Findlay Prep product Shepard finally finding success with San Diego State

When San Diego State won the recruiting battle for Winston Shepard in 2012, it was thought to be a short-term prize.

Many believed Shepard, a Houston native who had starred at Findlay Prep, would play a year for the Aztecs, improve his stock for the NBA, then turn pro. But timetables, like lofty expectations, aren't always met. For the 6-foot-8-inch forward, the process was going to take longer.

Now a senior for the Aztecs, Shepard still believes he has a professional basketball future. Judge for yourself at 7:30 p.m. today when San Diego State (3-2) makes the first of three visits to Las Vegas this season, facing No. 14 California (4-0) in the semifinals of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational at Orleans Arena. The game will be televised nationally on Fox Sports 1.

San Diego State returns to town Jan. 30 to play UNLV, then will be back in March for the Mountain West tournament.

"Everyone develops at their own rate," Shepard said. "I've had a traditional college experience and I'm thrilled at how everything has worked out.

"I'm a more consistent player. I work harder and I've tried to better myself. Do I think I'll be in the NBA? Absolutely."

Shepard, averaging 9.8 points and 6.5 rebounds, has gotten better each year. He credits coach Steve Fisher and his staff for pushing him to improve.

"(Fisher) has always been patient with me," Shepard said. "He's always believed in me, and he and the coaches have helped me so much."

Fisher said it's not easy for a player who enters a program with high expectations to live up to the hype. In the social media age, you can go from hero to bum on Twitter in a matter of minutes.

"I'm proud of him," Fisher said. "He's become a man. He worked through all the expectations of others and he's comfortable in his own skin.

"He's gotten better each year and he's settled into a level of maturity."

Prior to his freshman season in 2012, Shepard was arrested for possession of marijuana, though the charges were dropped. He also had to serve a three-game NCAA suspension for accepting extra benefits. Fisher didn't abandon him then, which is why Shepard is so loyal to him and the program.

"I didn't always do things perfectly," Shepard said. "I've made mistakes which I regret. But I never made the same mistakes twice."

This week, he even handled being benched with maturity. After a lackluster effort in a 49-43 loss to Little Rock in San Diego, Shepard and two others starters were held out of the starting five Monday against East Carolina. Shepard's response? Sixteen points and six rebounds in the Aztecs' 79-54 win over the Pirates.

"He didn't complain or pout. He responded the way you hoped he would," Fisher said, adding that he hasn't decided whether to start Shepard tonight.

"He tries hard when he's out there," Fisher said. "He knows how to play. He just needs to settle down and focus on winning."

For Shepard, the process remains ongoing. There's still work to be done if he hopes to hear his name called in the NBA Draft next June. But he's willing to put in the time to make that happen.

"Since my freshman year, I knew I could be the best player on the court," he said. "But I want to be the most consistent player on the court. That's what they're looking for in the NBA — consistency. I've got to bring it every night and I'm still working on doing that."

— Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj