Shaw and Gavin Sign Professional Deals
6/22/2023 4:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball
JACKSONVILLE – Two Gamecock women's basketball alums recently signed deals to play professionally overseas. Former Jacksonville State forward Kennedy Gavin landed with Croatian squad ZKK Sibenik while guard Shawnta Shaw found a home with the Snaefell Basketball Club of Iceland.
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"I'm really excited that we had a group that was able to yield two kids that earned themselves the right to play professionally," Jax State head coach Rick Pietri said. "It shows anyone wanting to be a part of this program that if they are dedicated to it and committed to improving, professional opportunities can come their way."
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Gavin saved her best for last in 2022-23. The graduate forward from Petal, Miss., earned Second Team All-ASUN and ASUN All-Academic Team honors after leading the team with 27.7 minutes, 12.2 points, and 7.3 rebounds per game. She finished eighth in the conference in boards and 18th in points per game, guiding the Gamecocks to their second straight ASUN Conference Tournament.
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The Southern Miss transfer joined the program ahead of the 2019-20 season and played in 86 total games for the Red and White. Although she had a fine senior season in 2021-22, Gavin's efforts last fall set new career-highs in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks. A strong last dance in Jacksonville led to her signing a professional deal with ZKK Sibenik.
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ZKK Sibenik went 9-13 last season, finishing tied for sixth in the Croatian Premijer Liga. They will look to rebound this coming season with a mostly young roster. Gavin is one of three Americans on the team along with former Radford guard Khiana Johnson and Rider product Amanda Mobley.
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"Kennedy had an outstanding individual season this year," Pietri said. "Her production went up in a number of areas, so this opportunity to play professionally is something she has earned through hard work and commitment. She deserves it and I'm glad she'll get the chance to compete at the next level."
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Shaw had an incredible finish to her college career, setting numerous career-bests as a fifth-year performer. The speedy guard from Nashville, Tenn., started 28 of 30 games in 2022-23 and commandeered the point guard role for Jax State. She was second on the team in scoring with 10.4 points per game and had a team-best 65 assists and 55 steals.
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The former Troy Trojan entered last year with just two career starts under her belt but kicked it into another gear in her final year in Calhoun County. Her 301 points, 109 rebounds, shooting percentage of 40.5%, and 71.4% mark from the charity stripe were all career-highs. Following a stellar finale, Shaw signed a pro deal with Icelandic club Snaefell.
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Snaefell is a member of the Iceland Division I league and is a perennial power. They are coming off a 17-7 year in 2022-23 in which they finished third in the association before falling in the semifinals to Thor AK. The only other American on Snaefell's 2023-24 roster is forward Cheah Rael-Whitsitt, a Michigan native that played collegiately at Miami Dade College and Texas A&M.
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"Shawnta really made quite a leap forward this year, so I'm not surprised that she was able to earn this deal," Pietri said. "I'm happy for the opportunity she has gained for herself."
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Jax State has been represented in consecutive seasons professionally as former Gamecock Taylor Hawks signed a pro deal with a Romanian club last offseason. In addition, Gavin and Shaw mark the ninth and tenth players that Pietri has guided to the next level and the third and fourth since coming to Jacksonville.
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To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, follow their Facebook (Jacksonville State University Women's Basketball), Twitter (@JaxStateWBB), and Instagram (@JaxStateWBB) accounts.
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"I'm really excited that we had a group that was able to yield two kids that earned themselves the right to play professionally," Jax State head coach Rick Pietri said. "It shows anyone wanting to be a part of this program that if they are dedicated to it and committed to improving, professional opportunities can come their way."
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Gavin saved her best for last in 2022-23. The graduate forward from Petal, Miss., earned Second Team All-ASUN and ASUN All-Academic Team honors after leading the team with 27.7 minutes, 12.2 points, and 7.3 rebounds per game. She finished eighth in the conference in boards and 18th in points per game, guiding the Gamecocks to their second straight ASUN Conference Tournament.
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The Southern Miss transfer joined the program ahead of the 2019-20 season and played in 86 total games for the Red and White. Although she had a fine senior season in 2021-22, Gavin's efforts last fall set new career-highs in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks. A strong last dance in Jacksonville led to her signing a professional deal with ZKK Sibenik.
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ZKK Sibenik went 9-13 last season, finishing tied for sixth in the Croatian Premijer Liga. They will look to rebound this coming season with a mostly young roster. Gavin is one of three Americans on the team along with former Radford guard Khiana Johnson and Rider product Amanda Mobley.
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"Kennedy had an outstanding individual season this year," Pietri said. "Her production went up in a number of areas, so this opportunity to play professionally is something she has earned through hard work and commitment. She deserves it and I'm glad she'll get the chance to compete at the next level."
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Shaw had an incredible finish to her college career, setting numerous career-bests as a fifth-year performer. The speedy guard from Nashville, Tenn., started 28 of 30 games in 2022-23 and commandeered the point guard role for Jax State. She was second on the team in scoring with 10.4 points per game and had a team-best 65 assists and 55 steals.
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The former Troy Trojan entered last year with just two career starts under her belt but kicked it into another gear in her final year in Calhoun County. Her 301 points, 109 rebounds, shooting percentage of 40.5%, and 71.4% mark from the charity stripe were all career-highs. Following a stellar finale, Shaw signed a pro deal with Icelandic club Snaefell.
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Snaefell is a member of the Iceland Division I league and is a perennial power. They are coming off a 17-7 year in 2022-23 in which they finished third in the association before falling in the semifinals to Thor AK. The only other American on Snaefell's 2023-24 roster is forward Cheah Rael-Whitsitt, a Michigan native that played collegiately at Miami Dade College and Texas A&M.
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"Shawnta really made quite a leap forward this year, so I'm not surprised that she was able to earn this deal," Pietri said. "I'm happy for the opportunity she has gained for herself."
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Jax State has been represented in consecutive seasons professionally as former Gamecock Taylor Hawks signed a pro deal with a Romanian club last offseason. In addition, Gavin and Shaw mark the ninth and tenth players that Pietri has guided to the next level and the third and fourth since coming to Jacksonville.
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To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, follow their Facebook (Jacksonville State University Women's Basketball), Twitter (@JaxStateWBB), and Instagram (@JaxStateWBB) accounts.
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