DUDLEY, GAIAN, SHEPARD HONORED AS STARS OF THE MONTH
Pros, Amateurs, Preps top list of 15 recognized by the San Diego Hall of Champions
SAN DIEGO—(April 4, 2014)—Former Horizon High and current Los Angeles Clippers player Jared Dudley, SDSU basketball standout Winston Shepard and West Hills High senior BMX rider Sean Gaian topped the list of 15 athletes honored as Stars of the Month for March by the San Diego Hall of Champions.
Dudley, playing the long shadow of Blake Griffin, was able to showcase his ability several times before Blake suffered a back injury. Dudley stepped right in with a 16-point effort to lead the Clips past Minnesota.
Shepard, just a sophomore, elevated his game as the conference and NCAA playoffs were conducted. Averaging almost 10 points and four rebounds a game, Shepard led the Aztecs into the Sweet 16.
Gaian captured the Junior Men’s BMX title at the Olympic Training Center, cementing his ranking as the No. 1 junior racer in the world.
SDSU senior Shanieka Thomas joined Shepard in the spotlight for the Aztecs as she captured her second NCAA title, this time winning the indoor triple jump by more than 18 inches with an effort of 45-feet, 10-inches. She captured the outdoor crown last spring.
Other amateur stars included NCAA Division II swimming gold medalists Nicholas Korth and Anji Shakya for UCSD, USD baseball and softball standout Louis Lechich and Olivia Sandusky, and Toreros basketball ace Christopher Anderson.
High school athletes gaining recognition included Dotun Ogendeji, the national leader in the shot put, soccer standouts Rafael Espinoza of Southwest and Angel Meriwether of Westview, LJCD basketball star Mai-Loni Henson, Poway baseball player Sam Godfrey and Mt. Carmel’s record-setting swimmer, Grant Schenk.