While a deadly scorer, Nebraska’s Shields is more than just hoops

IOWA CITY — Nebraska forward Shavon Shields' versatility makes him one of the Big Ten's most difficult players to defend.

The 6-foot-7 senior has an uncanny ability to score. He put up 25 points in Iowa City last year. He's scored 1,358 career points and ranks 11th among Big Ten scoring leaders at 15.4 points a game.

'He shoots 3s, he's very good at driving,' Iowa forward Jarrod Uthoff said. 'Spinning in the lane, he shoots midrange (jumpers).'

But Shields' on-court prowess tells only one small part of his life story. He grew up in Olathe, Kan., as the son of Will Shields, a 12-time Pro Bowl guard with the Kansas City Chiefs. Will Shields won the Outland Trophy as an offensive lineman at Nebraska in 1992 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last summer.

As his father gave a moving Hall of Fame speech, Shavon Shields sat in the front row and smiled as his father sprinkled in Shavon's accomplishments among his own.

'It was awesome,' Shavon Shields said. 'It kind of felt like a long time coming for him. Being a right guard you don't really get as much shine as a skill position, and I'm just really happy that he had his moment and people kind of finally recognized him for as good of a player that he actually was. I'm glad I was a part of it.'

But Will Shields didn't talk about Shavon's basketball skills that night in Canton, Ohio. He touted Shavon for his success off the court. Will Shields ran one of the Chiefs' most successful player charities, the Will to Succeed Foundation, which provides financial and educational services for needy people. Shavon Shields has spent time helping with his father's foundation. Although Will Shields was an elite athlete, Shavon said he received more instruction from his father about academics than athletics.

'He wanted me to be a self-motivated athlete,' Shavon Shields said. 'He really cared more about outside of sports. Be a good person, a commendable citizen, that kind of thing.'

Academics has stuck with Shavon Shields, who became Nebraska's first academic first-team All-American. Shavon has a 3.87 GPA and majors in biology. Once his basketball days are over, he'll likely enter the health field.

'He has such a giving heart,' Nebraska Coach Tim Miles said. 'For him to be a first-team academic All-American, I thought was really cool last season. It was well-deserved. Biological sciences. Hey I took biology. I got a D so he's doing pretty good, I think, in my eyes. He's a really bright dude and he works very hard on his academics and he takes them very seriously. He's an all-around great kid to coach.'

But make no mistake, Shavon Shields' academic profile in no way limits his athletic determination or all-around game. He has 67 double-digit scoring games and 20 with at least 20 points. He ranks sixth among Big Ten players in steals and needs five rebounds to become only the eighth player in Nebraska history with 1,300 points and 600 rebounds.

'He's a terrific player,' said Iowa forward Nicholas Baer, who's playing Shields on the scout team. 'He does a really nice job of playing within himself and also being a leader for them. He's kind of their go-to guy.'

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