Reed Sheppard Has What NBA Teams Like And Want

Vicky Graff Photo

NBA mock drafts sometimes can be right but at other times a player can be picked higher than projected or even much lower than projected.

Kentucky freshman Reed Sheppard is being projected as a top 10 pick in the upcoming draft. He was the national freshman of the year.

“The biggest thing for him is his overall body of work from season,” said YahooSports NBA draft analyst Krysten Peek. “Almost every player has to get stronger with the ball, especially in the pick and roll with his decision making.

“(Kentucky freshman) Rob (Dillingham) is really good at that. For Rob it will be more learning how to limit his dribble-dribble and getting quicker into offense or downhill with the ball because everything in the NBA is faster. But Reed has shown NBA personnel just how versatile he can be.”

With only 58 players being drafted this year, Peek said pre-draft interviews are more a “confirmation” of information teams have been gathering for a long period.

“The meetings are more confirming all the research a team has done on a player is true and they feel good about the pick or they will go back to the drawing board and find out more about the player,” she said. “But with Reed there is no doubt he will interview well.”

Peek also thinks he Sheppard has already done well passing the NBA eye test.

“Teams like that he is very smart, very versatile. He can guard the perimeter very well,” Peek said. “The draft is full of questions but you know what you are getting in him. He can come in and you tell him to do anything and he will do it and do it very well.

“Teams really like his 3 -point shooting but he will also be content getting the ball to star players. All that will really help him through the draft process.”