The RoundHouse | 3/29/2018 4:03:00 PM
By
Paul Suellentrop
Landry Shamet considered many items over the past two weeks as he researched and pondered his future – his readiness for professional basketball, his affection for Wichita State teammates, coaches and fans and advice from his circle of family and friends.
The guiding light behind all his thoughts was Melanie Shamet, his mother, best friend and inspiration. When Shamet thought about an end his Wichita State career, he thought often of how he could help her.
"That's always been a really cool idea to me – seeing it on TV growing up and seeing other guys put their moms and their parents in way better situations than what they're currently living in," he said. "That's what it's all about. It's an opportunity for me to . . . have a chance to repay my mom for the countless things she's done for me. Take care of her, because I know how hard she worked."
On Thursday, Shamet used his Instagram account to announce that he will pass up his final two seasons of eligibility. He is in the process of hiring an agent and plans to spend the bulk of the next three months preparing for the June 21 NBA Draft. He thanked Shocker coaches and his teammates on his Instagram post and praised the group he called the greatest fans in the world.
"It wasn't easy at all," he said. "It's something I tried to put off and not pay much attention to during the season. I felt like I owed that to Wichita, to give them 100 percent of my focus and effort."
Five Shockers coached by
Gregg Marshall have played in the NBA. Fred VanVleet (Toronto) and Ron Baker (New York) are in their second season. Shamet played with them as a freshman.
"It was evident to us from the beginning that Landry had, not only the talent, but the drive necessary to reach the next level," Marshall said. "He showed up every day ready to listen, learn and work. He put himself on the NBA radar last spring with a big postseason and backed it up this year. We're proud of the progress that Landry had made in his three years at Wichita State and look forward to seeing him join the growing ranks of Shockers in the NBA."
Shamet, a 6-foot-4 guard from Kansas City, averaged 14.9 points and 5.2 assists on his way to honorable mention All-America honors from the Associated Press. He made 44.2 percent of his three-point shots, 48.9 percent overall. While he dreamed of the NBA as a youngster, the reality of that goal started hit him after the 2016-17 season. A 20-point performance against Kentucky – and NBA Draft lottery guards De'Aaron Fox and Malik Monk - in the NCAA Tournament made it real.
"I'm a firm believer that when an opportunity presents itself and your intuition tells you to go pursue to go make it happen, you should fully grasp onto that and go make it happen," Shamet said. "I feel good about it. I feel confident in myself. I feel confident as my abilities as a basketball player and a man to be successful. (Wichita State's) prepared me very thoroughly. I have a ton of tools in my pocket, not only on the basketball court, but for life ahead."
Shamet, 21, said leaned on family, friends and coaches to make the decision. The information he and others gathered from sources in an around the NBA give him a good indication he will be picked in the first round, a spot that carries a guaranteed contract.
"I just have confidence in myself that if I want to make something happen, I can do that," he said. "I've overcome things from kind of being overlooked. Once I get in workouts and in the combine and in front of these teams . . . I'll make a good impact."
To that end, Shamet is researching options for training sites, much like former Shockers Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker did when they prepared for the 2016 draft.
"A site where I can work out and work on body and nutrition," Shamet said. "Those are my steps now, trying to figure out where I'm going to be for the next month-and-a-half."
Landry Shamet knows he can't fully repay his mother for her place in his life. Her time and work and sacrifices can't be measured by money. She's worked at a casino in Kansas City for 21 years, sometimes changing roles to give her the flexibility to travel with her son's basketball career.
Landry Shamet estimates she missed fewer than five home games during his three seasons, often making the trip in 2015-16 when a foot injury sidelined him most of the season. She often traveled to road games.
"She's worked her tail off, worked multiple shifts, and gone through a lot,"
Landry Shamet said. "She's one of the strongest women I've ever met. She's my biggest motivation."
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
