Get to know Reed Sheppard
Reed Sheppard sits down with Andy Katz to discuss what it's like to follow in his father's footsteps and the skills he's bringing with him to the NBA after his breakout year with Kentucky.
Overview
Sheppard was named Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022 and Kentucky Mr. Basketball in 2023. A consensus four-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American, Sheppard started only five of his 33 games during his freshman season at Kentucky with averages of 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals in 28.9 minutes per game. He led the nation in shooting 52.1% from three and made seven three-pointers in a game twice en route to being named SEC Freshman of the Year and national Freshman of the Year by USBWA and NABC. Sheppard’s father, Jeff, also played for Kentucky and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 1988 NCAA Tournament before playing for the Hawks in the NBA.
Analysis
At 6-foot-2, Sheppard is a fantastic catch-and-shoot player who can create his own shot at times and is a willing passer. He has elite defensive instincts, which allows him to jump passing lanes and poke the ball away from opposing ballhandlers, but he needs to get stronger before being considered a solid NBA defender.
Projection
Sheppard turns 20 a few days before the Draft, and while he has some areas to improve, he is probably the most polished product in this 2024 Class and could contribute immediately. In 2023-24, Grayson Allen led the NBA in three-point percentage and Sheppard led the NCAA, but the former had a little more offensive athleticism than the latter did coming out of college. However, Sheppard is a better playmaker and defender, showing off some Jalen Suggs-esque tenacity during his lone season at Kentucky. Sheppard profiles as the classic three-and-D guy in a starting lineup, but he could also be utilized as a primary offensive weapon off the bench.
— Profile by RotoWire