Oregon's Jackson Shelstad honors Ducks legends with custom jackets through NIL deal

Growing up about 100 miles outside Eugene, Jackson Shelstad had a front-row seat to watch two star point guards at Oregon. In 2020, Payton Pritchard won the Bob Cousy Award as top point guard in men’s basketball, and Sabrina Ionescu brought home the Naismith Player of the Year as the best player in women’s basketball that same year.

Now going through his freshman season with the Ducks, Shelstad found a unique way to honor the two legends who came before him through an NIL deal.

As a senior at West Linn High School last year, Shelstad joined forces with Settlemier’s Jackets – a small business based out of Portland. The first phase of the partnership was about designing a jacket to display his accomplishments at the high school level. That came during the state playoffs.

The second phase came with the “FLY HIGH” line. It marked the debut of Shelstad’s personal logo, and it also allowed him to give Pritchard and Ionescu their own custom letterman jackets.

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“I really just thought it’d be something they would like,” Shelstad told On3. “Like, I looked up to both of them and I was younger. So I thought paying my respect to to Oregon PGs, two of the best to do it from here. I just wanted to pay my respects and create something cool.

“I’m into fashion – I really like fashion. That’s also another reason I really liked Settlemier’s and the NIL with them just because it’s something that I was interested in, and I just wanted to make something cool for both of them, as well.”

Given Shelstad’s love for fashion, he had a say in what the jackets looked like. He and the designers at Settlemier’s made sure they had the essentials – Oregon colors and the Duck logo, in particular. To add a more personal touch for Pritchard and Ionescu, their logos were also on the front.

Considering where they play – Pritchard in Boston with the Celtics and Ionescu in New York with the Liberty – they’ll likely need another layer when it gets cold. When they do, they have their jackets from Shelstad, and they have an Oregon touch. Pritchard wore his to a game, too, which made it even more special.

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A post shared by Payton Pritchard (@paytonpritch3)

“I don’t think it’s just something like, a one-time wear, you know?” Shelstad said. “I mean, especially Payton’s in Boston. Really cold. … Even where Sabrina’s at, it’s cold, as well. So, I mean, I think those jackets can be worn a lot.”

Jackson Shelstad, Pritchard’s bond goes beyond Oregon

Through the first 16 games of his career, Jackson Shelstad is putting up solid numbers. He ranks third on the Oregon roster with 12.4 points per game and his 2.6 assists are just behind Jermaine Couisnard for the team lead. He also holds an On3 NIL Valuation of $102,000, which ranks No. 86 in the On3 College Basketball NIL Rank.

Shelstad had a strong start to the season, which led some to compare him to Pritchard, especially considering their backgrounds. They both grew up in West Linn – population 21,000 as of 2021 – and that allowed them to develop a bond before they played at Oregon. In fact, Prichard’s dad helped get Shelstad started at an early age as his trainer and AAU coach.

That connection continued as Pritchard embarked on an NBA career with the Celtics. When he heads back home during the offseason, he and Shelstad hang out when they can.

“He comes home back to West Linn in the summer in Oregon and stays at our house,” Shelstad said. “Like, he’s at our house every day. He’s like family, literally. A lot of people don’t know that. They kind of just make the comparison, like, two kids from West Linn, both kind of Oregon. They don’t understand how close we really are, which is why I think it’s funny sometimes.”

Before Pritchard and Ionescu put together their banner 2019-20 seasons, Shelstad attended a basketball camp on Oregon’s campus. He, understandably, went with Pritchard – and that’s how he met Ionescu for the first time.

Right away, she saw a future star, and Shelstad remembered that. So when the opportunity with Settlemier’s came up, he decided to include her considering her impact not only on women’s basketball but also on his career.

“I actually met Sabrina when I came and played at a high school team camp down at Oregon when I was going into my freshman year of high school and Sabrina was going in her senior year here,” Shelstad said. “I was with Payton because I knew Payton at the time, and Payton was friends with Sabrina while they were here, and I met her then. For some reason, she always really liked me and my game. I remember she always used to tell me I’m going to be pretty good. So I always remembered that.

“I’ve seen her just around over the years after that a few times, and I always say what’s up to her. She’s always really nice to me. So I just thought it’d be really cool to bless two really good PGs from my favorite school growing up, where I’m playing now.”

As for when fans can expect Phase 3 of Jackson Shelstad’s partnership with Settlemier’s, he teased it’s coming soon, and it’s going to be a “special one.”