Long inks free agent deal with 76ers

Former Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns men’s basketball standout Shawn Long is headed to the NBA after signing a two-year partially guaranteed contract with the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers Friday.
Long, a 2011 Morgan City High alum, who could not be reached for comment this morning, finished his senior season at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as an honorable mention selection by the Associated Press. He was the 2016 Sun Belt Conference Player of the year and led the Sun Belt in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots as a senior. He had per-game averages of 18.9 points, 12.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks.
Jeremy Whittington, Long’s high school coach at Morgan City who since has moved on to Comeaux High School, said he thought Long’s skills have increased greatly, while his “competitive spirit” has grown as he has gained more confidence.
“Really, to me, his biggest change has been maturity,” Whittington said, noting that as a father, Long has taken on ” a whole bunch more responsibility.”
He said Long has become more of a professional as he has progressed through college, including taking care of his body in the offseason and preparing for each season.
“It’s pretty neat to see him just every year become a little bit more of a professional,” Whittington said.
Long finished as the all-time leading rebounder in both Ragin’ Cajuns and Sun Belt Conference history, pulling down 1,447 boards during his four-year career.
Long also finished third in University of Louisiana at Lafayett history, trailing Dwight “Bo” Lamar and Andrew Toney, in scoring with 2,342 points and was the Ragin’ Cajuns all-time leader in blocked shots (273), games started (131) and double-doubles (75). Long’s 75 double-doubles are the 12th-best total in NCAA history, and he finished second in Sun Belt Conference history in both scoring and blocked shots.
His 411 rebounds recorded during the 2015-16 season tied former Ragin’ Cajuns great Roy Ebron (1971-72) for the second-best total in a single-season in school history.
Whittington called long “the most consistent player in college basketball” during his college career at ULL.
“When you have a player with that amount of consistency, somebody’s got to take a chance on him, and I knew he would get that opportunity,” Whittington said.
Whittington noted that he has coached a lot of successful players, like track star Vernon Norwood and others who have gone on to be good fathers.
“Never had a chance to coach a kid that I could say is an NBA player or at least get that opportunity,” Whittington said.
As a professional, Whittington said Long would not just sit down and be satisfied with being a professional.
Whittington said he thought Long’s area of concentration know would be how he shoots, defends and his ball handling.
After a workout with the 76ers in May, Sixers Vice President of Player Personnel Marc Eversley told the Philadelphia Inquirer, “I call him a stretch five, stretch four. He has the ability to go out make a shot. The other thing that he does well is that he can take you off the dribble. He utilizes a pump fake well.”