TCU makes big splash with three elite basketball signees

By Travis L. Brown

Special to the Star-Telegram

DALLAS -- TCU's biggest splash on Signing Day came in an old, metal gym tucked away in South Dallas.

In stark contrast to the humble home of the newly founded Prime Prep Academy was the new, bright purple hoodie emblazoned with the TCU Horned Frog logo that Karviar Shepherd modeled Wednesday for friends, family and the school's namesake, Deion Sanders.

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TCU signings

TCU signings

Men's basketball: F Brandon Parrish (Arlington Seguin), C Karviar Shepherd (Dallas Prime Prep Academy), G Michael Williams (San Antonio Reagan)

Women's basketball: PG A.J. Alix (Houston Bellaire), G/F Jada Butts (Lewisville), C Kiara Bradshaw (Emory Rains), PF Janay Keys (Arlington Lamar)and C Carol Willie (Cypress Falls).

Baseball: LHP Tyler Alexander (Southlake Carroll), OF Connor Beck (Midland), LHP Ryan Burnett (Woodlands), LHP Brandon Gilson (Prosper), OF/IF Will Foreman (Houston Lamar), RHP Will Fox (Montgomery), SS/RHP Eric Garza (San Antonio Reagan), RHP Brian Howard (St. Louis (Mo.) University), IF/P Alex Mata (Midland), OF Billy McKinney (Plano West), RHP Robby Medel (Grand Prairie) and OF Walker Pennington (Houston Memorial)

Volleyball: Natalie Gower (St. Louis St. Joseph's Academy), Regan McGuire (Flower Mound Marcus), Shane Peters (Plano West) and Ashley Smith (Clear Creek).

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Rivals.com ranks Shepherd, a 6-foot-10 center, a four-star recruit, the highest-rated to ever sign with TCU. He picked the Frogs over Baylor, Kansas and Texas, among others. Rivals rated him as the No. 3 center in the nation, seventh player in Texas and 46th nationally.

Joining Shepherd in coach Trent Johnson's first class are two three-star prospects: Arlington Seguin forward Brandon Parrish (6-6) and San Antonio Reagan guard Michael Williams (6-2).

Shepherd said the coaching staff and new conference sold him on the Horned Frogs.

"They're great coaches. They bond with the team very well and it's really close to home," Shepherd said. "[Joining the Big 12] was pretty big. There is more competition in the Big 12 so that's good."

It is not clear whether Shepherd will play this season. He was one of three Prime Prep players declared ineligible by the District 11-3A Executive Committee for transferring for athletic purposes and, as a result, the school is playing a junior varsity schedule. He sat out last season at Arlington Grace Prep after transferring from DeSoto.

"I don't want to get too much into it," he said. "My teammates have really stepped it up and helped everyone throughout the season so far."

Sanders called Shepherd a leader.

"He challenges the kids to go to another level," he said. "I love him to life and I love what he embodies and exudes. On the basketball court, the half hasn't been told. He has so much more room to grow, and he's already really good and that's scary."

MaxPreps rated TCU's class as 23rd in the country.

"I can't overstate how excited we are to have these three young student-athletes joining our TCU basketball family," Johnson said in a written statement. "Not only are they very gifted basketball players, they are also quality young men. In choosing TCU, they have demonstrated courage and a commitment to establishing a basketball tradition at TCU."

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