2024 NBA Draft: Reed Sheppard Shining For Kentucky

Freshman guard Reed Sheppard is off to a great start on the season. Can the 6-foot-3 lead guard become the next one-and-done player out of Kentucky?

Kentucky is off to a solid start to the season as they stand at three wins and one loss, which came against the Kansas Jayhawks. The Wildcats fell short by five points in that sole loss. This Kentucky team is quite young as they are currently running an eight-man rotation which features five freshman, one sophomore and two seniors. They currently have three 7-footers yet to play a game for the Wildcats which includes freshman Aaron Bradshaw, freshman Zvonimir Ivisic and sophomore Ugonna Onyenso.

This Kentucky squad is very different than what we are used to seeing these past few years and a lot of credit goes to the coaching staff, especially John Calipari and John Welch, who was brought in this past summer. What makes this Kentucky team so different and exciting to watch is the up-tempo style they play at and how many 3-pointers they take. This has allowed players to play with a lot more freedom and operate with a more spaced out floor.

One freshman guard that is really shining for them is Reed Sheppard, who is a Kentucky native and was a legend in the high school scene for the state. It’s only four games into the season, but there is a case to be made that Sheppard has been Kentucky’s best player on both ends of the floor. Offensively, the 6-foot-3 lead guard is shooting a ridiculous 70.6% from deep while averaging 13.3 points per game.

He’s also coming off a seven-assist game, showcasing his vision and passing ability. It’s obvious that Sheppard won’t be maintaining a 70.6% 3-point clip on the season, but it’s clear that he’s an elite shooter off the catch and standstill. That shooting ability alone is very valuable in the NBA and it’s impressive seeing him shoot the ball so comfortably from the college 3-point line this early into his collegiate career.

The defensive side of the ball is what really has been catching a lot of scouts and basketball fans' eyes as he has been stellar as the point of attack defender. Sheppard is averaging three steals with a 7.1% steal rate and 1.5 blocks with a 8.2% block rate. Defensively, he has been a playmaker due to how active and quick he is with his hands and how tough he plays.

Sheppard fits the mold as a 3-and-D lead guard that will help you win basketball games. It’s too early in the season to say he’s a clear one-and-done player, but if he continues to produce for one of the biggest programs in college basketball as a freshman then it should be clear that he has a legit shot at being selected in the 2024 NBA Draft.

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