UH's Jamal Shead earns two honors after Cougars pair of Big 12 wins

Coogs Senior Point Guard named Naismith Trophy and Big 12 Conference Player of the Week

Houston guard Jamal Shead (1) works the floor against Baylor guard Jayden Nunn (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024 in Waco, Texas. Houston won 82-76 in overtime. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (Julio Cortez, Copyright 2024 The Associated Press All Rights Reserved)

HOUSTON – Monday was a monumental day for the University of Houston men’s baskeball program. The new national polls were released and as expected UH rose to #1 in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls.

The honors didn’t stop with Houston rising to the top of the rankings because individual accolades then came to star guard Jamal Shead.

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After leading the #1/1 University of Houston Men’s Basketball program to a pair of Top-11 wins, the Cougars senior point guard received a pair of weekly awards Monday.

Shead was named the Naismith Trophy Player of the Week and earned similar honors from the Big 12 Conference. It was the second time he was named the league’s Player of the Week.

In wins over #6/6 Iowa State and at #11/11 Baylor, Shead averaged 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game with only a combined four turnovers in nearly 80 minutes of action.

He led the Cougars in field goals (11), field goal attempts (27) and assists (16) and finished second on the team in free throws (13), free throw attempts (14) and free throw percentage (92.9).

Shead started the week on an impressive note in a 73-65 win over #6/6 Iowa State inside Fertitta Center on Feb. 19. The Manor, Texas, native scored 26 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field and 12-of-13 shooting from the free throw line and led all players with six assists and three steals.

It was fourth 20-point game of the season and the seventh of his career.

Shead followed that effort with a 12-point, 10-rebound performance while playing more than 42 minutes in an overtime win at #11/11 Baylor in Waco, Texas, on Saturday.

Houston hosts Cincinnati Tuesday night at 6 p.m. at Fertitta Center.


About the Author

KPRC 2 Sports Director since 2004. Covers the Astros, Texans, Rockets, Dynamo, Dash and a few hundred local high schools across Greater Houston.

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