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Sheldon McClellan profile
RCSI: 44 (2011)
Height: 6'6" (198 cm)
Weight: 198 lbs (90 kg)
Position: SG
High School: Bellaire High School (Texas)
Hometown: Houston, TX
College: Miami FL
Win - Loss: 2 - 4
Sheldon McClellan Interview and Highlights from Octagon Pro Day

Articles

Sheldon McClellan NBA Pro Day Highlights and Interview

Matt McGann
Matt McGann
Jun 01, 2016, 12:53 pm
Miami shooting guard Sheldon McClellan works out in front of a myriad of NBA executives at the Octagon Pro Day in Los Angeles

NBA Combine Day Two and Event Recap

Jonathan Givony
Jonathan Givony
Mike Schmitz
Mike Schmitz
May 14, 2016, 04:08 pm
Sheldon McClellan, Senior, SG, Miami
22 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 2-4 2P, 3-5 3P, 9-12 FT, 31 minutes

After a somewhat quiet first day, Sheldon McClellan bounced back with a much more aggressive performance in day two, taking advantage of an injury to Cat Barber to play 31 minutes and put the ball in the basket effectively all game long.

A 41% 3-point shooter as a senior, McClellan was very effective spacing the floor in Chicago, knocking down four of his six attempts. He's very reliable with his feet set, particularly from the corners, and also showed some ability to create separation in the mid-range area as well.

McClellan's aggressiveness moving off the ball and attacking in a straight line got him to the free throw line 12 times in the second game. He had one particularly impressive play getting low with his dribble, changing speeds and finishing at the basket with a foul, and was also able to get to the line off straight line takes in transition or the half-court as well. He had some avoidable turnovers trying to force the issue with behind the back dribbles or difficult passes to teammates as well, as he's a lot more effective as a scorer than he is creating for others.

Defensively, he was a mixed bag, getting caught up on screens, losing his focus off the ball and being a split-second late to get out on closeouts, as his average physical tools (6'5 barefoot, 6'7 wingspan, 198 pounds) don't help in that regard when combined with his sometimes lackadaisical approach.

The last player invited to Chicago, McClellan showed he was more than good enough to be on the initial list of invites, which isn't surprising considering his second team All-ACC status. He'll have to continue to play well during the pre-draft process to hear his named called on draft night, but is a strong contender to make a NBA roster regardless considering the premium teams place on athleticism and perimeter shooting.

Sheldon McClellan Updated NBA Draft Scouting Report

Josh Riddell
Josh Riddell
Apr 05, 2016, 02:20 pm
Josh Riddell

In his two seasons at Miami after transferring from Texas, Sheldon McClellan became one of the ACC's best players and a crucial part of the program's turnaround that culminated in a Sweet Sixteen appearance. His 19.4 points per 40 minutes with an impressive 64.5% true shooting percentage (2nd highest among shooting guards in our top 100) was enough to land him on the
​http://www.draftexpress.com/article/2016­NCAA­Postseason­Conference­Awards­5387/ and give him a big boost as he prepares for the NBA Draft.



McClellan has average size at 6'5”, 205 pounds, but makes up for that in other areas. He has a solid wingspan, impressive explosiveness, good acceleration in the open court and the quickness needed in the half­court to allow him to more than hold his own against other shooting guards.

McClellan has really improved as a perimeter shooter since his Texas days, topping out at 39.5% from the three point line as a senior. He has NBA range on his jump shot with a fluid motion and quick release that lets him get it off uncontested. He can make tough shots with the shot clock winding down and a hand in his face, often making it look effortless. He still has a tendency to be streaky at times, making any shot he takes when he gets going but being just as bad when he is cold. This can affect his shot selection, as he is prone to heat checks or forcing shots when he is cold to get back on track. If he can improve his shot-selection, temperament and overall consistency as he continues to mature, his shot making ability will be coveted by nearly every NBA team.

McClellan is comfortable shooting off the bounce as well as catch and shoot situations, making an outstanding 47.1% of his jump shots off the dribble according to Synergy Sports Technology. He'll put his defender on his heels and explode into his shot using his impressive athleticism to create elevation, giving his defender no chance to contest. While he's undoubtedly a big time shot-maker off the dribble, he does have a tendency to pound the ball at times, and while he can sometimes lose his defender after multiple dribbles, the offense will come to a halt at times as everyone stands around and watches him dance with the ball.

McClellan has experience running off ball screens, playing a featured role on one of the most advanced pick and roll teams in college basketball, and that is a set that a NBA team could feel comfortable with him running. When he puts the ball on the ground, he is primarily looking for his own offense,though, and will put his head down once he gets into the two point area. This is evidenced by his 2.1 assists per 40 minutes pace adjusted,
​http://www.draftexpress.com/stats.php?year=2016&league=NCAA&per=per40pace&qual=t and he's just not that willing of a passer when he thinks he is going to be able to get a shot off.

While McClellan is extremely athletic, he doesn't get all the way to the rim as often as you might expect, at times preferring to shoot runners and pull-ups instead. He possesses a variety of moves that can get him into the paint, and finishes well at a rate of 64.6% according to Synergy Sports Technology, but has a tendency to shy away from contact and settle for difficult looks in the mid-range instead (which to his credit he can hit at a very nice clip, making 44% of his two point attempts longer than 17 feet). He did do a better job of getting to the line as his career moved on, increasing his free throws per 40 minutes pace adjusted from 4.4 to 6.7 as a senior, so continuing to find a balance between attacking the paint and punishing defenses from the mid-range and 3-point line will be key to remaining efficient offensively against NBA level defenses.

Defensively, McClellan is somewhat of a mixed bag, as his effort level comes and goes, his focus level wavers and his intensity can be contingent on how things are going for him on the other side of the floor. He doesn't always fight through screens with his narrow frame, and is just average defending off the ball. To McClellan's credit, he did show some improved effort defensively in big moments in the postseason, but his fundamentals still need some work. He will be hunched over instead of in a stance which can leave him vulnerable and he can be so focused on his man that he will lose sight of the rest of the floor.

When he is locked in, he can move his feet well enough to contain dribble penetration, but he'll need to be more consistent with his approach to carve out a niche for himself at the NBA level, particularly on nights when his shot isn't falling.

On nights that McClellan's points are coming, he can look like a very impressive prospect, capable of buyring an opponent with some deep and tough shots. When they aren't, though, he can get a little mopey when he doesn't get enough touches to his liking, hoist up a bad shot if he hasn't taken one in a while, and outwardly complain to teammates for making mistakes. Already 23 and one of the oldest prospects in our top 100, this might not be a matter of simply needing to mature at this point. As a role-player being surrounded by better players, he'll have to either grow out of this or prove he is indispensable in other areas for coaches to put up with it on a regular basis.

With his overall physical profile and ability to make shots, McClellan will get serious draft consideration. If he can find the right organization that can help him develop his weaknesses and figure out how to find his niche on a team, he could have a long NBA career as an athletic, sweet-shooting wing scorer.

NCAA Tournament NBA Draft Prospect TV Schedule: Thursday

Jonathan Givony
Jonathan Givony
Mar 16, 2016, 11:18 am
With a good number of NBA scouts in attendance in Providence to watch the likes of Brandon Ingram, Taurean Prince and Grayson Allen, the player on Miami's roster who can help himself the most with a strong showing is senior Sheldon McClellan. He is one of the highest level shot-makers you'll find at the college level, combining explosive athleticism with unlimited range on his jumper and the ability to pull-up off the dribble in the blink of an eye. McClellan had no conscience seemingly, hoisting up some very difficult looks and being very inconsistent with his approach to the game, but when he's locked in playing up to his full potential, he looks like an NBA player without a doubt. Unfortunately, when his shot isn't falling, he can get very mopey, lose his focus on defense, display poor body language, and display really bad decision making. At age 23, it probably isn't a matter of maturity any longer, and teams will want to see him at his best and most steady as he looks to lead his team to the Sweet 16 and possibly beyond.

Top NBA Prospects in the ACC, Part Nine: Prospects #21-25

Jonathan Givony
Jonathan Givony
Matt Williams
Matt Williams
Kyle Nelson
Kyle Nelson
Oct 15, 2015, 04:59 pm
Last time we checked in on Sheldon McClellan he was headed into what would be his final season at Texas as a sophomore in the fall of 2012. Sitting out a year after transferring to Miami, the former top-50 recruit picked up where he left off averaging 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game earning All-ACC Honorable Mention honors as the Hurricanes fell just short of capturing the NIT Championship against Stanford.

Standing 6'5 with a nice wingspan and a 205-pound frame, McClellan has good size for shooting guard. A very solid all-around athlete with impressive quickness, speed and leaping ability, McClellan's physical tools remain one of his most promising attributes as a prospect.



Leading Miami in scoring, McClellan has been a productive offensive player at the college level since his freshman year at Texas when he averaged 11.3 points per game. Doing a bit of everything for Jim Larranaga's Hurricanes a year ago, McClellan is a fairly explosive scoring threat who does the majority of his damage from the perimeter.

59.2% of McClellan's field goal attempts in the half court a year ago were jump shots. Showing marked improvement as a spot up shooter from his freshman season, the senior doesn't have the prettiest mechanics and is far more consistent from the left side of the floor, but nonetheless made a very serviceable 42% of his catch and shoot jump shots overall, up from the 32% he shot as a sophomore at Texas. A somewhat streaky shooter who proves extremely reliable from the foul line but tends to run hot or cold from the field on a game-to-game basis, the uptick in McClellan's shooting helped him rank in the 94th percentile of all NCAA players in points per play according to Synergy Sports Technology even with his occasional struggles.

When he isn't hunting shots out on the perimeter, McClellan flashes the ability to create for himself off the bounce. He can get a bit sloppy with his shot selection after he puts the ball on the floor, but his combination of quickness and shiftiness with the ball in his hands allow him to create separation consistently. Seldom pulling up from the perimeter and shooting just an average percentage when he does, McClellan is a bouncy finisher who does a nice job using his body to protect the ball and picking and choosing his spots attacking the rim in the flow of the game.

A capable passer whose positive assist-to-turnover ratio reflects how infrequently he turns the ball over on the occasions he does look to create, McClellan is a natural scorer who looks for his own shot first. He may not excel at any one thing in particular, but his athleticism in transition, combined with his improved shot, opportunistic slashing ability, and aversion to the midrange in the half court, make him a very efficient scorer.

Defensively, McClellan remains inconsistent. He moves his feet well defending one-on-one at times, but doesn't always appear as engaged defending off the ball and gets beat off the dribble by less athletic players at times. Committing very few fouls, it will be interesting to see what kind of effort McClellan puts in defensively at the next level when he isn't relied upon as heavily offensively, as he clearly has the tools to hold his own on this end of the floor.

Looking ahead, the 2015-2016 season should prove to be an interesting one for Miami. Returning essentially their entire roster from a year ago, the team will look to take a step forward and make the NCAA Tournament. Sheldon McClellan figures to play a prominent role in that effort, and even though he is a year older than many of his peers in the senior class, will get plenty of looks from NBA Scouts and could emerge as an option for teams in the second round if he has a strong year shooting the ball, makes some strides defensively, and performs well in the draft process.

Top NBA Draft Prospects in the Big 12, Part Four

Jonathan Givony
Jonathan Givony
Matt Williams
Matt Williams
Kyle Nelson
Kyle Nelson
Joseph Treutlein
Joseph Treutlein
Oct 02, 2012, 09:31 pm


Joe Treutlein

After a strong freshman season in which he ranked second on the Longhorns in scoring, Sheldon McClellan could be poised for a breakout season as a sophomore, as last year's leading scorer J'Covan Brown has since departed for the NBA.

Standing 6'5 with very good length, a solid frame, and very good athletic abilities, Sheldon McClellan has ideal attributes for a shooting guard at any level. These attributes weren't always consistently on display in his offensive game as a freshman, however, as he was mostly asked to simply fill a role, specifically that of a spot-up shooter.

On the offensive end, McClellan made most of his contributions shooting the ball last season, as 67.4% of his half-court shot attempts were of the jump shot variety last season according to Synergy Sports Technology. McClellan has excellent mechanics both spotting up and pulling up off the dribble, showing good elevation and a high and consistent release point. McClellan took nearly twice as many jumpers spotting up as compared to off the dribble, but actually is more impressive with his ability to convert off the dribble, as his 0.944 points per shot pulling up is almost as efficient as his 0.99 spotting up.

McClellan does most of his damage off the dribble operating with simple moves in small areas, usually starting with a jab step or ball fake and taking one or two dribbles into a quick pull-up shot. He has no problems creating separation and doesn't need much space to get off his shot. On the down-side for McClellan, his 31% three-point shooting last season wasn't impressive, and is something he'll definitely want to improve on this year. He should be relied upon much more heavily to create offense for the Longhorns, however, so improving his efficiency while having to take more difficult shots won't be an easy task.

McClellan wasn't a very strong factor taking the ball to the basket as a freshman, seeing the vast majority of his offensive touches coming on the perimeter. He didn't show much in terms of advanced ball-handling, though it is something he utilized in his high school days so it will be interesting to see how much more he shows in this area this year. McClellan's lack of attempts taking the ball to the basket was a big boon to his overall efficiency as a freshman, as it played a big role in how he managed to average just 0.1 turnovers per possession, which is extremely low for a guard.
At the basket, McClellan wasn't a very good finisher as a freshman, but shows potential with his size and leaping ability. In addition to not taking the ball frequently to the basket himself, he wasn't utilized much on cuts either, so how he fares in this area as he expands his offensive role this season is certainly something to watch for.

On the defensive end, McClellan also has a lot of room to improve, as despite showing a good opening stance on most plays, he doesn't always put in the effort to really lock down his man, getting beat far more often than he should. While his tools allow him to be a solid collegiate defender without putting in maximal effort, really putting in the energy on this end of the floor could allow him to be a real force and is certainly something that could help his stock considerably.

Looking forward, it's tough to make concrete projections about McClellan from his freshman season given the relatively small and well-defined role he often played, though it's clear he has potential in many areas of the game. Improving his shooting numbers to match the expectations many have for him will certainly be key for his stock going forward, but taking his game to the next level defensively and adjusting well to a likely expanded shot-creator role this season will also be very important. While it's tough to take an accurate gauge of his draft stock now, things could be much different in a few months, and that makes McClellan one of the more interesting draft prospects to watch this year.

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