Recruiting Report: Justin Shupe (2018)
As the end of the season is approaching, players are hitting their strides and this season has been a big one in terms of development. For others, it is opportunity and attacking it. Pendleton Heights senior guard Justin Shupe has taken advantage of his opportunity and is having a stellar final season.
From averaging just 7.2 points per game as a junior, Shupe, a 6’1 guard, is now nearly doubling that at 14.2 points per game in his last year. Add in the 3.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds and it is really hard to deny the success of his season.
A lot of that is due to roster turnover and just the opportunity that was given. Pendleton is known as a school where shooters shoot but that inherently means there are many guard options and good ones. Now, you see Justin Shupe pick up his minutes this year and he has done nothing but take off. He’s actually only had four games this entire season where he has not hit double-figures and has had game highs of 29 points.
He’s shooting 48% from the field and 31% from three. While more of a drive and score type of player, he’s really picked up his three-point shooting and made that more of a skill for him. Still room to grow but he’s so good in the lane and creating off the bounce that he was needing another avenue for offense as a guard.
The assist numbers are what really stands out. His 3.2 assists per game is really, really good and telling of just how creative he can be when he has the ball in his hands. For a guard that is averaging 14.2 ppg, to also have those assist numbers, that is really impressive.
That is why a good handful of schools are really picking up their interest. Manchester, Franklin, Hanover, and even Findlay have been in contact recently with the Pendleton standout. With the end of the season approaching, if Pendleton can make some hay in Sectionals where their’s seems to be wide open, that would give him a little more exposure at the right time of the season, a season in which he’s made it know that he’s ready to play.