It’s winter break for students in Eugene, but one name is still ringing around campus: Jackson Shelstad.
When he arrived, expectations were high for the true freshman guard. When he hit a game-winning three-point shot against Michigan in his first home appearance, those expectations became even greater. But three games into his Oregon career, he’s looking like he’s finally home — and the Ducks are lucky to have him.
Against Cal Baptist on Tuesday, Shelstad posted a career-high 17 points, running the offense as the Ducks continued to build their strength through the non-conference slate. He hit a career high for assists, too, with eight. Oregon won, 76-55, and looked confident as they eased away from the Lancers in the second half.
On December 5, Oregon head coach Dana Altman said, “Sitting out a month, he didn’t pay attention like he should’ve, so he needs to get some of our sets back…I think he’s going to grow into a really good player — he’s a good player now, but I think there’s so much more in front of him.”
Two games later, after the win over the Lancers, Altman said, “I think [his playmaking ability] is a really good thing…eight assists is really positive, eight for 14 [from the field], three rebounds, all in the second half…I don’t have any complaints! He’s playing really hard.”
One play illustrated the impact that Shelstad has had: in the second half, he drove down the court, outstripping chasing Lancers, and dished a no-look pass to Brennan Rigsby, who drained the three. The play was set up by a Kwame Evans Jr. rebound on the other end — and three of the players who have stepped up for the Ducks in the absence of N’Faly Dante and Nate Bittle have fueled a strong run in the early phase of this season.
For Shelstad, it was a complete performance that illustrated the potential he has to offer this Oregon group. In a guard-heavy lineup, he occupied the point slot and managed three rebounds, two steals and a block to go along with his double-digit points and team-leading assist totals.
His defensive impact was highlighted by Altman in the Dec. 5 interview, when the coach said, “[Before the start of conference play] He needs to be a little more focused defensively. He lost his focus a bit — some of that is conditioning because he was out so long — but he’s got to get a little more focused on the defensive end.” It’s obvious that he’s done exactly that.
After the victory, in a live interview, Shelstad told the Pac-12 Network commentary crew, “I feel like every game, I’m getting more comfortable, and that’s just credit to my teammates and coaches for putting me in the right positions and trusting me with the ball out there.”
The Portland native spent the first month of the season sidelined with a knee injury, but has bounced back remarkably from a tough start. He said postgame, “I think that our team just did a great job moving without the ball. [The Lancers] were collapsing a lot defensively, so when we would attack, we’re going out to open guys on the wings [and] in the corners…getting in transition and running. We did a really good job here.”
If you’re noticing a lot of ‘we’ and ‘team’ in Shelstad’s quotes, it’s not a mistake. He’s unselfish and a team player — veteran Jermaine Couisnard said after team practice on December 5 that, “[He’s] confident, a hard worker. I see the work he puts in every day…I didn’t work out when I was a freshman, so I see him in the gym more than a lot of other people.”
Asked by the Pac-12 crew when he knew that Oregon was the school for him, Shelstad responded, “Since I started playing basketball. I grew up coming down to [Ducks] games when Payton [Pritchard] was here. I came to almost every home game with his family and my family…it’s just a dream come true.”
The comparisons to Pritchard, a fellow guard and Portland native will come — especially if Shelstad keeps this form alive as Oregon enters the new year. But he knows who’s on top in his mind. Told by the Pac-12 interviewer, “West Linn High School…it’s not Payton’s high school anymore! It’s your high school!” He said, “Nah man! That’s Payton’s school! He’s the first one to do it.”
The schedule won’t get easier for the Ducks — after December matchups with Syracuse and Kent State come USC, UCLA, and the conference setup. Oregon’s heavy hitters — Dante and Bittle — may not be available right away. But Altman can feel confident in his young leader on the court to forge a path forward for an Oregon team looking to get back in the A.P. Top 25 and into the NCAA tournament.
