NBA Draft Scouting Report: Belmont’s Ben Sheppard

Prospect Profile 

Sheppard feels like a real sleeper in this class, being a jumbo guard with shooting touch and the length to defend at a high level. He has a good feel for game given he has played point guard in the past, so he has lead guard skills but is more of an NBA off-ball guard or wing with his size. Sheppard will turn 22 shortly after the draft after averaging nearly 19 points per game for Belmont last season.

He’s a great 3-point shooter, as his percentages from beyond the arc increased every single season. He converted on 41.5% of his six triples per game last season. One of the reasons he’s so effective from deep is his ability to move off the ball to put himself in the right position. He relocates well and his teammates find him for good looks.

Although his height is an advantage, Sheppard is thin which does affect him some when playing against physical defenders or looking to get in the paint. He also has work to do as a free throw shooter. If he’s going to thrive at the next level, he will need to get better at putting the ball on the floor and creating for himself.

Sheppard is an underrated passer, producing nearly three assists per game as a senior. The same goes for his defense, which still has work to do but is solid. He generated 1.4 steals per game and has the frame to defend multiple positions. He earned All-MVC Defensive Team honors as a senior and can defend both guards and wings. However, there were some matchups last season in which Sheppard looked a bit overwhelmed.

Thanks to his combination of size (6-foot-6), length, shooting and defensive playmaking, Sheppard is someone NBA teams will be looking to fill a 3-and-D role. Within that role, Sheppard provides additional value as an overall dribble-pass-shoot wing, a skillset all NBA wings really need. He doesn’t get as much attention as others in this draft due to where he played, but he absolutely has NBA upside. He was one of the top mid-major players in the country last season. The fact that he was invited to the NBA Draft Combine proves that. 

Highlights 

Draft Projection 

Potential Second-Round Pick in 2023 NBA Draft.

2023 Big Board 

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