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When Iman Shumpert coolly sank a midrange jumper with a second left to left Georgia Tech to a 76-74 victory over Wake Forest on Jan. 31, 2009, the shot was continually replayed on ESPN, which symbolically announced the freshman’s arrival as an impact player. For the former OPRF High School basketball star, however, the real highlight was simply capturing the Ramblin’ Wreck’s first win in the Athletic Coast Conference that season.
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Since Shumpert’s dagger dealt to the Demon Deacons, the 6-foot-5, 210-pound guard has surfaced as a top NCAA player and legitimate NBA prospect. During his sophomore campaign, Shumpert was named to the ACC All-Tournament team after averaging 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists in four games. The combo guard also scored a career-high 30 points against North Carolina.
When asked about these additional hoops exploits, the low-key leader of the Yellow Jackets offered his customary refrain about simply being a team player.
“Playing in the ACC doesn’t really hit me,” Shumpert said. “I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help my team win. It’s when other people ask me questions like, ‘What’s it like to score 30 on UNC or shake Coach K’s hand after a game,’ then, I am aware of it. I think the ACC is the best conference with the best players and coaches in the country.”
Speaking of premier players and coaches, Shumpert joined several of them last weekend at Attack Athletics Center in Chicago for the Adidas Nations Global Experience camp. The world’s elite 18-and-under players – representing teams from the United States, Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America – gathered for a veritable basketball bonanza. NBA players like Jrue Holiday (76ers), Robin Lopez (Suns), Serge Ibaka (Thunder) and Anthony Randolph (Knicks) along with 30 top college players, including Shumpert, served as mentors.
“I’m a little jealous [about the camp],” Lopez said. “I wish we had this set up when I was younger. These high school kids compete against players from other countries. It gives them a world view of basketball.”
During the camp, Shumpert worked with a mix of elite local and national high school players including Wayne Blackshear (Morgan Park), Ryan Boatright (East Aurora), Quincy Miller (Winston-Salem, N.C.) and Shabazz Muhammad (Las Vegas, Nev.).
“I enjoy interacting with the high school guys,” Shumpert said. “They all have a good attitude and work hard.”
Shumpert also spent cherished time with his parents, Odis and L’Tanya, and siblings over his brief few days back home in Oak Park.
“I’ve talked with at least one member of my family every day since I went to Georgia Tech,” he said. “I’m glad the camp was in Chicago because it’s always nice to come back home.”
Shumpert competed in a series of intense pickup games with the other college stars at camp. Jared Sullinger (Ohio State), Scotty Hopson (Tennessee), Shelvin Mack (Butler), Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas), and the Plumlee brothers, Miles and Mason, (Duke) were a few of many prolific ballers Shumpert battled between the lines.
The former Huskies star played well during the scrimmages, knocking down several long range jump shots, setting up teammates for dunks and being very active defensively. During one game, he drove the lane and threw down a thunderous one-handed dunk. With NBA personnel at the camp, that display of next level athleticism could be a cover letter for Shumpert’s pro application. According to www.nbadraft.net, Shumpert is currently projected as a second-round pick (No. 39 overall) in the 2012 draft.
“Iman is a real strong player,” said Holiday, a former fellow McDonald’s All-American. “I see him as point guard in the NBA. He knows how to score, run screen and roll, push the ball and play good defense.”
Shumpert’s short-term focus is to continue to development academically and athletically at Georgia Tech. Understandably, he thinks about joining buddies like Holiday and Evan Turner (2010 No. 2 draft pick) in the NBA soon.
“It’s no secret that I think about the NBA because it’s right there. I talk to Evan a lot. It wasn’t a shock to me at all when he got drafted,” said Shumpert of Turner, who he used to play basketball with as a youth in Oak Park. We used to talk about playing in the NBA when we were kids. I think dreams are never too far away that they can’t be attained with hard work.”
Whatever the future holds, Shumpert’s glass half-full outlook on life is already paying off in college.
“My experience at Georgia Tech is going exactly like I thought it would,” he said. “I’m in a big city [Atlanta] just like Chicago with a lot of sights to see. I’m having fun with my teammates and coaches. My academics are stable. Everything is right on track.”
While the Yellow Jackets lost two players, Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal, to the 2010 NBA draft, Shumpert believes GT under head coach Paul Hewitt will remain competitive.
“I don’t see us losing our step competing in the ACC,” Shumpert said. “The hardest part won’t be replacing Derrick and Gani. We have to define the returning players’ roles. I think we’ll be more of an up tempo, guard-oriented team.”
Shumpert feels prepared for any on court changes partly due to the influence of his former OPRF head coach Al Allen and the rest of the Huskies staff.
“I’m used to playing transition basketball and applying defensive pressure from [my days] playing at OPRF,” Shumpert said. “I keep up with all the coaches and my [OPRF] teammates like Phil Gary, Daniel Barnes, Adam Taylor and Levell Coppage as much as possible.”
Leading the Huskies to three straight West Suburban (Silver) Conference titles, Shumpert recalled one victory that ranks arguably higher than any “W” earned in ACC action.
“I remember when we beat Fenwick in the playoffs,” said Shumpert with a laugh. “People stormed the court like we beat Duke.”