Sheppard’s one and only year of collegiate basketball left an impression on the Wildcats program.
In this week’s 2024 NBA Draft, former Kentucky basketball standout Reed Sheppard is the clear favorite to be the first pick from among college players. Despite having low expectations going into his freshman year as a four-star recruit, the Kentucky heritage commit suddenly became one of the most prolific scorers in college basketball and proved to be an NBA-caliber shooter. Although his stint with the Wildcats was short-lived, the son of legendary program Jeff Sheppard referred to his career as “a dream come true.”
A second season with the Wildcats would have been a huge boost for a UK program in flux, but Sheppard had everything to prove after posting an incredible 52.1% 3-point clip in his lone year on campus. Her announcement to turn pro was perhaps the most anticipated stay-or-go draft decision of the offseason.
Sheppard remarked, “It was a fun time,” on The Paul Finebaum Show. “I’ve never had a better year, teammates, or coaches. I couldn’t ask for more. I’m incredibly grateful that I was able to share in such an amazing year.”
Sheppard’s mother concluded her career in the top 10 all-time leading scorers at the university, and his father, who won two national titles with the Wildcats, are both forever remembered in Kentucky basketball history. As one of the program’s most decorated freshman ever, the one-year star left his own stamp.
“I always remember going to games and going to the SEC Tournament with Mom and Dad and just them taking me to games and being around all the players and the coaches and going to practices and watching all the games,” Sheppard recalled. “So growing up I was definitely all around it, and it was definitely a dream come true being able to play there.”
In addition to impressing NBA scouts throughout the 2023–24 college season, Sheppard also turned heads at the NBA Draft Combine, when he effortlessly canned jumpers from the perimeter and recorded a 42-inch vertical. He is likely to be the highest draft pick selected by Kentucky since Karl-Anthony Towns was selected first overall in 2015.
“I’m grateful for my current situation,” Sheppard remarked. “I’ll be happy no matter where I end up. It will be an amazing experience no matter where I go, and my family and I will be able to celebrate it together. Thus, I’m eagerly anticipating it and am quite happy to be in New York and attend the draft this year.”
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