Jamal Shead

About

Professional basketball player known for his standout college career at the University of Houston and for joining the Toronto Raptors in the NBA. He is also known for his Instagram under the handle @jshead, where he shares highlights of his life as a professional basketball player, clips from games and practices, personal moments, and inspirational content with his followers.

Before Fame

He became a standout at Manor High School where he averaged more than 18 points per game as a junior and led his team to the Class 5A state semifinals. He committed to the University of Houston in 2019. He appeared in Houston's 2021 Final Four run as a freshman. He signed with the Toronto Raptors in July 2024 after being selected in the 2024 NBA Draft and traded to Toronto on draft night.

Trivia

He won Big 12 Player of the Year and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year during the 2023-2024 college basketball season and became the first player in Big 12 history to win both awards in the same year. He has partnered with several brands including Electrolit, ExxonMobil, KicksCrew, and Celebrity Mint. He and teammate Scottie Barnes once appeared as guest performers in a production of The Nutcracker during his rookie season.

Family Life

He was born and raised in Austin, Texas. His parents are Lysa and Elvin Shead, and he has two siblings named Autumn and Jaylen.

Associated With

He played alongside Marcus Sasser for the University of Houston.