Shavon Shields

Wheat Hotchkiss

Fred VanVleet's college résumé is as impressive as they come.

In his four years at Wichita State, VanVleet led the Shockers to 120 wins. They made a Cinderella run to the 2013 Final Four and took an undefeated record into the NCAA Tournament the next season. VanVleet was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year twice and was an honorable mention AP All-American three times. He graduated as the school's all-time leader in assists, steals, and assist-to-turnover ratio.

But despite all those accolades, when the invites went out for last month's NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, VanVleet wasn't on the list. That slight would anger many players, but don't expect VanVleet to carry a chip on his shoulder because of it.

"I don't think I have any more room on my shoulder for more chips," VanVleet said after his pre-draft workout with the Pacers on Wednesday morning at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. "I'm pretty booked when it comes to that.

"It doesn't surprise me. It's just the way my story has always been and always will be, I guess."

VanVleet is used to being overlooked. The 6-foot guard from Rockford, Ill. didn't receive any offers from a high-major program coming out of high school. He wound up at Wichita State, where he helped lead the Shockers on one of the more impressive four-year runs any mid-major program has ever enjoyed.

He played a significant role as a freshman, averaging 16.2 minutes per game and raised his game to another level on the biggest stage. He scored 13 points to help the ninth-seeded Shockers knock off top-seeded Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, then had 12 points a week later when they bested second-seeded Ohio State to improbably advance to the Final Four.

Over the next three years, VanVleet was one of the most dependable players in all of college basketball. He averaged 11.6 points per game as sophomore, 13.6 as a junior, and 12.2 as a senior. His other stats were even more consistent, as the point guard averaged between 5.2 and 5.5 assists and between 1.8 and 1.9 steals per game in each of his final three collegiate seasons.

All the while, the Shockers won a lot of games. They lost a total of just three conference games over VanVleet's final three years, went to the Sweet 16 in 2015 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in both 2014 and 2016. A talented Kentucky team spoiled Wichita State's dreams of an undefeated season when they knocked off the Shockers in the second round in 2014, but Wichita State bounced back the next two seasons, beating three higher-seeded teams in the next two NCAA Tourneys.

VanVleet consistently performed at his best against the best competition. Indiana fans won't soon forget his 27-point performance in a first-round  win over the Hoosiers his junior year. He followed up that game by tallying 17 points, six rebounds, six assists, and four steals in an upset win over second-seeded Kansas two days later.

Night in and night out, you knew what you could expect from Fred VanVleet.

"I take pride in playing every game like it's my last," VanVleet said.

But despite all his accomplishments in college, NBA scouts aren't exactly salivating over VanVleet's pro potential. He's on the smaller side, even for a pure point guard. He isn't particularly quick and his athletic measurements likely aren't going to catch anyone by surprise. You won't find his name in the first round of any mock drafts and you'll be hard-pressed to find sites that project him as even a second-round selection.

Even at his pre-draft workout on Wednesday, VanVleet went largely unnoticed by the local media, who instead hovered around 7-foot-1 Thon Maker, the 19-year-old prospect who's attempting to enter the NBA straight out of high school (if you're interested in Maker, Pacers.com's Mark Montieth has you covered). There's no question that VanVleet is a more polished player than Maker, but "potential" often carries a lot more weight than "proven" when it comes to the NBA Draft.

Still, there is a place for guys like VanVleet in the pros. He can run the point and he's a good shooter, with a career 3-point percentage of .386 and free throw percentage of .805. He could likely carve out a lengthy career and make a lot of money overseas, but he isn't giving up on the NBA dream just yet.

"There's 30 teams," VanVleet said on Wednesday. "All it takes is one team to fall in love. I'd love for it to be the Pacers."

Jake Layman and Shavon Shields are well-acquainted. The two wings had many head-to-head battles during their days in the Big Ten, starring at Maryland and Nebraska, respectively.

They found themselves matched up once again on Wednesday as the two wings at the Pacers' pre-draft workout.

"It was good to play against and compete against him again," Shields said.

"We're good friends now after playing against each other for a couple years," Layman added.

Of the two prospects, Layman is generally considered the better potential pro. Most projections have the 6-9 forward going in the middle of the second round. DraftExpress currently has Layman going 49th overall, while ESPN.com's Chad Ford ranks him as the 51st-best prospect in this year's draft class. The Pacers own the 50th overall selection in the Draft, which will take place at the Barclays Center on June 23.

Layman has great size for an NBA wing and long strides that help him run the floor well. He is a capable shooter, knocking down just under 40 percent of his 3-pointers and over 83 percent of his free throws as a senior.

Layman's length and mobility also allowed him to be a plus-defender in college and he said on Wednesday that he thinks he can guard any position from 1-4.

But perhaps Layman's best attribute might be that he stays within himself. On a Maryland team with a host of future pros, Layman played a very specific role, knocking down open shots and playing solid defense. He'd likely be asked to take on a similar role at the next level, which should help him transition from the college to the pro game.

"I think an ability that I have is to be able to form into whatever role I'm given," Layman said.

He did just that at the NBA Combine last month, blending in well with teammates in five-on-five scrimmages. Layman had nine points and six rebounds on 3-of-6 shooting in his first scrimmage and then scored 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting in his second exhibition.

The biggest knock on Layman is that he isn't great at creating his own shot, although that isn't something that he was asked to do much at Maryland. Still, the former Terrapin has been putting a lot of emphasis on his ball-handling during the pre-draft process in hopes of showing teams that he is more than just a spot-up shooter.

Shields, meanwhile, was a second-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior, when he led the Cornhuskers in scoring at 16.8 points per game. At 6-7 and 220 pounds, he also has good size for an NBA wing, but needs to improve his shot in order to stick at the next level.

Shields shot under 20 percent from 3-point range as a junior and though he improved his percentage to .364 last season, he likely faces an uphill battle convincing scouts that he can consistently knock down shots from beyond the longer NBA arc.

Still, Shields has a few intriguing qualities. For one, he's very intelligent. He majored in biological sciences at Nebraska and was a two-time Academic All-American.

"I think I'm a pretty intellectual person, a smart person, so I think my basketball IQ and things like that translate to the court," Shields said.

Shields also has an outstanding athletic pedigree, albeit in a different sport. His father, Will, won the Outland Trophy as an offensive lineman at Nebraska and then was a 12-time Pro Bowler as a guard for the Kansas City Chiefs. He is a member of both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame.

Shavon Shields didn't directly follow in his father's footsteps, choosing instead to pursue his own passion for basketball. Still, he's learned a lot from watching his father ply his trade, lessons that he can carry over into his own career in professional sports.

"He's a super hard worker," Shields said about his father. "He didn't play the most glorious position, but he did his job every day, showed up to work and that made him successful."

Zimmerman Hoping to Follow in Friend Turner's Footsteps

When Wednesday's workout wrapped up, Stephen Zimmerman saw a familiar face. Pacers forward Myles Turner was one of a handful of players who put up shots on the practice court after the conclusion of the workout.

Zimmerman and Turner are good friends. They were two of the featured post players on the USA Basketball team that won a gold medal at the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championships. Zimmerman even worked out with Turner in Las Vegas last summer as he prepared for the NBA Draft.

"He's obviously a great player and everything," Zimmerman said about Turner. "I'm young and compared to him. We've played together a lot so that's one of the guys I look up to."

Now it is Zimmerman's turn to prepare for the draft. Like Turner, he elected to turn pro after just one season in college. The 19-year-old averaged 10.5 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game for UNLV.

A 7-foot center, Zimmerman has a lot of similarities to Turner in his offensive repertoire. He's pretty mobile and has a solid shooting stroke for a big man. Though he attempted just 16 3-pointers in college, he figures to eventually be able to stretch his left-handed shot out to the NBA 3-point line.

Zimmerman will hear his name called at some point on draft night, the only question is when. A few recent mock drafts had him going to the Pacers with the 20th overall pick, but other projections don't have him going until the middle of the second round.

Zimmerman is likely facing questions about his physical profile. He needs to put on weight, something he admitted on Wednesday, but that shouldn't be a problem as he grows into his body over the next few years.

There are, however, a few medical concerns with Zimmerman. He dealt with a knee injury this season at UNLV. He also has a childhood injury that prevents him from fully extending his right arm (his off-hand), though it doesn't appear to have a profound impact on his game. Doctor evaluations might be what make or break his chances of going in the first round.

From Belgium to the NBA? Obasohan Living the Dream

Arguably no player appreciated the opportunity to work out for an NBA team on Wednesday more than former Alabama guard Retin Obasohan. Originally from Antwerp, Belgium, Obasohan left his home country five years ago, moving to Tuscaloosa, Ala., hoping it would give him a better chance of eventually making it to the NBA.

"I just wanted to chase that dream," Obasohan said. "As a young kid, I always believed in myself, I always figured I wanted to be the best. In order to be the best, you've got to play in the NBA. That had always been my dream and I figured that the college route was the best way to do that."

Obasohan was a role player in his first three seasons with the Crimson Tide, but he made a huge leap as a senior. The 6-1 guard increased his scoring average by 11.4 points per game to 17.6 and earned first-team All-SEC honors. He gives a lot of the credit to new head coach Avery Johnson, a 16-year NBA veteran.

"It's hard to put into words because people like him, his influence transcends beyond basketball," Obasohan said. "He teaches you the game of basketball to a level you've never seen it before, but at the same time, the lessons that he teaches us go far beyond basketball."

Given his size, Obasohan's best fit would likely be as a point guard at the next level. However, he wasn't a great distributor in college.

While he doesn't have a ton of height, Obasohan does have a stocky frame that actually had football-crazed Alabama fans asking him if he'd consider a career on the gridiron. He isn't doing that, but his size could also serve him well on the hardwood at the next level.

"I'll compete day in, day out," Obasohan said. "I have a big frame, I'm athletic, I can guard multiple positions. So I think from day one I can wreak havoc on defense."

Watch one-on-one interviews with all six prospects from Wednesday's pre-draft workout in the video player below.

vanvleet-ready-to-prove-doubters-wrong-once-again

VanVleet Ready to Prove Doubters Wrong Once Again

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Height: 6-7
Weight: 222
Position: G
College: Nebraska
Age: 21

PPG: 16.8
RPG: 5.1
APG: 2.7
BLK: 0.3
STL: 1.3

AS A SENIOR (2015-16): Shavon (pronounced sha-VON) Shields finished his four-year career as one of the top players in school history and was one of only five players in school history with 1,500 points and 600 rebounds. Finished fifth on NU's career scoring list with 1,630 points, while finishing in the top-10 in field goals made (562, eighth) and attempted (1236, sixth), free throws made (429, fourth) and attempted (565, fourth) and starts (112, second). Ranks among the Big Ten leaders in scoring (fifth) and steals (seventh), while ranking first or second on the team in scoring, rebounding and assists. Earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Tourament team with 19.7 points 8.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. Closed his career with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting and five rebounds vs. No. 18 Maryland. Nearly posted a double-double vs. Wisconsin with 20 points and nine rebounds. Collected his first double-double of the season vs. Rutgers with 20 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. Had started 106 straight games at NU before suffering a concussion against Rutgers on Feb. 6 and missed four games. Posted his third career 30-point game on Senior Night against No. 15 Purdue with 32 points on 11-of-19 shooting. Returned to action at Penn State on Feb. 25 and led NU with 28 points on 9-of-17 shooting. Had seven of his 17 points in an 18-1 run vs. Rutgers with three boards and three assists before leaving the game with 8:47 left after a fall. Scored 13 of his 16 points at No. 21 Purdue in the second half before fouling out. Propelled NU to a win at No. 11 Michigan State with a season-high 28 points on 11-of-20 shooting and three boards. Helped the Huskers to a win at Illinois with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists. Made his 100th career start a memorable one, finishing with a game-high 24 points on 7-of-10 shooting and a season-high eight rebounds in NU's win over Minnesota. Closed non-conference play with 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals vs. Prairie View A&M. Turned in a 25-point effort on 10-of-14 shooting and added seven rebounds, three assists and three steals vs. Samford. Bounced back with a strong game at Rhode Island, scoring a game-high 19 points, grabbing seven rebounds and adding three assists and two steals in the come-from-behind win. Collected his second straight 20-point game with 21 points, including 9-of-10 from the foul line, and four rebounds against Abilene Christian. Nearly willed the Huskers to a win over No. 21 Miami with 28 points, five rebounds and a pair of steals. Battled foul trouble against Cincinnati, scoring 11 of his 14 points in the second half, as he played just 20 minutes. Put together his 15th career game with 20+ points against Delaware State, finishing with 21 points and seven assists.

AS A JUNIOR (2014-15): Shields excelled on the court and in the classroom during his junior season. The 6-foot-7 forward started all 31 games for the Huskers and ranked among the Big Ten leaders in scoring (15.4 ppg, ninth), rebounding (6.0 rpg, 14th), free throw percentage (.827, fifth) and minutes played (35.3, fourth), establishing personal bests in each category. He finished the season either first or second on the squad in scoring (2nd), rebounding (1st), assists (2.2 apg, 2nd) and steals (1.1 spg, 2nd). He was one of only two power conference players in the country averaging 15 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game in 2014-15. He reached double figures in 26 contests in 2014-15, including nine games of at least 20 points, and closed his junior campaign with his second double-double of the season against Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament. In that contest, he totaled 20 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out three assists in the three-point loss to the Nittany Lions. Off the court, he was a first-team Academic All-American, becoming the first-ever Husker to earn that prestigious honor.In conference action, he averaged 14.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, and was in double figures in 15 of 18 conference contests. His best effort came in a loss to No. 10 Maryland, when he had 26 points, including 18 in the second half, along with six rebounds and three assists. That was one of four 20-point efforts in Big Ten play, as he also had 25 points and six rebounds at Iowa on Jan. 5, 21 points and seven caroms in the win over Michigan State on Jan. 24 and 20 points and seven boards in the Big Ten opener against Indiana on New Year’s Eve. Shields showed an advanced all-around game in non-conference play, averaging 17.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. In the opener against Northern Kentucky, he had 18 points, including 10-of-10 from the foul line, and followed up two days later with 16 points and 11 boards in a win over Central Arkansas. Shields nearly carried the Huskers to an overtime win at Rhode Island, finishing with 25 points on 10-of-17 shooting, and nine rebounds. He put on an electrifying show against Omaha, pouring in a career-high 35 points on 12-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-4 from 3-point range. Shields keyed NU’s win at Florida State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge with 21 points and eight rebounds. He closed non-conference action with five straight double-figure efforts, including 22 points in the win over Ohio at the Diamond Head Classic.

AS A SOPHOMORE (2013-14): Shields was one of the Huskers’ leaders, helping Nebraska make its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998. He earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors from the conference coaches and media, averaging 12.8 points and a team-high 5.8 rebounds per game. Shields ranked in the top 20 in the Big Ten in both scoring and rebounding and was second on the team in assists per game (1.6 apg). Shields flourished when Nebraska moved him back to the wing in a larger lineup, averaging 15.8 points per game on 49 percent shooting and 5.9 rebounds per game over the Huskers’ final 12 contests. A two-time Big Ten Player of the Week, Shields reached double figures 21 times, highlighted by a season-high 33 points against Illinois. In that game, he also matched Nebraska’s single-game record by going a perfect 15-of-15 from the foul line. Shields had a pair of double doubles – both in Big Ten action - and had three games with at least 10 rebounds. In Big Ten play, Shields was in the top 13 in both scoring (12.7 ppg) and rebounding (5.9 rpg). He was in double figures 11 times in conference action, including five of Nebraska’s final six games. Shields was bothered by a knee bruise early in Big Ten play, as he averaged just 5.8 points per game in NU’s 0-4 start before leading NU with 18 points and nine rebounds in a win over No. 17 Ohio State on Jan. 20. He erupted against Illinois on Feb. 12 with 33 points and tied Jack Moore’s mark for free throws in a game without a miss. Shields recorded his first double-double of 2013-14 against Purdue on Feb. 23 with 18 points and 10 rebounds and followed up with 17 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Northwestern. Shields then closed the season with his best week of the year, averaging 21.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in wins at Indiana and against No. 9 Wisconsin. At Indiana, he scored 11 of his 17 points in the second half, and added eight rebounds as the Huskers pulled away down the stretch for their first-ever win in Bloomington. He capped the regular season with 26 points, on 10-of-17 shooting, in a win over the Badgers on March 9. Shields opened non-conference play on a roll, reaching double figures in each of his first five games. He erupted for 28 points against Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 8, leading the Huskers in points, rebounds (six) and assists (three) to earn Big Ten and National Player-of-the-Week honors. He broke out of a mini slump against Creighton on Dec. 8 with a team-high 22 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, four rebounds and two assists. He paced NU in scoring with 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting and five rebounds against Arkansas State on Dec. 14 and scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half against The Citadel on Dec. 21 while adding six rebounds and three assists.

AS A FRESHMAN (2012-13): Shields played in 29 games as a freshman, averaging 8.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Shields played some of his best basketball in the Big Ten Tournament, averaging a team-high 16.5 ppg on 61 percent shooting and 5.5 rebounds per game. He led NU in scoring with a game-high 19 points and added six rebounds and a pair of steals in a 57-55 win over Purdue in the first round on March 14 before totaling 14 points and five rebounds in a quarterfinal loss to No. 10 Ohio State. Shields, who started every Big Ten game but the conference opener, ranked among the league's top freshmen in scoring (9.2 ppg, seventh), rebounding (6.0 rpg, second), field goal percentage (45.0 pct., seventh) and 3-point shooting 42.3 pct, second). During conference play, Shields reached double figures in scoring five times, including a 17-point, seven-rebound performance against Iowa on Feb. 23. He earned Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week honors for the second time on the season for his performance. Shields collected his first career double-double with a 19-point, 13-rebound effort against No. 8 Michigan State on Feb. 16, the first double-double by a Husker freshman since the 2004-05 season. He set career highs in consecutive games in January, highlighted by a 29-point effort at Penn State on Jan. 19. Shields hit 10-of-11 shots from the field and went 8-of-8 from the line in posting the highest scoring effort by a Husker freshman since 2007. Against Purdue, Shields became the first Husker freshman in three years to lead the team in scoring with 18 points and eight rebounds. For his performances against the Nittany Lions and Boilermakers, Shields was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week. It was the first time since 2009 that a Husker freshman was honored by the league. During non-conference play, Shields played in just one of the Huskers' first six games because of elbow surgery in October before returning to the rotation in December. He set season bests in scoring in three straight non-conference games (Creighton, Oregon and Jacksonville State), capping the run with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting against JSU.

AT OLATHE NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL: Shields came to Nebraska after being one of the top players in the Kansas City area throughout his prep career. Shields joined Willie Cauley-Stein as Olathe Northwest’s first-ever Division I signees in November of 2011. Shields totaled 1,068 points in his three-year career at the school and finished as the school’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, free throws, field goals, steals and rebounds. As a senior, Shields was a consensus first-team Class 6A selection in Kansas after averaging 21.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game for Coach Michael Grove at Olathe Northwest High School. He helped the Ravens to a 20-2 record and an appearance in the sub-state finals. Shields helped Olathe Northwest to an unblemished record in league play, earning Sunflower Conference MVP honors. In addition, he earned second-team all-class honors from the Topeka Capital Journal and Wichita Eagle, a first-team all-metro selection by the Kansas City Star and was a finalist for the DiRenna Award, signifying the top player in the Kansas City area. As a junior, Shields was a second-team all-Class 6A honoree and a first-team All-Sunflower Conference selection, as he averaged 17 points and six rebounds a game. Shields transferred into Olathe Northwest for his sophomore year, earning Sunflower League Newcomer-of-the-Year accolades. He also starred playing AAU ball for the MoKan Elite and Coach Rodney Perry. An outstanding student with a 4.0 GPA, Shields was on the honor roll throughout high school and a National Honor Society member.

PERSONAL: Shavon is the son of Will and Senia Shields and was born on June 5, 1994, in Overland Park, Kan. Shavon’s father, Will, was one of the greatest linemen in Nebraska and NFL history, as he was a 12-time Pro Bowl selection and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015. At Nebraska, Shields won the Outland Trophy in 1992 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012. Shavon has one older sister, Sanayika, who plays basketball at Drury, and a younger brother, Solomon. Shavon selected Nebraska over Texas Tech, Oregon State, Weber State, Long Beach State and Wyoming. Shavon majors in biological sciences at Nebraska and is on track to graduate in May of 2016.

Shavon Shields

VanVleet Ready to Prove Doubters Wrong Once Again

Shavon Shields: 2016 Draft Prospect