[3rd pick] Who do you want?

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/

Shades of Roy Hibbert — Massive interior presence who projects as a post threat on offense and a paint protector on defense.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10113622-donovan-clingan-scouting-report-pro-comps-predictions-for-2024-nba-draft-prospect

Donovan Clingan

Projected role: Finisher/rim protector

Pro comparisons: Jakob Poeltl, Walker Kessler, Ivica Zubac

Donovan Clingan's NBA role will be well-defined and the same as it was for Connecticut.

Offensively, he'll spend possessions setting screens and rolling, waiting in the dunker's spot or commanding low-post touches with his back to the basket. He'll be a catch-and-finish big man who also puts pressure on the offensive glass.
Defensively, he'll anchor the paint, play drop coverage in pick-and-rolls and prevent second-chance points with his massive size for defensive rebounding.

There are plenty of starting centers with Clingan's archetype, physical strengths and limited skills. Like Poeltl, he'll be valued mostly for his scoring efficiency around the basket and defensive impact.
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The idea that Clingan could help change a team's defensive identity could sway teams to consider him before bigger projects with more versatility or perceived higher ceilings.

There is also a sure-thing factor tied to his enormous physical profile and translatable inside scoring, rebounding and rim protection. In a draft without obvious stars, Clingan's certainty could hold extra weight.

But he may have to wait for a team to be on the clock that has a specific need for interior defense and physicality. Clingan's inability to play the 4, handle or shoot means he won't fit every starting lineup, and teams with top-10 or late-lottery picks may be hesitant to spend those on a backup big man.

Many of the league's poor defensive teams are already invested in young centers. That includes Detroit Pistons with Jalen Duren, the Charlotte Hornets with Mark Williams, the San Antonio Spurs with Victor Wembanyama, the Portland Trail Blazers with Deandre Ayton and the Utah Jazz with Walker Kessler.

Strengths:
Interior defense
Clingan's primary draw is his ability to shrink the windows around the rim for opposing scorers. Even when he's not blocking shots—which he does by using his length, anticipation and mobility—he's changing attempts and altering decisions of incoming drivers.
He also moves well in pick-and-roll situations, and he shows a good feel for cutting off angles for ball-handlers.

Entering the NCAA tournament, opponents only shot 3-of-26 against Clingan in the post. That's a reflection of his strength and ability to keep his man from moving him back or creating space.

Interior scoring
Clingan shot over 60.0 percent from the field in consecutive years by using his body to carve out space and soft hands to finish around the basket. He creates easy angles for himself from below the rim. He can also play above it for lob-catching and putbacks.
He's highly efficient going over either shoulder with his back to the basket as well.

Rebounding
Clingan spends the majority of his minutes around the basket, so he's often in position to grab rebounds. He eats up a ton of space and makes it tough to anyone to win loose balls in his area.

Weaknesses:
Versatility
Clingan can only play minutes at the 5 because he lacks ball-handling or perimeter skill. His particular game requires floor-spacing from his team's forwards.

Free throws
Clingan could spend a lot of time at the free-throw line given how physical he is. However, he shot below 60 percent from the charity stripe during both of his seasons at Connecticut.

He also made only three jumps shots all season, rarely attempting a shot with two hands on the ball.

Explosion
Clingan is going to face much taller and stronger big men in the NBA, and he won't be able to rely as much on his height as he did in college. He lacks vertical explosiveness and sometimes has trouble separating despite his advantageous physical tools.

 

https://nbadraft.theringer.com/

Shades of Derrick White — A menacing defender and sparkplug scorer who plays bigger than his body.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10112023-reed-sheppard-scouting-report-pro-comps-and-predictions-for-2024-nba-draft-prospect

Reed Sheppard

Projected role: Connector or combo guard

Comparisons: Donte DiVincenzo, Kirk Hinrich

NBA scouts see two potential roles for Sheppard, depending on how much of his off-the-dribble creativity can translate.

At worst, he's a connector who's valued for spot-up shooting and passing. In this role, he'd play more time off the ball at the 2, stretching the floor with his deep range. On the ball, he'd focus more on facilitating in ball screens and making quick, smart decisions rather than self-creating for scoring.

In that scenario, he projects more as a Donte DiVincenzo-like offensive energizer.

At best, he demonstrates enough burst and shiftiness to blow by or separate, turning into more of a lead guard. Sheppard isn't an explosive athlete, but he can surprise defenders with a quick first move or decent elevation on pull-up jumpers. Offense can run through his high skill level as a playmaker and shotmaker, along with his basketball IQ.

Some scouts have compared him to Kirk Hinrich if he shows he can thrive as a team's primary ball-handler.
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NBA teams have been eager to learn Sheppard's exact measurements. Scouts want confirmation on his 6'3", 187-pound listing, which sounds adequate if matched up against point guards.

Those numbers become more worrisome when picturing him facing NBA 2-guards or wings, particularly given his presumed lack of length.

Athletically, Sheppard isn't explosive, but he's quick and agile. He can seemingly glide with the ball like he's on skates. Despite racking up only five dunks through the regular season, Sheppard has shown he can elevate above the rim and create easy finishing angles.

His defensive tools are far from ideal, but he does make up for them with ultra-fast hands, plus the sharp instincts that control them.

Strengths:
Elite shot-making
Though Sheppard's three-point volume is lower than some of the top prospects, the percentages say he's the draft's most efficient shooter. Deep range, rhythm and a quick release make him lethal when spotting up.
Sheppard has been nearly just as effective when pulling up. He gets excellent balance and elevation to create separation from his defender.

Even if his lack of explosiveness makes it difficult for Sheppard to earn easy baskets at the rim and trips to the free-throw line, his special shotmaking skill should make him a consistent threat to score off the ball or in ball-screen situations.

Passing IQ
Sheppard's passing and decision-making may persuade teams to use him at point guard. He doesn't manipulate off the dribble like Chris Paul or Trae Young, but reads the game and sees the floor extremely well.

Without any personal agenda or predetermining of shots, Sheppard can be capable of facilitating offense and running sets.

Defensive instincts
Despite standing 6'3" and lacking standout athletic traits, Sheppard blocked more than 20 shots as a freshman, which is a reflection of his unteachable anticipation. His steal rate is off the charts as well.

Defensive playmaking doesn't automatically equate to lockdown defense, and there are times when Sheppard wasn't in the right position off the ball. But his ability to make reads and quick reactions should continue to work well when applying pressure on opposing ball-handlers. His IQ should bode well for his potential to keep building team-defense awareness.

Weaknesses:
Creation upside
While Sheppard has shown he can beat defenders in straight lines or separate into pull-ups, he still doesn't possess advanced moves for creation with his handle or footwork. His lack of explosiveness can also make it difficult for him to put pressure on the rim.

Regardless of how efficient he was, Sheppard wouldn't be Kentucky's answer if it needed a basket late in the clock.

Off-ball variety
Sheppard is an excellent stationary catch-and-shoot threat, but he didn't give scouts any tape on his ability to drill jumpers off screens/movement. He also didn't record one field goal cutting to the rim all season.
If he winds up going to a team that has a ball-dominant point guard, he could be limited throughout games and possibility reduced to just spot-up opportunities.

Defensive tools
Although Sheppard has outstanding instincts, most starting NBA 2-guards will have a physical advantage over him.

Ideally, he'll go to a team that already has a big ball-handler who could draw opposing 2-guards on defense or one that's willing to use him at point guard.