{{short description|American basketball player}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Shizz Alston | image = Shizz Alston (cropped).jpeg | image_size = | caption = Alston playing with Kangoeroes in 2021 | position = Point guard | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 4 | weight_lbs = 180 | league = Kosovo Superleague | team = KB Vëllaznimi | number = 10 | nationality = American | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|9|21}} | birth_place = | high_school = The Haverford School<br/>(Haverford, Pennsylvania) | college = Temple (2015–2019) | draft_year = 2019 | career_start = 2019 | career_end = | years1 = 2019–2020 | team1 = Delaware Blue Coats | years2 = 2020–2021 | team2 = Lavrio | years3 = 2021–2022 | team3 = Kangoeroes Mechelen | years4 = 2023 | team4 = SeaHorses Mikawa | years5 = 2024–present | team5 = Vëllaznimi | highlights = *First-team All-AAC (2019) }} '''Levan Shawn "Shizz" Alston Jr.''' (born September 21, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for Vëllaznimi of the Kosovo Superleague. He played college basketball at Temple University.
==Early life== Alston grew up in North Philadelphia. His father, Levan Alston Sr., played basketball at Temple in the 1990s and professionally in China, Greece, Cyprus, and Italy. Growing up, the younger Alson would frequently call his father when he was overseas and discuss NBA games. When current Temple coach Aaron McKie played for the 76ers, he would sometimes leave tickets for Shizz.<ref name=athletic>{{cite news |last1=Zeitlin |first1=Dave |title=A son of Philly hoops: How his father's path and his city upbringing shaped Temple's Shizz Alston Jr. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/757408/2019/01/09/a-son-of-philly-hoops-how-his-fathers-path-and-his-city-upbringing-shaped-temples-shizz-alston-jr/ |access-date=February 10, 2020 |work=The Athletic |date=January 9, 2019}}</ref> The younger Alston attended The Haverford School and averaged 16.1 points per game as a sophomore. As a junior, he averaged 16.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game and was named Second Team All State. As a senior, Alston was named First Team All State and led Haverford to a 17–11 record and the semifinals of the Pennsylvania Independent School Tournament. He averaged 19.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.1 steals per game.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hall of Fame Nominees |url=https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1560436443/haverfordschool/rjjfsrbehxd51pfh67fx/HallofFameNominees61319.pdf |website=The Haverford School Athletic Hall of Fame |accessdate=February 10, 2020}}</ref> Alston was named Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year.<ref name="inquirer">{{cite news |last1=Narducci |first1=Marc |title=Temple's Shizz Alston has come a long way from a frustrating freshman season |url=https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/temple/shizz-alston-temple-basketball-ncaa-tournament-fran-dunphy-20190312.html |accessdate=February 10, 2020 |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |date=March 12, 2019}}</ref> He was an ESPN Top 100 recruit and selected Temple over offers from Notre Dame, Marquette, and VCU among others.<ref name=athletic/>
==College career== In his collegiate debut, Alston scored 12 points in a 91–67 loss to North Carolina. His minutes decreased throughout his freshman season, and though Temple reached the NCAA Tournament, Alston considered the season frustrating largely playing behind Quenton DeCosey and Devin Coleman.<ref name=inquirer/> Alston averaged 2.1 points per game as a freshman.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Paone |first1=Greg |title=Temple basketball season preview: A year of change on North Broad Street |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/tags/trey-lowe |accessdate=February 10, 2020 |work=NBC Sports |date=November 9, 2016}}</ref> He saw his minutes increase as a sophomore and averaged 13.9 points per game.<ref name=inquirer/> On December 7, 2017, Alston scored 22 points in a 59–55 win over Wisconsin and broke the Temple record by hitting 52 consecutive free throws.<ref>{{cite news |title=Alston sets free-throw record, Temple downs Wisconsin 59-55 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2017/12/06/alston-sets-free-throw-record-temple-downs-wisconsin-59-55/108384948/ |accessdate=February 10, 2020 |work=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |date=December 6, 2017}}</ref> Alston averaged 13.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game as a junior on a team that reached the NIT.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vender |first1=Matt |title=Alston discusses his future at Temple, talks about McKie |url=https://temple.rivals.com/news/alston-discusses-his-future-at-temple-talks-about-mckie |accessdate=February 10, 2020 |work=OwlScoop |publisher=Rivals.com |date=April 2, 2018}}</ref> On December 12, 2018, Alston scored 31 points against UMass and hit three clinching free throws.<ref name=athletic/> He scored a career-high 34 points in a 78–71 win against UConn on March 7, 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Eaton-Robb |first1=Patt |title=Shizz Alston's career night vs. UConn helps keep Temple's NCAA tournament at-large hopes alive |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/temple-owls/shizz-alston-career-high-uconn-temple-ncaa-tournament-bid |accessdate=February 10, 2020 |work=NBC Sports |agency=Associated Press |date=March 7, 2019}}</ref> As a senior, Alston averaged 19.7 points per game, which led the American Athletic Conference, and 5.0 assists per game, second highest in the league. He was named First Team All-Conference. Alston led Temple to a 23–10 record and NCAA Tournament appearance.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hunt |first1=Donald |title=Levan Alston looks forward to watching son, Shizz Alston Jr., play in the NCAA tournament |url=https://www.phillytrib.com/sports/levan-alston-looks-forward-to-watching-son-shizz-alston-jr/article_bc680ff6-b1c3-5cb2-89f1-46d0819ac543.html |accessdate=February 10, 2020 |work=Philadelphia Tribune |date=March 18, 2020}}</ref> Alston set school records by making a three-pointer in 44 consecutive games and shooting 90.8 percent from the foul line as a senior.<ref name="hunt">{{cite news |last1=Hunt |first1=Donald |title=Shizz Alston, Jr. works out for his hometown Philadelphia 76ers |url=https://www.phillytrib.com/sports/shizz-alston-jr-works-out-for-his-hometown-philadelphia-ers/article_c210f7c8-ebd3-5a00-aecc-13b52e732331.html |accessdate=February 10, 2020 |work=Philadelphia Tribune |date=June 6, 2019}}</ref>
==Professional career== Prior to the 2019 NBA draft, Alston worked out with the hometown Philadelphia 76ers.<ref name="hunt" /> He competed for the Indiana Pacers in NBA Summer League play and averaged 8.0 points per game. On October 19, the 76ers signed and waived Alston so they could add him to their G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Levick |first1=Noah |title=Sixers sign and then waive Shizz Alston Jr., Terry Harris for purpose of adding them to Delaware Blue Coats |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/76ers/shizz-alston-terry-harris-julian-washburn-sixers-roster-delaware-blue-coats |accessdate=February 10, 2020 |work=NBC Sports |date=October 19, 2019}}</ref> He averaged 3.7 points, 2.9 assists, and 1.8 rebounds per game in 23 games.<ref name=gtk/>
On March 11, 2020, Alston signed with GTK Gliwice of the Polish league,<ref name=gtk>{{cite web |title=GTK Gliwice signs Shizz Alston Jr. |url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Poland/news/623311/GTK-Gliwice-signs-Shizz-Alston-Jr. |website=Eurobasket |accessdate=March 14, 2020 |date=March 11, 2020}}</ref> but he never made an official appearance with the club. On June 13, 2020, Alston signed with Lavrio of the Greek Basket League.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shizz Alston Jr. reportedly joining BC Lavrio |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/shizz-alston-jr-to-join-bc-lavrio/ |website=Sportando |accessdate=July 4, 2020 |date=June 13, 2020 |last1=Skerletic |first1=Dario }}</ref>
In May 2021, Alston signed with Belgian side Kangoeroes Mechelen for the 2021–22 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shizz Alston Jr. naar Kangoeroes Mechelen |url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20210517_95256986 |access-date=14 July 2021 |work=Het Nieuwsblad |language=nl-BE}}</ref>
On January 17, 2023, Alston signed with SeaHorses Mikawa of the Japanese B.League.<ref>{{cite web|title=選手加入のお知らせ(シズ・オルストン選手) |url=https://go-seahorses.jp/news/detail/id=19499 |date=17 January 2023|access-date=20 January 2023 |publisher=SeaHorses Mikawa |language=Japanese}}</ref>
On August 22, 2024, Alston signed for Vëllaznimi of the Kosovan Superleague.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vëllaznimi transferon basketbollistin Shizz Alston|url=https://www.arbresh.info/sport/vellaznimi-transferon-basketbollistin-shizz-alston/|date=22 August 2024|access-date=10 October 2024 |publisher=abresh.info|language=sq}}</ref>
==Coaching career==
Alston signed with Athletes Untapped as a private basketball coach on May 23, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coach Spotlight: Shizz Alston – A Basketball Pro Turned Mentor |url=https://athletesuntapped.com/blog/coach-spotlight-shizz-alston/ |website=Athletes Untapped |publisher=Athletes Untapped |date=May 23, 2023 |access-date=September 25, 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://owlsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/shizz-alston-jr-/10997 Temple Owls bio] *[https://twitter.com/internatlshizz?lang=en Twitter]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alston, Shizz}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:American men's basketball players Category:American expatriate basketball people in Belgium Category:American expatriate basketball people in Greece Category:American expatriate basketball people in Kosovo Category:American expatriate basketball people in Poland Category:Basketball players from Philadelphia Category:Delaware Blue Coats players Category:Haverford School alumni Category:Point guards Category:Lavrio B.C. players Category:Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen players Category:SeaHorses Mikawa players Category:Temple Owls men's basketball players Category:KB Vëllaznimi players Category:Kosovo Basketball Superleague players Category:21st-century American sportsmen