Alabama Basketball: Looking back at the Crimson Tide career of Jaden Shackelford

A talented guard who posted three stellar seasons as one of the Crimson Tide’s top scorers, here is a look back at the Alabama basketball career of Jaden Shackelford.

Looking back at the Alabama basketball career of Jaden Shackelford

Shackelford originally came to Alabama as a member of the Crimson Tide’s 2019 recruiting class, which was the first for Nate Oats at Alabama, where he was rated as a four-star shooting guard out of Hesperia High School in California. Shackelford was considered the nation’s No. 110 overall prospect according to the 247Sports Composite, and would go on to make a significant impact from day one with the Crimson Tide as a freshman.

In what was the first season for Oats in Tuscaloosa, Shackelford would start in 19-of-31 games for the Crimson Tide in 2019-20, averaging 15 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 1.4 APG on 35.7% shooting from three (No. 3 in SEC), as well as 76.8% from the free throw line. Named to the SEC All-Freshman Team at seasons end, Shackelford would be one of the Crimson Tide’s top scorers that season, and would return for yet another strong year as a sophomore.

As a sophomore, Shackelford would lead the Crimson Tide in scoring, a team that would win the SEC and reach the Sweet 16. Starting in 32-of-33 games, Shackelford would average 14 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 2 APG on 34.2% shooting from three, as well as 75.6% from the free throw line, to earn Second Team All-SEC honors, as well as be named to the 2021-22 Wooden Award preseason watch list entering his junior campaign.

Shackelford would go on to post yet another strong season as a junior, leading the Crimson Tide in scoring once again at 16.6 PPG. Starting in 32-of-33 games, Shackelford would also average 5.4 RPG and 1.5 APG in what was arguably his best single-season in Tuscaloosa, while also shooting 35.1% from three (No. 3 in SEC) and 77.8% from the free throw line to earn Second Team All-SEC honors.

At the conclusion of the 2021-22 season, Shackelford would officially declare for the 2022 NBA Draft, bringing an end to his Alabama basketball career. Across his three seasons in Tuscaloosa, Shackelford would start in 83-of-97 games, and would average a combined 15.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 1.6 APG on 35.1% shooting from three, as well as 76.7% from the free throw line, while also ranking top five in the SEC each season in made three-pointers (No. 3 in 2019-20 with 84, No. 4 in 2020-21 with 63, and No. 2 in 2021-22 with 101).

Shackelford would go on to be undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft, and recently spent last season with the Oklahoma City Thunder’s NBA G-League team, the Oklahoma City Blue. During that 2022-23 season, Shackelford would start in 18-of-26 games to average a combined 15 PPG, 2.7 RPG, and 1.4 APG on 38.8% shooting from three.