Wikipedia

Jaz Shelley

Jazmin Pamela Shelley[1] (born 13 May 2000) is an Australian professional basketball player for Geelong United of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2024 WNBA draft. A point guard, she began her college basketball career at Oregon before transferring to Nebraska after her sophomore season. In her first year with the Cornhuskers, Shelley was a second-team All-Big Ten selection, before making the coaches' first-team in her next season. She returned for a fifth college season and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. Shelley previously played for the Melbourne Boomers of the WNBL, where she was named Rookie of the Year in 2019. She plays for the Australian national team and is a three-time gold medalist at the junior level.

Jaz Shelley
Shelley with Nebraska in 2023
No. 4 – Geelong United
PositionPoint guard
LeagueWNBL
Personal information
Born (2000-05-13) 13 May 2000 (age 24)
Traralgon, Victoria, Australia
Listed height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Career information
High schoolBerwick College
(Berwick, Victoria)
College
WNBA draft2024: 3rd round, 29th overall pick
Selected by the Phoenix Mercury
Playing career2015–present
Career history
2015Southern Peninsula Sharks
2016–2017BA Centre of Excellence
2018Southern Peninsula Sharks
2018–2019Melbourne Boomers
2019Geelong Supercats
2024Ballarat Miners
2024–presentGeelong United
Career highlights and awards
  • WNBL Rookie of the Year (2019)
  • Big V All-Star Five (2018)
  • First-team All-Big Ten – Coaches (2023)
  • 3× Second-team All-Big Ten – Media (2022–2024)
  • 2× Second-team All-Big Ten – Coaches (2022, 2024)
  • Big Ten All-Defensive Team – Media (2022)
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing  Australia
FIBA Asia Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Jordan Team
FIBA Under-19 World Cup
Silver medal – second place 2019 Thailand Team
FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2018 India Team
FIBA Oceania Under-18 Championship
Gold medal – first place 2016 Fiji Team
FIBA Under-17 World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2016 Spain Team
FIBA Oceania Under-16 Championship
Gold medal – first place 2015 New Zealand Team

Early life and career

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Shelley was born on 13 May 2000 to Phil and Carolyn Shelley, in Traralgon, Victoria.[2][3] She grew up in Moe, Victoria,[4] playing basketball, netball and soccer and competing in the high jump before deciding to focus on basketball.[5] Shelley competed for her state team Victoria Country at the youth level and was named captain of the under-16 team in 2015.[6] In her youth career, she also played for the Moe Meteors of the Country Basketball League,[7] and the Southern Peninsula Sharks.[6] In 2017, Shelley led Victoria Country to its first under-18 national title since 2000, recording 13 points and five rebounds in the final.[8] She attended Berwick Secondary College in Berwick, Victoria, and led its team to two Victorian College Championships in 2018, including one at the 3x3 tournament.[9]

After debuting for the Southern Peninsula Sharks in the Big V in 2015,[10] Shelley moved to Canberra in 2016 to train full-time at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).[11] She played for the BA Centre of Excellence in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) in 2016 and 2017.[10] She returned to the Southern Peninsula Sharks for the 2018 Big V season, where she averaged 17.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.6 steals per game.[10] She subsequently earned Big V All-Star Five honours.[12]

On 16 March 2018, Shelley signed an amateur contract with the Melbourne Boomers of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) for the 2018–19 season.[13] After helping the Boomers reach the semifinals, she was named WNBL Rookie of the Year.[14] She received the Basketball Victoria Junior Female Athlete of the Year award for 2018.[15]

On 4 March 2019, Shelley signed with the Geelong Supercats of the NBL1 for the 2019 season.[16] She averaged 10.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game,[17] helping her team achieve a runner-up finish.[18]

Recruiting

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Shelley was considered a three-star recruit and 28th-best point guard in the 2019 high school class by ESPN.[19] She was encouraged to play college basketball in the United States because her brother, Luke, had enjoyed the experience.[20] In October 2018, Shelley committed to Oregon over offers from Oregon State and Nebraska. She was drawn to Oregon by its facilities and culture, with many international players on the team, and felt that the program would prepare her for a professional career.[5][21]

College career

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Oregon

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As a freshman at Oregon in 2019–20, Shelley was a backup to Sabrina Ionescu and served as a three-point specialist.[22] On 16 December 2019, she made her first career start with Satou Sabally not playing. During the game, Shelley scored a season-high 32 points and set a program single-game record with 10 three-pointers in an 84–41 win over UC Riverside.[23] She helped Oregon win regular season and tournament championships in the Pac-12 Conference.[24] Her team was among the favourites to win the 2020 NCAA tournament, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[25] She played in all 33 games, averaging 6.3 points, 1.5 assists and 1 rebound per game.[24] She was selected to the Pac-12 All-Freshman honorable mention.[26] In May 2020, she was named Basketball Victoria Junior Female Athlete of the Year for her second time.[27]

As a sophomore in 2020–21, Shelley was expected to replace Ionescu as a starting point guard but struggled in her new role, playing fewer minutes despite starting in half of her appearances.[28][29] On 1 January 2021, Shelley scored a season-high 13 points in a 92–69 victory over USC.[30] She averaged 4 points, 1.9 assists and 1.7 rebounds per game. After the season, Shelley entered the transfer portal.[28] She made the decision because coaches and players with whom she had a close relationship had left the program.[20]

Nebraska

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Shelley with the Cornhuskers in 2024

On 13 April 2021, Shelley announced that she would transfer to Nebraska.[31] She had also considered Iowa State and professional options in Australia. Shelley chose Nebraska because of her relationship with the coaching staff and to play alongside her longtime friend, Isabelle Bourne.[20] She immediately assumed a leading role and made an all-around impact.[4] On 20 November, she registered the fourth triple-double in program history, with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in 20 minutes, helping her team defeat North Carolina Central, 113–58.[32] In her next game on 26 November, Shelley scored 30 points and shot 8-of-9 from the field in a 65–53 win over Drexel.[33] In the first round of the 2022 Big Ten tournament, she scored 32 points and made a program-record nine three-pointers, tied for most in tournament history, in a 92–74 win over Illinois.[34] Shelley averaged 13.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5 assists per game in the 2021–22 season.[35] She was named second-team All-Big Ten and was a media selection for the All-Defensive Team. She led her team in scoring, assists, steals and blocks.[2]

On February 15, 2023, Shelley scored a career-high 37 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, in a 95–92 loss to Minnesota.[36] She averaged 14.5 points, 6.2 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game as a senior in 2022–23, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors[37] from the league's coaches and second-team honors from the media.[citation needed]

Shelley opted to return for her fifth season of eligibility, which was granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[37] She averaged 13.4 points, 5.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals during the 2023–24 season and earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team after setting Huskers' tournament records for points, assists and made 3-pointers. She finished her career fourth in Nebraska history in made 3-pointers and as of 2024, was the only player to have recorded two triple-doubles.[38]

College statistics

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Sources:[39][40][41][42]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Year Team GP Points FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2019–20 Oregon 33 209 42.5% 42.0% 62.5% 1.0 1.5 0.7 0.1 6.3
2020–21 Oregon 22 87 35.4% 33.3% 37.5% 1.7 1.9 1.0 0.2 4.0
2021–22 Nebraska 33 418 42.5% 40.6% 77.3% 6.3 5.0 1.8 0.9 13.1
2022–23 Nebraska 33 478 38.9% 36.1% 82.0% 4.8 6.2 1.7 0.7 14.5
Career 120 1192 40.3% 38.4% 76.1% 3.6 3.8 1.3 0.5 9.9

Professional career

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On 15 April 2024, Shelley was selected by the Phoenix Mercury with the 29th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft.[38] She was waived by the Mercury on 11 May 2024.[43]

On 24 May 2024, Shelley signed with the Ballarat Miners of the NBL1 South for the rest of the 2024 NBL1 season.[44][45][46] In 12 games, she averaged 12.58 points, 5.75 rebounds, 4.67 assists and 1.83 steals per game.[47]

On 5 June 2024, Shelley signed with Geelong United of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) for the 2024–25 season.[48]

National team career

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Junior national team

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Shelley represented Australia at the 2015 FIBA Under-16 Oceania Championship in New Zealand. She averaged 18.8 points, 3.3 steals and 3 assists per game, leading the tournament in each category, and helped her team win a gold medal.[49][50] Shelley was named to the Australian team for the 2016 FIBA Oceania Under-18 Championship in Fiji. She averaged 13.8 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals per game, winning another gold medal and being named to the all-tournament team.[51][52] At the semifinals of the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship in Spain, she scored 23 points to lead Australia to a 73–63 upset win over the United States, who had previously been undefeated in the tournament's four-year history.[53] Shelley averaged 8.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3 assists per game, helping her team win the gold medal.[54] She was a member of the bronze medal-winning Australian team at the 2018 FIBA Under-18 Asian Championship in India, averaging 8.8 points, 7 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.[55] Shelley averaged 8.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 World Cup in Thailand, where Australia won the silver medal.[56]

Senior national team

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Shelley earned her first selection to the Australian senior national team in July 2020, making the 23-player preliminary roster for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[57] She was not named to the final roster.[58] Shelley played for Australia at the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup in Jordan, where she averaged four points in under 13 minutes per game, as her team won the bronze medal.[59]

Personal life

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Shelley's parents, Phil and Carolyn, both played competitive basketball and her father became a shooting coach.[5] She has two brothers, Luke and Austin, and one sister, Sam.[2] Her brothers have both played college basketball: Luke at Kentucky Wesleyan and Austin at West Texas A&M.[20] She graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with a degree in advertising and public relations.[37]

References

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  1. ^ @FIBA (24 October 2018). "Jazmin Pamela Shelley will be playing at the #FIBAU18ASIA 👧🏻 @basketballaus 🇦🇺 Full rosters available ➡️ https://bit.ly/2Eup8MP" (Tweet). Retrieved 16 May 2022 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ a b c "Jaz Shelley - Women's Basketball 2023-24". University of Nebraska - Official Athletics Website. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Jaz Shelley's profile 2017 FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup". FIBA. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b McKewon, Sam (18 March 2022). "An attention-getter on and off the court, Jaz Shelley helps lead Nebraska into the Big Dance". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  5. ^ a b c "Shelley: Golden Sapphires, a major wake-up call, the Ducks and Ionescu". FIBA. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  6. ^ a b Potter, Jarrod (21 May 2015). "And all that Jaz". Pakenham Gazette. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Meteors strike true". Latrobe Valley Express. 29 October 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  8. ^ Bennett, Russell (21 April 2017). "Well-earned title win". Pakenham Officer Star News. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  9. ^ Wildes, Hayley (19 June 2018). "Hoops success for Berwick College". Pakenham Gazette. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  10. ^ a b c "Jazmin Shelley". usbasket.com. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  11. ^ Potter, Jarrod (20 May 2016). "Sapphires and all that Jaz". Pakenham Gazette. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  12. ^ "2018 Big V Awards winners announced". BigV.com.au. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Jaz Shelley Joins The Boomers Family". Women's National Basketball League. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Jaz Shelley wins WNBL Rookie Of The Year". Southern Peninsula Basketball Association. 19 February 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  15. ^ Skopil, Erik (4 May 2020). "Shelley named 'junior female athlete of the year' in home state". 247Sports. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  16. ^ "WNBL Rookie of the Year Joins Supercats". Geelong Supercats. 4 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Jaz Shelley (Geelong) – Player Profile". Basketball 24. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Champs! Cobras dominate Supercats to win NBL1 Championship". Kilsyth Basketball. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  19. ^ "Jaz Shelley 2019 High School Girls' Basketball Profile". ESPN. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  20. ^ a b c d Wagner, Brent (5 December 2021). "Nebraska was once the runner-up for Jaz Shelley. Two years later, she's the Huskers' leading scorer". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  21. ^ "Jaz Shelley headed to University of Oregon". Southern Peninsula Basketball Association. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  22. ^ "An early trip to the gym paid off for Oregon freshman Jaz Shelley ahead of Arizona State". NBC Sports. 9 February 2020. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  23. ^ Moseley, Rob (16 December 2019). "Ducks Win Behind Shelley's Barrage". University of Oregon Athletics. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  24. ^ a b Codo, Thomas (18 November 2021). "Oregon transfer Jaz Shelley looks to elevate Husker women's basketball". The Daily Nebraskan. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  25. ^ Allen, Jim (17 March 2022). "Gonzaga-Nebraska key matchup: Sophomore guard Jaz Shelley brings versatility for the Cornhuskers". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  26. ^ "2020 Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament: Top-seeded Ducks open postseason run with 79–59 victory over No. 8 Utah". Pac-12 Conference. Associated Press. 6 March 2020. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  27. ^ "Oregon guard Jaz Shelley named 2019 Junior Female Athlete of the Year". NBC Sports. 4 May 2020. Archived from the original on 23 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  28. ^ a b Crepea, James (7 April 2021). "Oregon women's basketball guard Jaz Shelley enters transfer portal". The Oregonian. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  29. ^ Reubenking, Dylan (14 April 2021). "Impact: Taylor Chavez and Jaz Shelley Transfers". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  30. ^ Krueger, Nate (1 January 2021). "Ducks Open 2021 With 92–69 Win". University of Oregon Athletics. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  31. ^ McKewon, Sam (13 April 2021). "Nebraska women's basketball adds transfer Jaz Shelley". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  32. ^ Schinzel, Gene (20 November 2021). "Jaz Shelley's triple-double fuels Huskers' 55-point win over NC Central". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  33. ^ Codo, Thomas (26 November 2021). "30-point game by Jaz Shelley gives Huskers 65–53 win over Drexel". The Daily Nebraskan. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  34. ^ Wagner, Brent (3 March 2022). "Jaz Shelley's record-breaking performance helps red-hot Huskers roll past Illinois". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  35. ^ Watkins, Jimmy (27 April 2022). "Left out while in the US, Jaz Shelley's visit to Australia opens door to profit off of NIL". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  36. ^ "Shelley's 37 Not Enough at Minnesota". University of Nebraska Athletics. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  37. ^ a b c Wagner, Brent (8 April 2023). "Jaz Shelley was 'leaning' toward not returning to Nebraska. Here's what changed her mind". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  38. ^ a b "PHOENIX MERCURY SELECTS CHARISMA OSBORNE AND JAZ SHELLEY WITH THE 25TH AND 29TH OVERALL PICKS IN THE 2024 WNBA DRAFT". Phoenix Mercury. 15 April 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024.
  39. ^ "2019-20 Women's Basketball Cumulative Statistics". Goducks.com. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  40. ^ "2020-21 Women's Basketball Cumulative Statistics". Goducks.com. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  41. ^ "2021-22 Nebraska Women's Basketball Combined Team Statistics" (PDF). Huskers.com. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  42. ^ "2022-23 Nebraska Women's Basketball Combined Team Statistics" (PDF). Huskers.com. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  43. ^ "WNBA Player Movement & Transactions". wnba.com. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  44. ^ "Miners add WNBA draft pick". NBL1.com.au. 24 May 2024. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024.
  45. ^ "Miners Jaz it up". NBL1.com.au. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  46. ^ Gliddon, Greg (24 May 2024). "WNBA draftee to join Miners with Jaz Shelley agreeing to terms". The Courier. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  47. ^ "Jaz Shelley". nbl1.com.au. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  48. ^ Ben (5 June 2024). "JAZ SHELLEY IS UNITED". wnbl.basketball/geelong. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  49. ^ "Jaz Shelley's profile 2015 FIBA Oceania U16 Championship for Women". FIBA. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  50. ^ "2015 FIBA Oceania U16 Championship for Women". FIBA. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  51. ^ "Jazmin Shelley (AUS)'s profile – FIBA Oceania U18 Championship for Women 2016". FIBA. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  52. ^ "Australia punch their ticket to FIBA U19 Women's World Championship 2017". FIBA. 10 December 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  53. ^ "Shelley a leading light for classy Sapphires". FIBA. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  54. ^ "Jazmin Shelley (AUS)'s profile – FIBA U17 Women's World Championship 2016". FIBA. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  55. ^ "Jazmin Shelley (AUS)'s profile – FIBA U18 Women's Asian Championship Division A 2018". FIBA. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  56. ^ "Jazmin Shelley (AUS)'s profile – FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2019". FIBA. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  57. ^ "Opals selection for Shelley". Latrobe Valley Express. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  58. ^ "Cambage leads star-studded Opals squad for Tokyo Olympics". FIBA. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  59. ^ "Shelley Helps Opals to Asia Cup Bronze". University of Nebraska Athletics. 3 October 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
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