This time around, Quinnipiac fans will see the name “Shannon” in abundance, as senior Shaq Shannon and graduate student transfer Umar Shannon will handle the rock this year. Shaq Shannon joined the Bobcats roster prior to last season after a two-year stint with Connors State Junior College. He made an immediate impact in 2012-13, averaging 6.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. The Philadelphia, Pa. native looks to take more initiative on the offensive end this time around after proving last year that he was more than capable. Shannon poured in 18 points on two separate occasions a year ago, which included six three-pointers in an 85-78 win over Central Connecticut State. He was the first player to hit six threes in a game since James Johnson accomplished the feat back in the 2010-11 season with seven against Bryant.
A familiar face to Coach Moore and his staff, Umar Shannon comes to Quinnipiac after graduating from Saint Francis University in May. Shannon, one of the top guards in the Northeast Conference during his stay in Loretto, will use his final year of eligibility as a graduate student at QU. Shannon averaged 9.0 points and 1.2 assists per game in his rookie season before emerging into one of the NEC’s top scorers as a sophomore. The 5-11 guard averaged 15.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game en route to All-NEC and All-NABC Second Team honors. After sitting out with an injury in 2011-12, Shannon wrapped up his Red Flash career last season by leading the team in points (11.2) and assists (3.3) per game. He is 64 points shy of 1,000 for his career.
In addition to Shaq Shannon and Umar Shannon, Quinnipiac returns two premier perimeter players in juniors Zaid Hearst and Evan Conti. Hearst was Quinnipiac’s second-leading scorer, averaging 10.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game last year. Hearst put together his best basketball in the final stretch where he recorded double-digits in six of his last seven games. A versatile wing-man, the 6-4 guard already has 565 career points through his first two years at Quinnipiac. Hearst’s season was highlighted on two separate occasions – at Boston University (12/16) and at LIU Brooklyn (3/2) – where he notched a season-best of 18 points in each game. He was tabbed to the 2013 College Sports Madness MAAC Preseason All-Conference Team.
Conti is also coming off a breakout year where he posted career numbers in nearly every statistical category. Conti averaged 8.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, while being asked to fulfill a starting role midway through the season. The 6-4 guard really blossomed at the end of January and into February when the Bobcats won nine of 11 games to climb the NEC leaderboard. Conti reached double-figures in six of those games which included a season-high of 18 against Robert Morris on Valentine’s Day. Conti continued to excel on the court over the summer, when he participated in the 19th World Maccabiah Games in Israel. He helped Team USA to a gold medal in the month-long event. Moore rounds out his backcourt arsenal with sophomores Kendrick Ray and James Ford, and newcomer Kasim Chandler. Ray, a 6-0 guard from Middletown, N.Y., enjoyed a stellar rookie campaign in which he saw action in all but one of Quinnipiac’s 31 games. He averaged 2.9 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game, highlighted by a careerbest of 12 points against the Bulldogs of Bryant University. Ray was also named NEC Rookie of the Week after an eight-point showing in his first collegiate game at Hartford.
Ford, a 6-3 guard from Hopewell, Va., averaged 2.5 points and nearly one rebound in 16 games for the Bobcats last year. Ford, who is known for his long-range shooting, showed off his skill in a crucial game down the stretch at Sacred Heart. He went 3-for-3 from behind the arc for a career-high of nine points in an 81-74 win. Ford also owned the highest assist-to-turnover ratio among players who played in at least 50 percent of the team’s games. Chandler is a talented playmaking guard with a lightening quick first step who hails from Newark, N.J. The 5-10 guard comes from The Robinson School where he averaged 23 points and six assists per game in a season that concluded with a 25-10 record. Evidenced by his assists per game average, he is a great passer off the dribble which allows him to find the front court underneath and shooters around the arc. His 201213 season highlight was in the East Coast Post Grad Tournament Semifinals when he netted 31 points, including 19 in the first half, in a 79-72 win over Mount Zion Prep Academy.
Senior Shaq Shannon
2013–14 Quinnipiac University Men’s Basketball Media Guide QU
27