NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of California of last decade

8. Jaden Shackelford – Alabama

An intriguing backcourt prospect from Hesperia, Shackelford left the West Coast, becoming an integral part of Nate Oats’ first batch of players at Alabama. Shackelford spent the last three seasons with the Crimson Tide, having been a borderline Top 100 prospect in 2019. Previous articles have already looked at a couple of his teammates, but Shackelford’s impact may be just as important.

Shackelford was an important piece for this Alabama team from the moment he got on campus, averaging at least 14 points per game in each of his three collegiate seasons. He scored 25 points in his fourth career game, a number he’d exceed many times across the next three years. There was also the 21-point performance against Maryland to send Alabama to the Sweet Sixteen in 2021.

He was honored by the conference each season, first on the SEC All-Freshman team and then back-to-back All-SEC Second Team honors. Among the SEC, he ranked in the top 10 in points and the top 5 in 3-pointers made in each of his three seasons. He declared for the NBA Draft following his junior year, and despite not being drafted recently signed a contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was a talented shooter and very useful weapon in Oats’ high-powered offensive attack.