Recruiting Report: Cameron Shelton (2018)
Damien high school combo guard Cameron Shelton is one of the most relentless and versatile players in all of Southern California and those traits aren’t something he inherited.
The 6-foot-2, 185 pounder has a workout regimen that would make most people cringe, but it’s helped him become the fiercest competitors in high school basketball.
“I wake up at 4:30 every morning and workout,” Shelton explained. “I come home eat and shower then go run the hills at 7:30. I go straight to the gym from the hill and try to get up 1,500 shots and sometimes I have Earl Watson Elite practice at night.”
Shelton didn’t always have that rigorous of a workout plan, but a loss last season against his former team, Chino Hills, in which he suffered from muscle cramps, made him realize he had work to do.
“I started lifting in January after we lost to Chino Hills,” he said. “That game I started cramping up and knew I had to get my muscles stronger because that couldn’t happen to me again. Ever since then I’ve been lifting every day.”
In speaking of his former Huskies teammates, Shelton said his development wouldn’t be where it is today without having played with them.
“I think being at Chino Hills was the best thing I could have done but I think leaving was too,” he said. “They definitely taught me how to work and what it takes to compete at a championship level. I’ve been trying to bring that to every team I’m on.”
Shelton is best known as a player who can get to the basket as he pleases and finish through contact and as a guy who can effectively guard multiple positions.
Rising senior Cameron Shelton is one of the more versatile guards in all of Southern California.Versatility is the key word with the Earl Watson Elite product and he thinks having a well-rounded game will help him at the next level.
“I definitely think it will,” he said. “Being a versatile player is something college coaches tell me they like about my game. I watch film and do weights and conditioning to become more versatile. There’s still another level I can get to.”
The next level that Shelton needs to reach is one where his perimeter jump shot is falling at a consistent clip.
The senior-to-be, as mentioned above, is working hard on his mechanics and rhythm, shooting 1,500 shots per day, and he’s seeing the fruits of his labor.
“I definitely think it’s paying off,” Shelton said. “Ever since I’ve been focusing on putting more shots up it’s been paying off in the game. Shooting jump shots is going to help at Damien next year.”
Shooting isn’t the only aspect of the game Shelton is focused on improving. He’s learned a lot about the strength and speed he needs to possess from playing in open runs against current and former college players.
“I need to improve my strength, quickness and speed,” he said. “When I run with college guys they’re so much stronger and faster. If I can improve the range on my jump shot, I’m unguardable. I can get to the basket at-will, but I need to work on that shooting range to open up lanes and get to the basket easier.”
While his recruitment isn’t as active as he might’ve hoped heading into his senior season, Shelton is optimistic about his future.
“It’s about the same as it was last year,” Shelton said. “I have an offer from Cal Baptist and Northern Arizona and hopefully I can get a couple more offers soon.”