Shumate adding to his game

Call it addition by addition.

Christian Shumate isn’t going to replace his fan-favorite Shu-Slams with three-pointers, but rather add them to his arsenal.

Introducing the Shu-Bomb.

Shumate, the McNeese State human highlight who found national attention thanks to making ESPN’s SportsCenter shows all last winter with his thunderous and acrobatic dunks, has worked the summer finding his jump shot.

The search took him to Phoenix, where he spent a week with shooting guru Phil Beckner, a friend of McNeese head coach Will Wade.

“It was a long, tough week,” said Shumate. “We worked out twice, sometimes three times a day, but it was worth it.”

Shumate said he found confidence and a rhythm during his time with Beckner.

“We really worked on my balance and my entire shot,” said Shumate. “It gave me a lot of confidence going forward.”

Wade can tell the difference as Shumate continues to work hard on his shot and overall game daily.

“His shot is much more fluid,” said Wade. “He has to show he can carry it over into games, but if he does then it is a game changer for him. It totally will change how he is looked at as a player.

“It can be a real money maker for him in the future.”

Shumate admitted taking his game to the next level offensively for his post-McNeese career was part of the deal.

At 6-foot-6, the top rebounder in the Southland Conference last year and Defensive Player of the Year wanted to be more complete offensively this season for scouts to see.

“Being a defensive guy I want to show I can play on the outside as well,” said Shumate. “I think it will open things up for me.”
It could also open up the middle for more of his coveted Shu-Slams this winter as well.

“Hitting some threes will be huge for my spacing on the floor,” Shumate said. “It would allow me to pump fake outside and get downhill to the basket if they have to take my shots seriously.”

Shumate and the rest of the Cowboys will get a chance to show off their new skills starting today when they open a three-game set over three days in El Salvador. McNeese will open against Metapan BC at 7 p.m.

Fans can watch the game live on www.youtube.com/@aloudsports5113.

“This is a great chance for us to play three really good teams and find out where we are,” said Wade. “We have a lot of new guys on the team and this will give us a chance to see how they fit and find some combinations that work.”

As for Shumate, he will get to roll out his new long-range game. He has said that fans don’t need to worry about fewer dunks.

“I won’t be replacing anything, just adding to my game,” he said.

And he is going to do it on the international stage.