hang 40 on Lon Morris College was Southern Cal.
So it came as little surprise today when Allegany Head Coach Bob Kirk informed JUCO Junction that USC had landed a commitment today from the his scoring hybrid guard.
Shackleford signed a letter of intent with the Trojans around 11 a.m. this morning. He selected the USC (Apr. 16-18) over East Carolina (March 26-28) after taking official visits to both programs this spring.
"He liked his visit to USC and he loved Coach Bibby," Kirk said. "It's a great opportunity for him at a great school, and he felt comfortable with their players."
Shackleford was the top scorer for a 31-5 squad that advanced to the third round of the NJCAA Tournament. He averaged 21.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.5 assists and two steals per game, shooting 49 percent from the floor, 35 percent beyond the arc and 73 percent from the foul line.
Not surprisingly, Shackleford earned first team NJCAA All-American honors.
Primarily a scorer, Shackleford uses his offensive firepower to set up opportunities for his teammates. We've often referred to him as a two in a one's body, but he is a capable enough ball handler to play the one slot.
"I don't know their guard situation," Kirk said. "But I would think he could play both the one or the two at USC."
Two other Allegany sophomores have also made spring decisions.
Sterling Ledbetter, a two-year stalwart for the Trojans, has signed with the University of Maryland.
According to Coach Kirk, Ledbetter took his only official visit of the spring to Maryland from Apr. 9-11. He picked the Terps after listening to pitches from programs like Clemson, East Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina.
"He's known Maryland forever," Kirk said. "He lives 30 minutes from there, and Maryland is one of the top programs in the country."
A native of Silver Spring, Md., Ledbetter averaged 13.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 7.1 assists and two steals per game for the Trojans in 2003-2004. He shot 42 percent from the field, 33 percent beyond the arc and 73 percent from the foul line.
Ledbetter has nice size for a guard and a good feel for the game. He can swing between both guard positions, but we feel he'll be more of a point guard when he arrives at Maryland.
"Gary Williams' statement said that Sterling is a combo guard who will give us depth," Kirk said.
Forward Winston Robinson, a 6-6 native of Tennessee, has signed with St. Francis (PA).
Robinson, a wiry combo forward, averaged 7.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He shot 58 percent from the floor and 51 percent from the foul line.
Power forward Mike Castro signed in the fall with East Carolina, while forward Matt Dent (a D-II/NAIA target) remains undecided.