Shipman keeps on trucking

Ray Shipman said he doesn't know what a Timex watch is but he sure plays like one.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound shooting guard from Miami (Fla.) Pace High School is taking plenty of licks but he keeps on ticking. After suffering a concussion against Dr. Krop High School, Shipman shook off the dust and helped his team win the city rivalry game as well as picking up victories against IMG Academy and Miami High.

"After the second time I fell down and hit my head, I tried to shake it off because I didn't want to go to the trainer and go out," Shipman said. "So after the game, I went to them and they told me that I couldn't go to sleep that night because I had a concussion."

After a sleepless night and a big headache, he took to the court against IMG. Different night, same story.

"On the first play of the game, I got hit right on my head and then the next play I had a ball bounce right off of my face," Shipman said with a laugh.

Despite the bumps and bruises, the No. 53 ranked player in the class of 2008 has stayed at it and continues to make strides in his game.

"I haven't been playing well since the first games of the season. I haven't reached my full potential yet and with my concussions, I haven't been able to get back to where I was. I'm getting there slowly but not fully."

When he is at 100 percent, Shipman is pouring in upwards of 30 points a game. He began the season with games of 29 and 26 points, respectively.

Colleges are making their way to see him in action this season. Shipman said Miami, LSU, Kansas State, Clemson, Cincinnati and Georgia Tech have been in to see him already this season. Florida, Wake Forest, Florida State and others are still in touch too, he said.

Shipman said he is holding offers from Cincinnati, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, LSU and Miami. The four-star guard said he has seen Miami play this season against Georgia Tech and visited Florida in the fall for a tournament.

"I haven't narrowed it down yet," Shipman said. "I want to see what all I have and seeing what kind of options I have before I think about committing.

"The studies will be important. My mom (a teacher) is really big on that. She wants me to study something that I like. I like architecture so she suggested I study civil engineering."

Shipman and his Pace teammates take on Liberty Tech from Jackson, Tenn., in the first round of the City of Palms Classic next Monday in Fort Myers, Fla.