Three years after a video of this Raptors draft pick went viral, Jamal Shead is about to play his first game for Toronto

A video of the point guard picking up trash after a teammate angrily knocked over a garbage can was viewed nearly five million times, with Alabama fans applauding Shead for his actions.

Jamal Shead had an exceptional college basketball tenure with the Houston Cougars, making history by being the first to clinch both the Big 12 player of the year and the top defensive player of the year titles in the same season last year.

His dedication paid off when the Raptors traded for the six-foot guard from Sacramento on draft day last month. Shead was chosen by Toronto in the second round (45th overall) following a senior season where he averaged 12.9 points, 6.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.2 steals in 37 games.

Shortly after being drafted, a video from December 2021, when Shead was a sophomore point guard with Houston, went viral. The clip captured a coach angrily kicking over a chair and a teammate knocking over a garbage can after a tough loss against Alabama. To the surprise of many, Shead went over to pick up the garbage can and the spilled trash.

A player I REALLY hope gets to hear his name called tonight is Jamal Shead.

• Led Houston to a 1 seed
• First-Team All-American
• DPOY

Shead suffered a bad ankle sprain vs Duke and was unable to finish Houston’s March Madness run.

Not only is Shead an awesome basketball… pic.twitter.com/2dPUaFGr29

— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) June 27, 2024

Shead explained to the Houston Chronicle that he took action to “uphold our values.”

“Here at Houston, we’re not portrayed as bad guys,” Shead asserted. “We don’t symbolize a spilled trash can. If we left it, that’s the image people would have of us, which would be pretty negative. I simply felt that someone had to clean it up.”

The Chronicle noted that the video garnered nearly five million views, with even Alabama fans applauding Shead for his conduct.

“It was really nice how everyone recognized the small gesture I made,” Shead expressed to the newspaper. “I just felt it was something that had to be done. I didn’t realize anyone was truly watching amidst everything happening on the court.”

Shead’s college career concluded after he sustained a severe ankle sprain in Houston’s Sweet 16 defeat to Duke in March.

Later this month, Shead, who is turning 22, inked a three-year contract with the Raptors and has been listed on their Summer League roster in Las Vegas, set to commence play on Saturday against Oklahoma City.

Toronto disclosed its roster on Sunday, which includes Shead’s fellow 2024 draft picks Ja’Kobe Walter (19th pick), Jonathan Mogbo (31st), and Ulrich Chomche (57th), along with Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, and Javon Freeman-Liberty.

Sources: Toronto Raptors No. 45 overall pick Jamal Shead has agreed to a three-year, $6.11 million rookie contract. The former University of Houston star guard starts his pro career on a standard contract with the first two seasons guaranteed. pic.twitter.com/h9XUrzqp2L

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 4, 2024

A player I REALLY hope gets to hear his name called tonight is Jamal Shead.

• Led Houston to a 1 seed
• First-Team All-American
• DPOY

Shead suffered a bad ankle sprain vs Duke and was unable to finish Houston’s March Madness run.

Not only is Shead an awesome basketball… pic.twitter.com/2dPUaFGr29

— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) June 27, 2024