Houston's Jamal Shead Declares for 2024 NBA Draft After Winning Big 12 POY Award

Houston guard Jamal Shead had a breakout senior season in 2023-24, and now he's ready to take his talents to the next level.

The reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year told Chancellor Johnson of KPRC2 in Houston that he is declaring for the 2024 NBA draft.

"I feel like it's my time to move on. It's time to go and chase my dreams," Shead said. "It was a big decision, my family and coach talked it over and right now I feel like it's just that time."

Shead started all 37 games for Houston for the second straight year. He averaged career highs across the board, posting 12.9 points, 6.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game. Unfortunately, he suffered an ankle injury in the Cougars' Sweet 16 matchup against Duke and was limited to 13 minutes in the game as Houston went on to lose 54-51.

Shead also earned consensus first-team All-American honors and went on to be named Naismith Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in Houston history and just the fourth player in Big 12 history to take home the award.

In his most recent mock draft, B/R's Jonathan Wasserman projected Shead as a second-round pick, going 38th overall to the New York Knicks.

"While a lack of size and questionable shooting will limit his upside and first-round looks, translatable defense, playmaking and toughness point to a backup point guard role and second-round value," Wasserman wrote.

The NBA draft is set for June 26-27 in Brooklyn, so Shead has a lot of time to improve his draft stock.