“Iowa’s Payton Sandfort could be the best shooter with room to grow.”

Outside shooting has quickly become one of the most important aspects of successful NBA offenses, and the need for consistent shooters has obviously grown. Iowa’s Payton Sandfort was one of the most impressive shooters in all of college basketball last season and could move up draft boards if he is able to improve some other aspects of his game. This article breaks down how Sandfort does damage as a shooter and highlights three areas that could determine his draft range: increasing strength, making quicker passing decisions, and attacking passing lanes.

Last season, Sandfort shot 39% from the three-throw line and 91% from the free throw line, showcasing how effortless his form and mechanics are. Whether he’s trying to catch and shoot threes while set or off the move, his technique looks flawless as he regularly stands up and rises vertically. His release is extremely fast and consistently high, which helps him fire his shot regardless of the pressure he is under. Sandfort has also been able to do mid-range jump pull-ups regularly, but while that works in college, it will likely be more difficult against NBA competition. Opponents were aware of his shots, and when defenders outplayed him, he did an excellent job of clearing the back door to allow a wide view of the ring. His off-ball movement is as effective as any in the country and looks to be a very interesting asset for NBA teams to exploit.

Sandfort continues to build his reputation as a dangerous shooter and could improve his live dribble attack as he gets even stronger. While he may not have great athletic explosiveness, he handles contact well and added strength could increase his versatility. The fact that he shows good footwork everywhere, combined with his impressive 1.90 meter height, suggests that his interior can be improved. If he adds this to his outside game, it could quickly expand his scoring opportunities. Not only does strength benefit his offensive game, but it can also improve his defensive versatility. He’s not a great one-on-one defender, but he communicates very well and allows the defense to close down spaces quickly.

Sandfort fights hard and is a smart defender, but he simply doesn’t have the physical tools to translate his influence into statistical productivity. Reviewing the tape shows his impact off the ball and how quickly he can transition, rarely seeming to lose track of things due to a lack of communication. The biggest defensive aspect that translates to the NBA is more aggressive passing. Last season, Sandfort averaged less than one steal per game, but regularly had opportunities that could have led to deflections. Whether this increase in aggressiveness results in steals or deflections, his ability to disrupt the opponent’s offensive flow could be an indication of his advantage as an effective three-and-D player in a team-oriented defensive system.

His play vision is better than his two assists per game would suggest, and those numbers could take another jump if he makes quicker decisions on the extra pass. He moves away from the ball almost constantly, but when defenders help block his shot, quickly spotting the open teammate leads to an easier look. Sandfort did this well at times last season, but as he makes these passes more consistently it will become clear how he can propel himself to the next level even more effectively. His positive assist-to-turnover ratio to this point in his career paints a good picture of his decision-making in game flow, but improving his connectivity could skyrocket his draft stock over the next year.

As an older prospect, his role may not allow him to develop into a star, but he has the perfect skillset to eventually become a high-level role player. Sandfort may not need to play every night, but having such a good shooter on the bench would be beneficial to almost any NBA squad, especially if he improves on the three aspects highlighted above.

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