unfinished business: Aisha Sheppard ready to write final chapter of illustrious career

Will Locklin

Contributing Writer

October 12, 2021

BLACKSBURG — As Virginia Tech walked off the floor against No. 2 seed Baylor, a 90-48 loss in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, Aisha Sheppard had one thing on her mind: Unfinished business.

Even after coming off a season in which the Hokies’ guard was an All-ACC First Team selection and the ACC’s third leading scorer with 17.7 points per game, Sheppard still isn’t content as she prepares to write the final chapter in her collegiate career.

It’s one that includes the Hokies’ all time record in three-pointers. One where she was named a 2020 First-Team All-ACC Selection. And one in which she was a 2021 AP All-America Honorable Mention.

But, to Sheppard, individual accolades don’t matter as much as one thing does. Her goal for the upcoming season: win an ACC championship.

She could have transferred to a team in a better position to win a national championship. She could have taken a shot at turning pro. She could have left and entered the workforce, using her bachelor’s degree she earned in three years.

Instead, she took one final chance at winning at Virginia Tech. Now, she’s using the extra year of athletic eligibility that was granted to student-athletes from the NCAA due to the global pandemic.

“Ultimately, I thought it was God’s plan to stay here for one more year” Sheppard told 3304 Sports in an interview in September.

After 1,446 points scored, 471 field goals made, and 308 three pointers drilled in her illustrious career, many would question what is there left for her to achieve. But Sheppard’s mentality is different. She wants to make due on her loyalty to head coach Kenny Brooks and Virginia Tech.

“We have an opportunity to make due on winning a championship,” Sheppard said.

The opportunity to step up and be the team's leader isn’t a foreign concept for Sheppard at all. She’s been the team’s leading scorer for two years running, but there was a time where chances were harder to come by for Sheppard.

Despite being a highly touted five-star recruit out of high school, and Washington D.C.'s 2017 Gatorade Player of the Year, Sheppard accepted a bench role during her first two seasons, which isn’t a common sight in today’s college athletics landscape.

Sheppard, though, trusted the process and worked on her craft while waiting for her moment to shine.

“It all happened organically and I wouldn’t change my story for anything,” she said.

And it’s this patience that’s gotten her to this point — trusting the process and vision that Brooks conceptualized for her.

“We were trying to change the culture of a program and there were other paths for her to take but she chose to stick it out because she loves Virginia Tech,” Brooks told 3304 Sports in an interview last week.

Sheppard and Brooks have been very close for a long time. She was one of his first recruits when he was first hired by Tech from James Madison in 2016, and describes her relationship with Coach Brooks as “familial.”

“He’s been like a dad to me, and he always has been,” Sheppard continued.

Sheppard has taken massive leaps as a player every year and despite all her hard work, she still cites her’s and Brooks’ relationship as a big reason for her growth.

“Our relationship translates to what I do on the court, I play freely because I know he has my back and I have his,” Sheppard said.

Brooks shared those same sentiments and described the trust they have in each other to why they’re so close.

“The trust factor let’s me know and let’s her know that we love each other,” he said.

Aisha faced a complicated situation earlier in her career when she was splitting playing time with Brooks' daughter, Kendyl, during the 2018-19 season. They alternated starts and opportunities for the majority of the season.

However, Sheppard used her limited starts as motivation and had conversations with her head coach, asking what it would take to become a starter.

Sheppard knew she needed to improve as a player, and the moments to shine would come later. Through difficult situations one thing remained constant and that was the trust Sheppard and Brooks had in each other and the process.

“She’s learned how to deal with adversity, learn from it and become better because of it,” Brooks said.

Despite all her year-by-year improvements, Sheppard still wants to focus on a few key areas to develop for the upcoming season. Defense hasn’t been Sheppard’s strongest skill through her first four seasons in Blacksburg, but she says that’s where she wants to make the biggest stride.

“Defensively, I can be stronger in that area, understanding schemes and things like that,” Sheppard said.

If Sheppard improves on the defensive end, then her draft stock will continue to climb before the 2022 WNBA Draft next April. She said wants to turn pro at the end of the season and continue to play the game she loves.

“Well she’s the best shooter in the country and she’s a shot maker but more importantly her team first mindset will make her a valuable part of any team at the next level,” Brooks said.

Even with her clear dreams of making it to the pros, Sheppard still wants to cement her legacy as a Hokie.

She was the recipient of the 2021 Skelton Award for her academic excellence in athletics. And she’s given back to the community around her by doing training sessions with young girls to help develop their skills in the sport of basketball.

“When people think of me, they automatically think of a Hokie and Ut Prosim,” Sheppard said.

Sheppard is on track to become the program’s all-time leading scorer — needing just 345 points in the 2021-22 season to break the record. However, she doesn’t want her legacy solely to be in the record books.

“Records hold weight to a certain extent but your character holds even more weight,” said Sheppard.

While her game can’t be doubted by anyone, neither can her character. Sheppard took the tougher road and came out a better player and person because of it.

Now with one more opportunity, Sheppard is ready to lead Virginia Tech on one more ride at a chance for championship glory.