Ben Sheppard Selected by Indiana Pacers in First Round of 2023 NBA Draft

Adam Silver says your name. @shepben2 @pacers

It's a moment we'll remember forever.

Much love @Andraya_Carter @JayBilas

?? @espn #ItsBruinTime#BenSheppard#NBADraft pic.twitter.com/zAWSaDccZf

— Belmont Basketball (@BelmontMBB) June 23, 2023

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - - Belmont University men's basketball standout Ben Sheppard was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the No. 26 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft Thursday from Barclays Center.
 
Sheppard joins Joe Gaines (1972, Portland Trail Blazers) and Dylan Windler (2019, Cleveland Cavaliers) as the third Belmont men's basketball player selected in the NBA Draft.
 
In fact, Sheppard and Windler – both selected No. 26 - make Belmont one of only two college basketball programs outside of the major conferences (plus Gonzaga) to have two, first-round NBA draft choices since 2019 (Santa Clara).
 
The Atlanta native adds to Belmont's growing NBA ledger, which includes 2017 NBA Champion and six-year veteran Ian Clark, Windler, Utah Jazz assistant coach Evan Bradds, New Orleans Pelicans director of college scouting Adam Barnes and leading NBA skills development coach Drew Hanlen.
 
Sheppard led Belmont to 98 victories and three conference championships during his decorated career, impressing NBA organizations throughout the pre-draft process.
 
Beyond individual workouts, Sheppard was among the top performers at the 2023 NBA Combine in Chicago, posting the fastest shuttle-run time and scoring a game-high 25 points in his final scrimmage.
 
Sheppard averaged 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game this past season as Belmont won 20 or more games for a 13^th consecutive season.
 
A finalist for the Lou Henson National Player of the Year award this past season, Sheppard posted 29 double figure scoring games, including 12 games with 20 or more points.
 
Sheppard was one of only four players in college basketball this past season with at least 600 points, 150 rebounds, 75 assists, 75 3-point field goals while shooting at least 40 percent from 3-point distance (Brandin Podziemski, Souley Boum, Landers Nolley).
 
The first player in the conference named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week three times this season, Sheppard was the only player this season named All-MVC First Team and MVC All-Defensive Team.
 
Named to the Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team, Sheppard ranked among conference leaders in 16 statistical categories, including second in field goals made, third in total points and points per game and fourth in 3-point field goals made.
 
The guard stood among select company in college basketball as players with at least 1,500 points, 450 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 steals.
 
A two-time first team all-conference and NABC All-District selection, Sheppard joined program legends Clark and Kerron Johnson to earn first team all-conference honors in consecutive seasons in two different conferences.
 
Sheppard was also runner-up for the Larry Bird Trophy - given to the MVC Player of Year.

Among his notable performances, Sheppard scored a career-high 41 points at Tennessee Tech, a conference season-high 35 points at Murray State Feb. 1 and 33 points vs. Middle Tennessee Dec. 10.

He made the game-winning shot at Bradley Jan. 21, game-winning free throws vs. Indiana State Feb. 22, and scored eight points in 100-seconds to give Belmont the lead late against Indiana State in the MVC quarterfinal round.
 
Sheppard becomes the 275^th men's basketball player in the history of the Missouri Valley Conference selected in the NBA Draft, joining the likes of Larry Bird, Walt Frazier, Doug Collins, Hersey Hawkins, Kyle Korver, Doug McDermott and Landry Shamet.
 
Sheppard will be introduced at a Pacers' press conference Friday.

Belmont University men's basketball has been a postseason fixture the last two decades, including nine berths to the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins have won 20 conference championships since 2006 - third-most nationally over that span (Gonzaga, Kansas). Belmont has won 20 or more games in 13 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, Oregon) and 19 or game games in 18 consecutive seasons (Gonzaga, Kansas, San Diego State). Belmont University men's basketball boasts an NCAA-leading 19 CoSIDA Academic All-America selections since 2001 and is the only NCAA Division I program to make the NCAA Academic Progress Rate (APR) Honor Roll every year of existence

we have drafted Belmont guard Ben Sheppard with the 26th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.

welcome to Indiana, Ben! ??@NerdWallet | #GoldOnTheClock pic.twitter.com/AAlQcQHAf0

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 23, 2023