Meet the 2004 Crimson Tide: Junior Guard Earnest Shelton
2/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By C.J. Guercio
UA Media Relations
Junior Guard Earnest Shelton is having a fantastic year. He led the Tide in scoring until an injury in the Georgia game forced him to sit out two games, but Shelton picked up where he left off and is second in scoring with 15 points a game. Shelton and his teammates hit the road tonight for a tough road showdown against the highly touted Wildcats from Kentucky and then come back home to Coleman Coliseum for two home games against teams from Shelton's home state. The Tide faces Tennessee on February 14 and then the Vanderbilt Commodores come to Tuscaloosa on February 18.
Being from Tennessee what college team did you pull for as a kid?
"Well, my mom and my dad both graduated from Memphis. In football I used to root for Tennessee, the Vols, but my mom and dad were Memphis alumni so I always rooted for Memphis."
How did you end up at The University of Alabama?
"When I was recruited, I looked around. I visited Memphis, I visited Tennessee, I visited everybody and I came down here on a visit. I had already met Mo (Williams) before I came down here, he had already committed. So, he used to be on me, the coaches liked me, they wanted me to come play here, but Mo was like that third recruiter. I had enjoyed playing with him when we tried out for the Olympics in Colorado, so I came and visited. I liked the coaching staff, I liked the campus and I liked the team and how they all hung out and did things together. So I chose to come here."
What is your most memorable moment from your time here on the Capstone?
"The Florida game in the 2001-2002 season. It has got to be the Florida game. The pass to (Antoine) Pettway to seal the SEC Championship."
What NBA player have you tried to mold your game after?
"I guess Reggie Miller. He is the best at flat out shooting and making clutch shots. In his prime, he was one of the best hands-down shooters, still is one of the best hands-down shooters in the league. So, I enjoy watching Reggie Miller play."
If you could go one-on-one with any NBA player, who would it be?
"I would try to go one-on-one with a player that I could learn something from."
If you could bring any team into Coleman Coliseum, what team would you like to see come in here?
"I would like to see any team come in here, as long as they are number one in the country. Whoever is number one at the time. I think Duke is number one right now, I like our chances at our house. Coleman, of course it is going to be loud, of course it is going to be packed and you know if you are playing the number one team at your home it is going to be on national TV. I would love to play a team like that right here on our home court."
What is your pre-game ritual?
"Ever since I was in high school I have to take a nap, if it is 30 minutes or an hour. I don't play good if I don't take a nap at least some time before the game. 30 minutes, 15 minutes, 10 minutes I just have to get a nap in before the game. In high school when you used to get that break between games, I used to go home and just fall out. If I didn't do it, I just didn't have a good game. I have to have a nap before the game."
