What Next for Sheldon Pace
Sheldon Pace, a 6-0, 190 pound point guard from Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., has requested his release from his letter of intent to Texas El Paso, according to the official UTEP Athletics website.
JUCO Junction caught up with Chaffey Head Coach Jeff Klein on Wednesday evening, and he expressed surprise that Pace wouldn't be going to UTEP.
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Pace, who averaged 22 points and seven assists per game as a freshman in 2001-2002, sat out the 2002-2003 season due to injury.
Klein told JUCO Junction that Pace left Chaffey after the fall semester and enrolled at San Bernardino Valley College. As a result, Pace's graduation status may be uncertain at this time.
If he can graduate this spring or summer, Pace could become a hot target for many programs looking for a late addition at the point guard slot. On top of that, he would have three years of eligibility to play at a Division I program.
However, if he can't graduate by the end of the summer, Pace could enroll at a junior college in the fall and play his sophomore year of basketball.
"I anticipate that he will be on the market this summer," Klein said.
It appeared that the handwriting was on the wall for Pace this spring when the Miners inked 6-1 Southeastern (IA) C.C. point guard Filiberto Rivera.
Rivera capped a magnificient sophomore season at Southeastern by copping MVP honors at the NJCAA Tournament, where he led the Blackhawks to the title in March. His signing was clinched when UTEP Head Coach Billy Gillispie hired Florida International Head Coach Sergio Rouco last month.
That all seemed to cast doubt on Pace's future at UTEP, and that was confirmed in the press release issued by the Miner Athletic Department on Tuesday.
JUCO Junction will stay on top of Pace's situation, and we'll let you know if he's bound for a D-I program or headed back to junior college in the fall.