Former SEMO, South Pem guard Carrie Shephard making waves in Irish pro basketball league

Former SEMO and South Pemiscot guard Carrie Shephard has fulfilled her dream of playing professional basketball after signing with the Glanmire Basketball Club in Cork, Ireland.

Photo courtesy of Glanmire Basketball Club

After last year's Australian NBL-1 season was canceled due to COVID-19, former Southeast Missouri State standout Carrie Shephard has finally realized her dream of playing professional basketball.

The 5-foot-4 guard currently plays for the Glanmire Basketball Club in Ireland's women's Super League and has already made an impact.

According to the club's website, Shephard is the team's leading scorer — averaging 20.6 points per game through seven games — and helped Glanmire win the 2022 Paudie O'Connor National Cup.

Carrie Shephard, middle right, celebrates with her teammates after helping lead the Glanmire Basketball Club to its first Paudie O'Connor National Cup in five years.

Photo courtesy of Glanmire Basketball Club

"It's crazy because you kind of equate it to, like basketball in the states, and it's a little different here," Shephard said. "The fans are just so passionate. I couldn't hear myself think and I'm like like, 'How am I supposed to call out plays if I can't even hear myself?' They had horns and drums, and they really love the game of basketball. They're very passionate and they travel from places like Dublin, and since we're in Cork that's like over two-and-a-half hours worth of driving."

Shephard was lifting weights before going to work for the City of Cape Girardeau's Parks and Recreation Department when she found out she was going to be signed.

"I signed with them at the end of October," Shephard said. "I think I came here October 21, that's whenever I landed here in Ireland. There was a quick turnaround. I had like three days to get everything packed and good to go. It's funny because I got the call while I was actually working out. I was lifting and was like, 'Who's calling me? I'm trying to get a lift in before I go to work.' "

Shephard was only able to have one practice with the team before her first games, which led to her struggling a bit early on.

"It was funny because I came in and I only got one practice," Shephard said. "As a point guard myself, I like to know what everyone's good at and what they like to do. I have to put them in the best position on the floor to be successful, make the whole game a little bit easier for everyone and just get others involved. I kind of had to learn that through just playing in games, because we had basically back-to-back games before I could even have a week's worth of practice with everyone.

"I think in the first game, I had like three or four turnovers. I'm just like, 'What is going on?' I go back and watch and say, 'Oh their post players play this way. It's not like the rules we have at SEMO. If people are going this way, you move this way.' It took a while but after those first few games, I was like, 'OK, now I've got a week's worth of practice in.' After that, it was smooth sailing."

Shephard credits Glanmire's coaching staff for allowing her to be herself on the court.

"They embraced me and my playing style with open arms," Shephard said. "That made it a lot easier because they allow me to be myself, and I think that's the biggest thing. With me being myself, I have nothing but the most confidence in my team and their abilities. It just makes my job a lot easier."

Although at the time it was disappointing, Shephard described the fact that the NBL-1 season was canceled as a "blessing in disguise" because she was able to attend her mother's funeral.

"At that time, there was a two-week window where the country was letting imports in on a work visa. Because they were getting their wave of COVID after us, we had already got hit with ours. During that time, we were waiting on the government to get back to us on when we could go ahead and get the ticket because we'd got all the visas and paperwork.

"I signed the contract and before you know it, it was like, 'No, we're not letting anybody in.' They ended up canceling that season early because of COVID and they went on lockdown and everything. It kind of worked out in my favor, because if I was there I would have missed my mom's funeral. I would have missed all of that and I probably would have been stuck over there. It all worked out for the best and was definitely a blessing in disguise."

While Shephard hopes to continue to play basketball for a while, she would ultimately like to become an assistant coach to help develop players.

"I think right now with basketball, I'll play as long as my body allows me to play," Shephard said. "The end goal is I want to be an assistant coach that's over skill development and recruiting, because I think that's where I thrive, just with my knowledge of the game and how I deal with people. I'm able to motivate various people and instill confidence in them because as a head coach your job is to win games. Bottom line, it's your job to win games. My mindset is you win games with great players, and I want to be the person that makes those players great on and off the court."

Shephard, who hails from Steele, Mo., and played high school basketball for South Pemiscot, said she's thankful to have the support from people in Southeast Missouri.

"I'm thankful and grateful for every person who has invested in me and every person that's ever encouraged me," Shephard said. "Whether it was a high five, a meal, a sleepover, it doesn't matter. I'm truly grateful for that. This all just happened, and the only way that this all makes sense is through faith.

"I'm thankful for the area of Steele, Mo. That's exit eight, and you can ask all my SEMO teammates, they know where exit eight is."