Overview
Ben Sheppard, a four-year player at Belmont, enters the NBA draft after back-to-back seasons with All-Conference 1st Team honors. He became a full-time starter after his freshman campaign. Sheppard ranked in the Missouri Valley Conference top 10 for minutes played and 3-point percentage in 2022-23. He was one of the most efficient scorers in the nation, ranking 228th overall in effective field-goal percentage. Sheppard’s efficient scoring earned him an invitation to the NBA Combine last month.
Analysis
Sheppard is a 6-foot-6 guard/wing capable of playing on-ball and off-ball offensively. He plays at his own rhythm as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, displaying smooth scoring in the midrange and a strong drive to his right. Sheppard improved his scoring average and 3-point shooting annually during all four of his campaigns at Belmont. Sheppard knocked down 48.7% of his 3-point attempts off the dribble in 2022-23 and 41.5% of his 3-point attempts overall.
Projection
Sheppard brings effort defensively with length to bother many traditional guards. His overall offensive game isn’t overly creative, but he is an NBA-caliber shooter. Sheppard set career highs with 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game as a senior. Continuing to round his game could unlock a rotational role for the 21-year-old. Sheppard is young for his class, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see a team fall in love with his shooting and size somewhere in the top 40 picks of the draft.
— Profile by RotoWire