## Tubby Smith Admires How Sheppard Family Handled Last Season College basketball coach Tubby Smith has praised the Sheppard family for their handling of last season, in which their son, Makai, was ruled ineligible by the NCAA.
In an interview with The Athletic, Smith said that he was "impressed" by how the Sheppards handled the situation. "They were very professional and kept their son's best interests in mind," Smith said. "They didn't make excuses or try to blame anyone else. They just accepted the ruling and moved on."
Smith also said that he believes Makai Sheppard has a bright future in college basketball. "He's a talented player with a lot of potential," Smith said. "I'm confident that he'll be able to overcome this setback and have a successful career."
Makai Sheppard was ruled ineligible by the NCAA in November 2022 after it was determined that he had received impermissible benefits from a booster. Sheppard was suspended for the first nine games of the season and was forced to repay the value of the benefits he had received.
Despite the setback, Sheppard returned to the team in January and played a key role in helping North Carolina win the national championship. He averaged 9.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in the NCAA Tournament.
The Sheppard family's handling of last season has been praised by many in the college basketball community. Smith's comments are just the latest example of the respect that the family has earned.
