Senior guard among 154 players nominated

INDIANAPOLIS – Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball player Kasey Shepherd was one of 154 student-athletes nominated for the 2016 NABC Good Works Team®, in an announcement by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and Allstate Insurance Company on Wednesday. The distinguished award shines a spotlight on a select group of student-athletes who have shown dedication to service in their communities.

Shepherd, a senior from Houston, Texas, is ranked among the Sun Belt Conference leaders in free throw percentage (5th, .875) and steals (7th, 1.8). The 6-foot-2 guard is second for the Ragin’ Cajuns in scoring (12.3) and leads the team in steals (7) through the first four games of the 2015-16 campaign.

He scored a season-high 17 points last month at Alabama and added 16 points against Louisiana College and 12 at Miami (Fla.). A career 83-percent free throw shooter, Shepherd is ranked 26th among active NCAA Division I players.

Shepherd, a member of two postseason teams during his career with the Ragin’ Cajuns, serves as a team representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has given his time by participating in many community service projects, including the annual "Reading in Red" Tour – a program that promotes literacy and gives back to local schools.

In its fourth year, the Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® recognize players at all levels of college basketball who have made outstanding contributions in the areas of volunteerism and civic involvement. From establishing nonprofits that provide youth with the necessary tools to become leaders of tomorrow, to raising awareness around pertinent issues that could save lives, these student-athletes exhibit leadership skills both on and off the court.

Louisiana (2-2, 0-0 SBC) will open Sun Belt Conference play on Thursday when it travels to face ULM (3-2, 0-0) in a 7 p.m. contest at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.