Cardinal Hall of Honor
Charles Shoptaw is the first Lamar University basketball player to achieve stardom status.
A standout performer for the Cardinals in their final two years in the junior college ranks, Shoptaw starred on the school’s state championship team as a freshman and earned All-Southwestern Junior College honors in his second season.
In his rookie campaign, the sharp-shooting guard scored a team-high 15 points as the Cardinals beat Tyler Junior College to capture the 1947-48 Texas state junior college crown. He received all-league status in 1948-49 after leading Lamar to a 22-6 record and a second-place finish in the conference.
After playing one season at Corpus Christi University, Shoptaw returned to Lamar for the 1950-51 campaign as the Cardinals played their first senior college schedule. The Beaumont French High School product scored 413 points that season for a fine 18.8 average. Shoptaw led all Texas collegiate players in scoring and ranked 21st nationally.
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