Though there’s no way to verify it, Texas men’s basketball forward Kadin Shedrick jokingly says he’s the best batsman in the game.
“We used to play a softball game at UVA before classes started,” Shedrick remembers. “Even though we don’t do that here, I think I’d be the best baseball player.”
Shedrick was a lifelong baseball fan until he suddenly became more interested in basketball during the summer between his freshman and sophomore years of high school. He grew from 6’2″ to 6’8″. Now that he is 6’11”, he leads Texas basketball in both practice and competition in addition to being a commanding presence on the court.
I was mostly on the sidelines last year, watching, helping the boys, and learning,” Shedrick remarked. “But I’ve participated in every practice and every rep this season.”
Following the 2022–2023 season, Shedrick transferred from the University of Virginia and made an immediate impression at Texas. Despite having numerous injuries all season, he finished fifth in scoring and led the team in blocks with 35.
Shedrick had limited playing time due to lower back pain and shoulder surgery, but his drive for achievement never wavered. Resolved to make the most of a healthy season, he returned to Texas with one year of eligibility remaining.
“I returned because I want to win more and have one more healthy year.
Shedrick is keen to snap the three-year streak of early NCAA tournament eliminations that his teams have experienced.
“I want to take on a leadership role and help the team push further this year because I haven’t gotten past that first weekend before,” he continued.
Shedrick is establishing himself as one of those seasoned guys that the club can rely on, which aligns with head coach Rodney Terry’s philosophy of letting players become leaders naturally.
“Shedrick knows what it takes, having been in successful programs,” Terry remarked. “We depend on individuals such as him.”
Shedrick knows exactly what kind of leader he wants to be.
Shedrick declared, “I don’t want to be an authoritarian. “Everyone on my team should take the lead in their own unique way. I’ll take a person aside in private if I need to talk to him about something. Though nothing has gone wrong as of yet, I’m prepared to take charge if necessary.
