Former Frog Karviar Shepherd joins TCU women’s basketball staff

Karviar Shepherd is one of the highest-rated players to sign with TCU Basketball, and while his numbers may have never quite lived up to his high billing, he had a very solid career for the Horned Frogs, averaging 6.5 points per game while compiling career totals of 635 rebounds, 96 assists, 103 blocked shots and 62 steals.

Shepherd averaged a career-best 9.1 points while starting in all 30 games that the Horned Frogs participated in, but his most crucial role came as a senior, when he was a key component of the NIT Championship run. Shepherd started just nine games that season, but played in 39, shooting over 57% from the field and 77% from the free throw line. He was a vocal leader and the heartbeat of a team that achieved more than any prior team in the program’s past 20 years.

After graduating with a degree in criminal justice in 2017, Shepherd sought out professional opportunities. But injuries and other obstacles stayed in his path, and thus he began to search for a future in basketball - on the bench. He will now serve on the staff of Raegan Pebley as a graduate assistant, something that is a natural fit for Karviar. “I had the opportunity to get to know Coach Pebley more over the past two years and she is a coach that I want to learn from, not only because she is very intelligent, but the one thing that made this decision a no-brainer is her servant heart. I’m excited to be a part of this staff and back around the TCU family.”

For her part, Pebley is excited to welcome the talented player to her staff. ”We are ecstatic about adding Karviar Shepherd to our program as a graduate assistant. We love what he can bring to the table. He knows what it means to be a Horned Frog, a first-generation college graduate, a Big 12 student-athlete, a winner and how to bring honor to TCU. He has a heart to serve, develop and grow, and we know he will invest in this experience just as much as he did as a student-athlete.”

While Shepherd will be an asset to the team on the court, it sounds like he is even more excited to have an impact in the locker room and on the player’s lives outside of hoops. “As players you are a light to those who watch you play, and as a coach you are a light to those players. You want to help those players grow into the person God wants them to be on and off the court. As a player, sometimes you don’t see it that way until after you leave. ”

A native of Dallas, Texas, Shepherd graduated from Prime Prep Academy where he was rated the No. 46 player overall and the No. 3 center for the Class of 2013 by Rivals.com. He was also tabbed the No. 48 overall player according to both ESPN and Scout.com.