NBA Draft Combine: Sheppard, Lundy Among Standouts From Day 2 of Scrimmages
The second and final day of scrimmages at the NBA draft combine is in the books, as players got their last five-on-five chance to make an impression this week as we inch closer to draft day. A pair of Day 1 standouts in Tristan Vukčević and Olivier-Maxence Prosper shut things down and opted not to play a second game after sufficiently boosting their stock Wednesday, but there were still multiple notable performances worth tracking.
Here’s a look at some of the best of Day 2.
Ben Sheppard, Belmont
Sheppard’s 25 points were a game high in the first scrimmage Thursday, and his all-around performance was one of the best of the week. He’s a lanky wing with nearly a 6'8" wingspan who positively impacts winning in a number of ways. His best trait for now is as a shooter, and he knocked down three triples in Thursday’s game. Sheppard’s overall approach to the game also stood out, diving on the floor for loose balls, making good reads as a passer and cutter and bringing energy to his team in the scrimmage and drill settings this week. This was a lot of NBA evaluators’ first time seeing Sheppard in-person given he played for a mid-major in Belmont, but there’s little doubt he made a strong impression.
Seth Lundy, Penn State
Lundy averaged 14.2 points per contest in his fourth year with the Nittany Lions. David Banks/USA TODAY Sports
Lundy called himself “the best shooter in this draft” and backed it up with another sparkling display from behind the arc. In total, Lundy went 8-for-11 from deep in two combine games, including a 4-for-6 performance Thursday en route to 18 points. That’s after shooting 40% from deep on nearly 6.5 attempts per game as a senior at Penn State. Lundy’s a big-time catch-and-shoot option who has more game off the bounce than other specialists in this draft, and he’s built well to compete on the glass and guard up a spot. He certainly helped himself this week and would be a guy I’d target for a guaranteed contract in the second round.
Toumani Camara, Dayton
Camara is the lesser-heralded of two Dayton prospects (center DaRon Holmes) at this event, but his rise up boards that began at the Portsmouth Invitational likely continued after a solid day Thursday. He’s one of the more versatile defenders in this class thanks to his physicality and seven-foot wingspan, and he made a clear impact on the game Thursday despite making just one of his four three-point attempts. He’s worth targeting as a potential two-way contract addition who could develop into a quality NBA player if he becomes a consistent catch-and-shoot threat.
Terquavion Smith, NC State
Smith’s scoring ability is unquestioned: NBA teams saw it first-hand at last year’s combine before Smith eventually returned for his sophomore year at NC State. He had 20 points Thursday, showcasing his deep range and lightning-quick release in the process. Also impressive was Smith’s four assists compared to zero turnovers; while he’ll never be a high-level creator for others, taking care of the ball and making good decisions raises his floor. Smith’s archetype as a player is limited, but he compares fairly well to current Clippers guard Bones Hyland as a sparkplug shot-maker off the bench.
Coleman Hawkins, Illinois
Hawkins is a unique player, a rail-thin frontcourt player who’s better as a distributor than scorer. How that skill set translates to a setting like this is always an open question, but Hawkins had a productive day Thursday that showcased how he could add value to an NBA organization. He dished out seven assists without a turnover, had nine rebounds and flashed his shot-blocking instincts with three rejections on the day. His fit may end up being heavily team-dependent, but if he lands in the right situation he could end up being a valuable commodity.
Reece Beekman, Virginia
Beekman was a standout in an otherwise-ugly second game that saw both teams shoot a poor percentage from the field. His shooting stroke is funky and he hasn’t looked overly comfortable from deep throughout the week, but had a productive day Thursday with 15 points while showcasing the defensive instincts that helped put him on the NBA radar at Virginia. He’s one of the smallest players at the event at under 6'2", but scrapped for loose balls and rebounds well. Beekman’s stay-or-go decision will be one of the more impactful in college basketball. He seems assured of getting a two-way contract with the NBA’s expansion to three such slots per team should he stay in.
Source: Sports Illustrated
