Vicky Graff Photo
Hall of Fame sportswriter Dick Weiss of the New York Daily News does not have the home-grown bias about Kentucky freshman Reed Sheppard that most of us in the Bluegrass.
He was Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball his senior year, is the state’s all-time steals leader and scored 3,727 points at North Laurel High School. His parents are Stacey, a former UK basketball standout, and Jeff, the 1998 Final Four most outstanding player on Kentucky’s national championship team.
He was national freshman of the year at Kentucky last season and is beloved from border to border in our state.
“I love everything about Reed Sheppard, so I’ll be happy with whatever he decides to do with his future,” Weiss posted on social media Tuesday. “He’s a Commonwealth kid who gave his heart to Kentucky. If he decides to declare for the (NBA) draft, the best we can do is wish him well.
Thursday Sheppard did indeed decide to declare for the draft and who can blame him. He’s projected as a top 10 pick in most mock drafts, a ranking several NBA sources have confirmed is accurate.
The 2024 NBA Draft is June 26-27 in Brooklyn. Even if Sheppard goes 10th, he would make over $17 million his first three years which is far more than the most lucrative NIL deals at UK could bring him.
Former UK player Cameron Mills, Jeff Sheppard’s 1998 teammate, understands UK fans wanted Reed Sheppard to return and thought NIL money might do it, especially since new coach Mark Pope was Jeff Sheppard’s college roommate.
“But it is not like companies are going to drop him as an endorser if he is in the NBA and there will likely also be a shoe deal,” Mills said. “It’s hard to say no to that deal. I said all along he needs to follow his dream and I worried people would make the assumption Reed would stick around because of Pope.”
Reed Sheppard made a classy exit from UK via a social media video where he said:
“Big Blue Nation. I’m just a little boy from London, Kentucky, with a big dream. Playing basketball at the University of Kentucky was a huge part of my dream. I am so thankful to wear the blue and white jersey that represents my family, my friends and the hard-working, faithful fans of the Big Blue Nation. Kentucky is home. Kentucky will always be home.
“However, there is another part of my dream — to play basketball in the NBA. I believe it is time to pursue that dream; therefore I will be entering my name into the NBA draft today.
“BBN, you have been with me from Day 1, faithful and passionate. I am asking you to go with me on this journey. I’m looking forward to taking you with me. I’ll represent you with all the characteristics that make us Kentuckians: Passion, humility, perseverance, sacrifice and joy.
“And one day I’ll return. To family. To friends. To Kentucky. My home. I love you BBN. Thank you.”
Many UK fans probably shed a tear or two watching the video. Kentucky will always be home to him just like it has been his family. He won’t forget his Bluegrass roots but his remarkable freshman season has put him in position to indeed fulfill another dream that few get the chance to do.
He averaged 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 28.9 minutes per game last season to join John Wall and Anthony Davis, both No. 1 overall picks in the NBA draft, as freshmen of the year produced by Calipari. He shot 52.1 percent from 3-point range.
Sheppard never complained about not starting even if many UK fans clam red for him to start. Instead, he just played and produced.
He ranks in the top 10 all-time at Kentucky among freshmen in these categories: first in 3-point field goal percentage (52.1), second in steals (82), fifth in made 3’s (75), eighth in assists (148) and ninth in free throw percentage (83.1). He was also the first player in school history with three games of 25 plus points, five or more rebounds and 5 or more assists in a single-season.
He was the only player in the country with at least 145 assists, 80 steals and 70 made 3s . He also led the nation in 3-point accuracy.
“Reed just had a magical season,” Mills said.
He did and that’s why he has to make this move to pursue his dream. Former UK All-American Kyle Macy, the starting point guard on the 1978 national title game, once told me you turn pro when your draft status is the highest it can be. That’s where Sheppard is. There’s no real upside to his NBA draft status by coming back for a second season and risking hurting his draft position.
So be glad he put on the performance he did for one season at Kentucky and turned into a surprising one-and-done because he did so much for the Cats.
55 Responses
Reed has been a joy to watch play basketball and amazing in his composure and comments. What a great young man we have come to know and love. We can only wish the very best for him—
Amen Barbara
Thanks to Reed for giving UK 1 of the best TEAM efforts in history – a class act from day 1 & a reflection of Jeff & Stacey! Thanks & the genuine part of the BBN stands with you in the decision you made.
Of course we would have been elated for you to return but the $5 or $10 million NIL I thought someone might give you never arrived.
Shine in your future endeavors in BB & in being a testimony of a proper human being expressing the Lord in your family life.
Reed, thank you for giving your best to Kentucky. I am sorry you had to play under Calipari, but hopefully you’ll get the chance to play for Pop in San Antonio. You would be a great fit there and Pop will help you be the best you can be.
Word has it that we are finalist for the Williams kid from Drexel, along with St. Johns and Miss St. Williams is a beast on the boards and protecting the rim. Mark is also meeting with Osobar from Utah State. Both would give us a monstrous frontline. Burks would be the 3 with Chandler and Perry at the guards. That would be a competitive team in itself with some role players added for depth. Time will tell, but Mark has hit the ground running. Go CATS!
Thanks Larry – Another great article! I could care less about Dick Weiss – He will never understand how BBN thinks however he is correct today.
I love Reed Sheppard. I love his family. We will never see another family contribution to the University and the Commonwealth like this in our lifetime!
You are also right about UK Fans shedding tears. I cried today both tears of joy for Reed and his success and tears of disappointment that his career at UK is over.
Thank you Reed Sheppard! Thanks to your family!
👍👍👍
I’m happy for his accomplishments but isn’t this what Kentucky fans hated was getting one and dones. When he came to Kentucky he said he wanted to Bring Kentucky a banner. 6 months later hes out of here just as fast as he came. We are in a transition period here at Kentucky. Its funny how his dream was to play at Kentucky 6 months ago. Now his dream is to play in the NBA. 12 ppg is not great numbers. He was very inconsistent 3 great games then 2 or 3 games like he didn’t know what to do with the ball. The NBA is always going to be there kid and this was a one time thing. You hear NBA players all the time say I would do anything to come back to Kentucky. That is the most fun times you will ever have in your life. Its not like he needed the money or his family needed the money like most one and dones. Like I said he could have went to the NBA next year and still been a lottery pick and he would have gotten better unless he thinks this is as good as he’s going to be why not come back for at least 1 more year. Honestly to me Reed wasn’t even the best freshman in the SEC. Josh Hubbard was the best freshman followed by dillingham then maybe Sheppard but there was spot of great freshman in the SEC this year and he might have averaged the least out of most of them. He’s great at anticipating the pass but if he misses it or plays straight up with someone they blow by him like he’s stuck in the mud. He’s a great shooter but in the NBA every team has 4-5 reed sheppards. I think he’s making a huge mistake he could have been a legend at Kentucky and still made a ton of money in the nil game. My dream was to always play at Kentucky. I would have stayed all 4 years even if I was considered to be the first pick in the draft. I would have tried to break as many records as I could break. He could have easily made 2 million a year in nil money. I guess he wasn’t playing for the name on the front of the jersey. If his names not Reed Sheppard this is a problem using Kentucky for a platform to get to the NBA. Treat everyone the same BBN. He shouldn’t get special treatment if anything more people should be mad about this decison. People coming from Chicago and Phoenix Care less about Kentucky basketball than the son of a Kentucky basketball baller. He should have helped get popes feet off the ground if he was a real Kentucky fan his whole life. I guess money is more important than the name on the front of the jersey.
Wow! You’re showing your lack of true basketball knowledge. 1st, Most Kentucky fans wouldn’t hate any player who has a chance at the NBA lottery to go chase that dream. It was more about recruiting all the kids who wanted to be one and dones and running off many who didn’t develop into 1 and done. Recruit a couple of possible one n dones then build a team around them. Next, this year is a weak draft year so Reed will have an excellent chance of being a lottery pick. Next year’s class is predicted to be loaded so Reed may not have gone in the upper part. Next, he earned Freshman of the Year. Yes both Dillingham and Hubbard had excellent freshman years however Reed was the more consistent player of those 3. He did have a couple of down games especially against Oakland but every ball player has those type games. Every single one. Finally, no not every team in the NBA has 4-5 Reed Shepards. Most have maybe a couple of great shooters some maybe even 3 or 4 but that’s a very few. Reed will fit in somewhere.
That’s pretty raw and a bit of a personal attack on an exceptional young man.
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH EVERY WORD in this thread by TJ! This is the truth plain and clear. Reeds name will never be on a banner hanging from the rafters.
Don’t be so sure Cowboy.
Why would That happen? He’s just another one and Done. If You think Reeds name will hang from Rupp then maybe Sharpe the kid that was so awesome and was on the team but Cal won’t play him in a tournament game UK lost maybe His name and jersey should hang up there too? Do you not remember Cal was more worried about that kid getting in the NBA then winning that Cal was paid millions to do. Would You want all the One & Done players even the ones like Eric Kanter’s name be up there too?
WHAT?
Reed Sheppard is an exceptional 👏 young man and an outstanding BBP.
Reed, Thank you for all you did for BBN. Although, I do wish you were staying for my own selfish reasons. However, playing for Pop would be an awesome playing situation for you. But, my beloved Knicks will welcome you w open arms, as wld most teams.
My family and I are wishing you and your family all the BEST… Love you, Dude!
I’ll be watching your NBA career w much anticipation of more of what gave us, BBN… Rooting for you, Reed!!!
Beau
Well said beau
Glad to see anyone get the opportunity to fulfill their dreams. For most of us, it takes a lot of years of blood, sweat and tears, but Reed has been blessed with some great gifts that can allow him to live a life many only dream of. Glad he has this opportunity and now is the time to go for it.
When Sheppard was seen as a sure fire lottery pick (3 months ago) anyone with a brain knew he wouldn’t be back. He bleeds blue and was still a one and done. Smart dude. All kids that have NBA talent are going as soon as possible. Especially lottery picks. There’s not enough NIL money in the country to make them stay. No amount of home state love will make them stay. Reed will do great in the NBA and not have to listen to narcissist "fans" dog his teammates. The ironic thing is people will wish him well, but all the others that came before him were Cal’s NBA wannabe "pets". Pathetic.
It was reported yesterday that he was going to make millions with either decision. If that is true, then I am disappointed that he didn’t stay for one more year. He froze on national stage the last game and that played a part in Cal hitting the exits (TG), and I was hoping he would feel the need to atone for that while further cementing his position with BBN forever.
It is time for the Pope to make some hits on the recruiting trail. It does not take a lot of talent to offer everyone in TP but it does to show some hits and hopefully he will.
Mike You are Right in all Your comments. I’m happy for the Kid to go for what he thinks is his dream. But sometimes “You have to be careful for what you wish for” After staying in hotels different nights in different states always traveling without Mom & Dad, family and friends and possibly being on a team that loses most nights with fans that are not so Loving like BBN might make a young man miss Ole Kentucky. You have to think that being a high draft pick almost always goes to a losing team and losing night after night might not be “The dream You thought You really wished for”?
We were supposed to be in great shape with his center at BYU and he just committed to UL. Are you kidding me? It was reported that several BYU players could be coming along but not lot of action so far. Apparently not many of current UK commits wanted any part of the action, and we lost a contact to Grand Canyon, and I believe one to Toledo. Not exactly a good look coming out of the blocks and let’s hope that changes very soon.
Right, Mike. Something has to change soon. I don’t think the NCAA will allow UK
to compete with 3 players suited up. And right now that’s all they have.
Larry….I am slowly falling into the nervous category as we speak. We don’t even have Perry locked in yet. KU getting some hits, IU lights out. We are 1 of 5 for Thiero, and I don’t like those odds. BYU is shouting that they made a splash hire on Pope replacement. I am sure UL feels they got the better deal with their coaching change. We are going head-to-head with the Cali-Fraudi on a couple guys. Who do you think is going to be the winner there? One can sense that a lot of folks very happy to see the BBN starting to drift, if not fall, on the big landscape.
Patience. Pope has only been on the job for a week now
I don’t know Larry….has there ever been a high profile coach that has had less with more in first week on the job? Maybe we should have hired Mr. Brooks for the MBB program.
Check how many signees Calipari has in two weeks
Mike it’s not up to the coach anymore is what’s happened to the College game! All those Mucky Mucks that set in the best sets in Rupp need to get off that old money and help UK start paying BIG bucks to get the best of the best like old Jerry Jones a hog alum will do for Cal. It’s a fact that the best players will go for the biggest Payout now not the name on the jersey! Maybe since the NCAA let player’s transfer and play immediately they should go ahead and let players transfer during the middle of the season if more money comes up from a team that’s close to winning a championship?
Follow your heart and your faith and all will go well. Wishing you the best Reed.
Reed will never do anything in the NBA like his dad Jeff. He will be rich but years later he will be remembered as Jeff’s kid not that He took BBN to Glory with a MVP in the National Championship Game like his dad. I started listening to Cawood on my grandpa’s old radio! I never thought about big money, I went to school, worked two jobs and became an electrician. Then there were times I hid in motor room’s with a little transistor radio against my ear with the roar of big motors cheering the Cats On! It Breaks My Heart that those Teams, those players that cried when they put on that jersey are gone for good. America like I knew it is lost. It’s all about Money, there’s no honor, no loyalty it’s all about Me. Old Cowboys like me our time has come and gone. It’s time for me and others like me to ride off into the sunset.
Great piece man. I agree. Pope said he’s going after the players who take pride in having Kentucky on their chest. Sorry pal those days are done. For him to say that might mean he’s lost with the times as well. Its a big problem when w country boy like Perry doesn’t even know if he’s still committed to Kentucky. I have cousins and nephews in high school and college and they think Pope seems corny. I’m 41 and I think thought that as well. He better hire coaches who understand today’s culture or we are the next Indiana. By the way they will have a great team this year. If Pope can’t lock up Perry then you are delusional if you think he’s what Kentucky needs. Mark Fox lol really? I have would have Rondo as my assistant coach. A 4 time NBA all star. And he was one of the best guards I’ve ever seen at defense. You don’t think that would help Kentucky someone who actually was great at defense and can communicate better with these kids today? I don’t think Pope would even be a top choice for Vanderbilt. My have the mighty fallen.
Remember Cowboy there were those who said Reed would not be a factor at UK. Hard to fault a young man for setting himself up financially for life and pursuing the highest dream
Hey Larry the ones who thought Reed would not be great really don’t know how kids that are Kentucky kids feel. I think about Patrick Sparks a Kentucky kid that wanted to play at UK and they didn’t want him until he beat them while playing at WKU then Tubby took him and Pat gave BBN all he had every game! Pat is the kind of Kentucky Boy that will always be remembered!
Larry, you are in a position like Paul Finebaum having to answer people whose opinions show that they maybe be disappointed that Reed didn’t stay I totally get that. But like most of Finebaum’s callers they are clueless about basketball and life. Reed will be financially stable for life after his first NBA contract. In today’s world that’s important for him and his future family.
We all have our opinions but I just don’t see how anyone could not be happy for Reed and understand why this is a move he had to make
Larry This thing You wrote is bullshit! Life is all about choices. You can choose to follow Jesus Christ or Burn in Hell. You can choice to be a father to your children or be a deadbeat like so many in America today. I joined “Promise Keepers” 26 years ago because so many young men have no Fathers. If Reed had been one of them I would have felt better about Him leaving. Reed has never wanted for anything, never been hungry or left at home alone. I don’t watch the NBA the players are all about Me and the Money. I always hear there’s never a brinks truck with cars in a funeral procession and I’ve never hear a preacher say the most important thing in one’s life was Money even though it probably was…..
Sorry you are so bitter Cowboy and just cannot be happy for a young man. You make me think you believe he owes YOU to stay at UK
Cowboy feels about Reed how everyone else felt about all the other one and done NBA "pet" wannabes. No "fan" was happy for them when they left. BBN thought they owed THEM to come back. Atleast he puts them all in one pile. He’s not a hypocrite about it.
Cowboy needs to get out of the old school stuff. Time has change.
Yeah You are right 79. Get to where I don’t open doors for women and old folks, say thank You, Pray, don’t work and expect the government to take care of me, be all in for the millions of babies being murdered. Maybe Burn Old Glory and protest with all the other crazies screaming “Death to America” ! Do like old Cal had his players do and not stand for the playing of the Anthem?
Ever since I listened to the Cats on my Grandpa’s knee on his old AM radio I can only Thank all those players from then and now! All those Players I’ve cheered for I’ve never felt like any one of them ever owed me anything. I earned everything I got and proud that I could.
Larry I’m not bitter at all! Do You not agree that we all have choices in everything in our lives. When is enough money enough? My wife was making more money than me but we decided it would be better if she stayed at home and made sure our babies weren’t raised by someone else.They came home from school each day to a hot meal, baked cookies, things like that. Some folks said we would have had a lot more money. I said we gave our kids things money couldn’t buy. Who was the UK player who said he would give back all his millions he made in the NBA to re-live him being a Wildcat? Antoine Walker I believe?
Antoine Walker lost most of his to a bad gambling habit. Had to declare bankruptcy few years back.
I second that Larry. Some UK so called fans are truly delusional and bitter.
No way around the millions of dollars being offered. 17 Million for 3 years should set him up for life. You can always go back to school and get your degree. If the NBA is offering you got to take it. You’re only one step away from injury and the wise choice is to take the money when they are offering it.
It’s like the old song “Take the money and RUN”! Money is what’s it all about now! It’s the God that’s worshiped in America now.
Reed is a great player
and so much like his
Parents Great Family
I have two Wildcat Jerseys hanging in my special room in my garage with all my Hunting & Fishing gear. Jeff Shepherd’s, Tony Dell’s and a football Jersey of Tim Tebow’s who pissed off the NFL when Tim gave all the glory to God! The walls of my happy place are covered with UK team posters from 1978.
Sorry this phone screwed up Tony’s last names spelling “DELK” ! He was and is an Awesome man!
It was an honor to watch Reed and to see and know his roots and passion for Ky. He is a true home grown kid, that many of us dreamed to be some day, but only a very few like Reed actually got to experience for a great year as a one and done that wasn’t picked to be, but his hard work earned that for him😊
Great job Sheppard family your awesome.
London Legend
I like that … London Legend
Cheers to all who have congratulated & complimented Reed Sheppard for he did for UK, in spite of being handicapped by the fraud who does not know how to coach.
To those who have even one complaint about Reed Sheppard, put down your bag of verbal stones. You are showing your lack of labor for those who are great UK players and your lack of knowledge of great basketball as well as no appreciation for a quality person.
Amen sir.
Right, he is no Coach Drew of Baylor who put more important things in his life first over the pot of gold a Kentucky coach would draw in salary.
Some people are remarkable like Coach Drew and some people aren’t. It does not bother me in the least that the Failure Five is going elsewhere. My, how the mighty have fallen!
I think Reed is a tremendous player, but if he would have come back to KY he would have been a legend for turning us around our program under coach Pope! He would be making a lot of money in Kentucky for the next 50years, business’s would have been all over him! Were as in the NBA he probably will only be playing for 5 or 6 years at best! If he stayed he would have been remembered for turning our program around for the rest of life,made alot more money in Kentucky! Wish him luck!
James, my thoughts also! I really do wish Reed all the best! I just believe like You what could have happened. I would have Loved to see Reed and Perry together and see that story played out. Lots of BBN dreamed like me of Reed & Perry holding #9 as it was lifted to the rafters of Rupp! Lots of folks look back later in life and realize what they could’ve and should’ve done….