Jaden Shackelford Declares For 2022 NBA Draft
Alabama basketball guard Jaden Shackelford officially declared for the 2022 NBA Draft in a social media post Sunday afternoon.
"These past three years have been unforgettable and some of the best times of my life! I have been taught to be grateful and appreciative for everything you have and I just want to thank Coach Oats, Coach Pettway, and the rest of the staff for believing in me and allowing me to be a part of such an amazing program," said Shackelford.
This is not the first time Shackelford decided to go to the draft. Shortly after the 2020-21 basketball season came to a close, he declared for the 2021 NBA Draft; then, withdrew his name in July of 2021, and entered the transfer portal, but ultimately decided to stay at Alabama for his third season.
The junior from Calif., made his mark on the program from the get-go, averaging 15.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, while recording 17 steals and six blocks his freshman season. Shackelford finished his first season: with the fourth-most points in program history for a freshman, got on the SEC Academic Honor Roll, made the All-SEC Freshman Team, won SEC Freshman of the Week and USBWA National Freshman of the Week, both in February of 2020, according to RollTide.com.
Shackelford became a key piece in the 28-7 2020-21 basketball season post-COVID, especially on the defensive side, averaging 14.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, while also snagging 28 steals.
Last season, Shackelford averaged 16.6 points. 5.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, and played a career high 1,125 minutes, but performed inconsistent down the stretch.
Shackelford leaves Tuscaloosa as an SEC champion, a two-time NCAA March Madness Tournament participant, two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll, and SEC Second-Team All Conference in 2021.
According to Bleacher Report's mock draft, they predict Shackelford going un-drafted in June.
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