When the Perkins-Tryon Demons take the court this season, they will lean on the play of a senior shooting guard who loves to compete on both ends of the court. That shooting guard is a popular player and student-athlete, and he loves the support the team receives from his fellow students and the community. That student is of course, Tucker Shepherd.
“I love how the students and the community show support for everyone at Perkins-Tryon,” said Shepherd.
As a team, Shepherd said everyone is focused and ready to get the season underway. Expectations are growing for the Demons basketball team and Shepherd believes the team is ready to respond despite several teammates competing in the playoffs for football.
“I love how we’re a close group of friends and have played with each other since we were little. Right now, a lot of my teammates are still playing football but the rest of us are working hard every day to get better,” said Shepherd.
Shepherd is the type of player who loves being in the gym. Last season he averaged 17 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. Shepherd is one of five seniors back for head coach Dylan Parker.
“Tucker will be a three-year starter for us at Perkins and the returning Tulsa 7 conference Player of the Year. We bring back 4-of-5 starters from last year’s team that finished 19-7 on the year. We bring back 90 percent of our minutes played, scoring, rebounding, and assists from last year and have a chance to be a really good basketball team. We’ll have five seniors who all have a ton of experience with all of them playing since they were freshman,” said coach Parker.
Shepherd said the goal is simple, but in order to achieve it, they must work hard each and every night to make it happen.
“The goal this season is to make it to the Big House,” said Shepherd. “All of our younger kids have been given 100 percent and push me to get better.”
If the Demons are going to make a run this season, they must rely on some of that younger talent for quality minutes. With the pieces in place, this could be a year to remember for Shepherd and the Demons.
After graduation, Shepherd said he would like to continue his basketball career at the next level while pursuing a degree.
