Jackson Shelstad delivers heartfelt 'thank you' to fans after transfer

· Yahoo Sports

The Oregon Ducks men's basketball squad was dealt a devastating blow on Tuesday, as news broke that standout point guard Jackson Shelstad was entering the transfer portal, ending his time with the Ducks after three seasons.

The fan favorite junior guard is an Oregon native, hailing from West Linn High School. When it came down to it, Shelstad, a four-star recruit, opted to play for the in-state Ducks and follow in the footsteps of Payton Pritchard, another West Linn product turned Oregon star under head coach Dana Altman.

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The two drew comparisons during Shelstad's time with the program, as Pritchard started for the majority of four seasons in the program — something Shelstad appeared set to do as well prior to his transfer announcement.

There's no doubt that Duck fans appreciated Shelstad, as he helped lead the team to an NCAA tournament victory in 2025 and was named a third-team All-Big Ten selection in the program's first year in the conference. He was primed for a big junior campaign before a hand injury prematurely ended his season and, ultimately, his time at Oregon.

There's also no doubt that Shelstad is fond of the Ducks faithful as well, as he issued a 'thank you' to fans in the hours following his departure.

"These last three years have truly been special," he wrote. "As an Oregon kid, playing basketball for the University of Oregon was always a dream. To be able to have lived that is something I'll always be deeply grateful for."

He then thanked Altman, several assistant coaches, teammates, managers, friends and, finally, the fans of Oregon basketball.

It's not uncommon for transfer announcements to be met with disdain from a fanbase, bitterness that a player has decided to depart from the program that supported them. This is most certainly not one of those situations, as it appears that Shelstad will have lifelong support from Duck fans wherever he ends up next year and beyond.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Jackson Shelstad posts 'thank you' to fans after transfer announcement

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