MENS BASKETBALL: Sellers shoots his way to hot start in freshman season

Freshman forward Sean Sellers goes up for a shot during the game against IU Kokomo on Nov. 17 at Worthen Arena. DN PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY
Freshman forward Sean Sellers goes up for a shot during the game against IU Kokomo on Nov. 17 at Worthen Arena. DN PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY

For one member of the Ball State men's basketball team, shooting has always been a big part of life. 

“Ever since I was little, I’ll be in the gym with my dad working on my jump shot,” Sean Sellers said. 

A freshman, Sellers has used his shooting ability to average 19.5 points per game through his first four collegiate games.

As a newcomer, it was unknown what kind of impact Sellers would have for the Cardinals. However, the starting forward has made an impression right away, as he scored a game-high 26 points in the team's opening game against then No. 25 Utah on the road. 

“I expected [Sellers] to do really well coming into this season,” head coach James Whitford said. “I didn’t expect him to be averaging 20 points per game.”

Sellers has not only been able to score, he is scoring at an efficient rate, shooting 57 percent from the field and 63 percent from three. He also is hitting 90 percent from the free-throw line.

Not only is he the leading scorer in the Mid-American Conference, but he also ranks 36th in the nation and second among total freshmen.

Sellers was an Indiana All-Star at Greensburg High School and helped lead the Pirates to a 28-1 record and a second straight Indiana Class 3A state championship as a senior.

During his four-year career, he scored over 1,900 points and became Greensburg's all-time leading scorer and rebounder. He averaged 20.1 points and 7.6 rebounds his senior year.

“I view him as a really, really good basketball player,” said Whitford. “He’s very skilled, almost scoring 2,000 points in high school. He’s our best shooter when unguarded.”

Before practice and games, Sellers partners up with assistant coach Danny Peters to work on touch shooting by starting from under the rim to get his feel for his shot, then works his way out to the three-point line.

Sellers is preferably a catch-and-shoot player as of now but looks forward to expanding his game where he’s able to shoot off the dribble to become a more versatile offensive threat.

"He’s at his best when he [can] catch and shoot,” Whitford said. “Our job as a team is try to put him in that situation as much as we can.”

Standing at 6-6, Sellers easily can shoot over opponents with a smooth, one-motion stroke.

Sellers has shown that his game is more than just scoring, leading Ball State assists and sitting at third on the team in rebounds.

His balanced game and aggressive scoring mentality has helped guide the Cardinals to a 2-2 record this season.

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