NBA Comparison: Landry Shamet / Jeff Hornacek

Strengths: A cerebral, highly polished guard who plays with a strong feel for the game and a mature approach well beyond most prospects … Operates at a high level both in pick-and-roll and isolation situations, showing advanced reads and the ability to consistently create advantages … Elite vision as a lead guard, reading defenses and making the right decision with precision … Does an excellent job of taking what’s given and playing within the natural flow of the offense … Mature decision-maker who controls tempo and doesn’t get sped up, even under pressure … Utilizes hesitation dribbles and change of pace to keep defenders off balance, creating angles despite lacking elite burst … Excellent shooter with clean mechanics and deep range, converting 35.8% from three on strong volume (2.4-6.8) while also maintaining elite free throw efficiency (84.5%), reinforcing his shooting translation … Very good spot-up shooter who spaces the floor effectively and punishes defensive lapses … Plays within himself and keeps the offense flowing, moving the ball quickly and avoiding over-dribbling … Highly efficient scorer (19.7 ppg, 47.7% FG) who picks his spots rather than forcing action … Strong assist-to-turnover profile (4.4 to 1.8) highlights his decision-making and control … Makes up for lack of speed and top-end athleticism with anticipation, instincts, and a high basketball IQ, often appearing a step ahead of the opposition … Shows strong awareness jumping passing lanes (1.4 spg) and creating disruption through timing … Generates “hockey assists” and keeps the offense connected with quick reads … Wants to play every minute and often does, showing elite conditioning and stamina while maintaining effectiveness with a heavy workload (37.7 mpg) … Tough, competitive guard who embraces his role and impacts winning … Guided Iowa to an Elite Eight run, showcasing his leadership and ability to elevate a team in high-pressure moments … Proven production at multiple levels, including high-major success after transitioning from Division II and mid-major play … Has added roughly 10 pounds over the past year, showing improved physical development and ability to better handle contact … Solid positional size for a lead guard at 6-4, allowing him to see over defenses and adding lineup versatility … Appeals to contending teams due to his plug-and-play skill set, polish, and ability to contribute without needing high usage …

Weaknesses: Does not immediately pass the eye test from a physical tools standpoint … Average athlete by NBA standards, lacking elite explosiveness, vertical pop, and high-end speed … Primarily a below-the-rim player who can struggle at times to separate or finish against length and physicality … Thin frame (190 lbs) limits his ability to absorb contact and finish in traffic … Not especially dynamic off the dribble, which may cap his upside as a primary creator … Lacks top-tier burst, making it more challenging to consistently break down defenders at the next level … Older prospect (turns 23 shortly after the draft), which reduces perceived developmental upside … Where he can struggle more is on the defensive end, as foot speed limitations show up when containing quicker guards and navigating pick-and-roll coverage … Physical limitations may be tested defensively, particularly when switched onto stronger or more athletic guards … Unlikely to add significant strength or dramatically improve athletic profile at this stage … Can be more of a connector piece than a true offensive engine, which narrows his role projection … The swing skill for Stirtz will be how effectively he can create offense against NBA-level athletes … His current game is built more on feel, timing, and craft than burst or separation ability, which raises questions about how often he can generate clean looks or collapse defenses at the next level … If he proves capable of creating advantages off the dribble against superior length and speed, it significantly raises his ceiling beyond a complementary role …

Outlook: Stirtz projects as a late first-round to early second-round pick who offers immediate value as a steady, low-mistake guard capable of contributing to a playoff-caliber team … His combination of shooting, decision-making, and competitiveness gives him a clear pathway to carve out a role as a rotation guard … Led Iowa on a deep NCAA Tournament run, proving his production and efficiency translate against high-major competition … While his ceiling may be limited by athletic constraints, his floor is relatively high due to his polish and feel … Teams looking for reliability, spacing, and secondary playmaking will value his plug-and-play profile … Ultimately, his ability to translate his shot creation and pick-and-roll effectiveness against NBA athletes will determine whether he becomes just a reliable rotation piece or something more impactful … His success will depend on landing in a structured system that maximizes his strengths and minimizes exposure defensively …

Notes: Bennett Stirtz measured 6′ 2.50” barefoot, 186.2 lbs, 6′ 6.00” wingspan, 8′ 2.50” standing reach, 30.5 no step vertical, and 37.5 max vertical at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine. … Senior guard from Liberty, Missouri … Born October 3, 2003 … Began career at Northwest Missouri State (Division II), where he earned MIAA Freshman of the Year honors and led the nation’s freshmen in steals (65) … Two-time all-league performer before transferring to Drake … Emerged as one of the most decorated mid-major players in the country … 2024-25 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year … Led the MVC in scoring (19.2), steals (2.21), and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.86), while ranking second in assists (5.7) … Logged an NCAA-leading 39+ minutes per game and became the first player in MVC history to record 600+ points, 200+ assists, and 70+ steals in a season … Earned multiple All-America honors and tournament MVP recognition … 2025-26 stats: 19.7 ppg, 4.4 apg, 2.6 rpg, 1.4 spg on 47.7/35.8/84.5 shooting splits across 36 games (37.7 mpg) … 2024-25 stats: 19.2 ppg, 5.7 apg, 4.3 rpg, 2.1 spg on 49.8/39.5/79.4 splits across 35 games … High school standout at Liberty HS, coached by his father … Comes from an athletic family background and is regarded as a high-character, team-first player … Put himself firmly on the NBA Draft radar with his breakout junior season at Drake and sustained that level of production into his senior year …

Aran Smith 3/28/26