2024 Draft Prospect Spotlight -- Reed Sheppard

[Jamaaliver]

An absolute offensive gem!!!

Reed Sheppard
Team: Kentucky
Size: 6'3", 187 lbs
Age: 19

Notable early numbers: 66.7 3PT percentage, 89.5 true shooting percentage, 7.2 steal percentage

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Reed Sheppard was not expected to be a part of the draft discussion that swirls around Kentucky prospects. But with an adaptable skill set, he's just been too impactful for scouts to write him off due to his questionable body type and measurements.

The combination of shooting, passing IQ and defensive instincts creates a connector archetype and easy fit for any setting.

He's made 14-of-21 threes, converting 11-of-17 off the catch and three-of-four pull-ups from behind the arc. A 21.4 assist percentage highlights secondary playmaking and ball-moving value. He sees the floor well and makes quick decisions, traits that improve lineups, even if his off-the-dribble creativity doesn't full translate. His 16.9 box plus-minus leads Kentucky by a sizable margin, and this is with a 15.0 percent usage.

Per Synergy, he currently grades in the 100th percentile in half-court offensive efficiency.

And though his outrageous 7.2 steal percentage doesn't tell the whole story when projecting Sheppard's frame to defending NBA wings, he still demonstrates outstanding foot speed, fast hands and anticipation. He has a knack for annoying opposing ball-handlers with his relentless pressure and desire to force turnovers.

Scouts still want to be sure his listed 6'3", 187-pound size is accurate. It's always going to raise some skepticism over what can carry over and how much upside he really offers. Regardless, he's showing the type of shooting versatility and intangibles at both ends to compensate for below-average positional tools if we lower the bar to a role-player projection.

Bleacher Report

[Jamaaliver]

He doesn't fit what we're looking for, but if you can get a stud scorer in the draft, you do it and figure the rest out later.

Another elite offensive engine!

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Ranking the top 10 freshmen in college basketball this season

According to FOX Sports Research, over 1,000 Division I freshmen have played in at least one game this season. A total of 65 of those freshmen are averaging at least 10.0 PPG, which is less than 7%. With that said, here are our top-10 freshmen thus far in the college hoops season, with a few extra names to watch as well!

1. Reed Sheppard, Kentucky
Height/Weight: 6-3, 187 pounds
Stats: 13.0 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.8 APG

There isn't a single freshman who has seen his stock rise more in the first month of the season than Sheppard, who entered college as the 79th-ranked prospect in the 247Sports Composite rankings for the class of 2023. Sheppard was tabbed as a shooter out of high school, but Mr. Kentucky Basketball out of North Laurel High is so much more than that.

Sheppard's instinct for the game has been really impressive to watch, as he had a five-game stretch from Nov. 17 to Dec. 2 where he tallied at least four assists in every contest. And here's the thing: Sheppard isn't just a skilled offensive player. He's been terrific defensively. In the month of November, he was posting 5.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per 40 minutes. He has a great feel for where to be in the passing lanes on that side of the floor, and his understanding of the right play to make is beyond his years. Sheppard has been as impactful as any player on this Kentucky team.

Fox Sports

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Reed Sheppard | Kentucky | Shooting Guard



Age: 19, Freshman
Size: 6'3", 187 lbs

No player is generating more conversation and debate within scouting circles than Reed Sheppard.

Despite Kentucky's loss to Miami, he added another gem to the early-season reel with 26 points, nine boards and six assists. He's now third in the NCAA in box plus-minus, consistently making positives plays while converting 63.0 percent of his twos, 61.1 percent of his threes, totaling 31 assists to seven turnovers and registering enormous defensive playmaking rates (6.1 STL percentage, 3.8 BLK percentage).

The numbers seemingly have to come back to earth at some point, but it's pretty clear that Sheppard possesses elite shotmaking skill, high-IQ passing and excellent defensive instincts. While scouts will be waiting early to find out his actual height and wingspan, poor physical tools shouldn't prevent his shooting, passing and reactions from translating in a connector role.

Bleacher Report

[Jamaaliver]

Blasphemous?

Or Prescient?

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[King Ken]

My #1 overall prospect in this class

[King Ken]

Reed Sheppard | Kentucky | Shooting Guard



Age: 19, Freshman
Size: 6'3", 187 lbs

No player is generating more conversation and debate within scouting circles than Reed Sheppard.

Despite Kentucky's loss to Miami, he added another gem to the early-season reel with 26 points, nine boards and six assists. He's now third in the NCAA in box plus-minus, consistently making positives plays while converting 63.0 percent of his twos, 61.1 percent of his threes, totaling 31 assists to seven turnovers and registering enormous defensive playmaking rates (6.1 STL percentage, 3.8 BLK percentage).

The numbers seemingly have to come back to earth at some point, but it's pretty clear that Sheppard possesses elite shotmaking skill, high-IQ passing and excellent defensive instincts. While scouts will be waiting early to find out his actual height and wingspan, poor physical tools shouldn't prevent his shooting, passing and reactions from translating in a connector role.

Bleacher Report

He's gonna take time in the NBA just because he will have to adjust to the NBA offensively as a PG. That's difficult to do for anyone. If a team is patient with him, they should get the fruits of his barring by year 4 when he's one of the best players in the league.

[HMFFL]

Shooting three pointers at 56%.
He has only started one game but his shooting is so impressive that he needs to be looked at extensively.

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

[Jamaaliver]

If he's there when we pick, I say it's an easy choice to grab this kid and figure out his role later.

Whether he's Trae's backup, a microwave scorer off the bench or future trade bait, the kid can ball and will fit in this new NBA pretty easily.

Reed Sheppard | Duke | SG



Kentucky -- Freshman
6'3", 187 lbs

Pro comparison: Donte DiVincenzo

The lack of convincing high-upside prospects in this draft will lead to teams valuing Reed Sheppard's floor. It's propped up by translatable strengths such as shooting, passing IQ and defensive instincts, a mix that makes him both adaptable and capable of impacting games without needing to create.

The efficiency numbers and analytics are still off the charts. He's converting 60.0 percent of his twos, 56.0 percent of his threes and 90.0 percent of his free throws with 52 assists to 19 turnovers, an absurd 5.6 steal percentage and an usual 3.9 block percentage for a guard.

At some point in this draft—possibly in the late lottery—teams are going to look past the inch or two Sheppard is missing for a traditional 2-guard.

Jon Wasserman

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League Him!!!

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Love this kid.

It'd be worth tanking just to get him in the draft.

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[Jamaaliver]

Young Bradley Beal seems like the best comp I can come up with.

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[Jamaaliver]

The shot chart is insane!

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From December Draft Preview in The Athletic:

2024 NBA Draft Big Board

Reed Sheppard | 6-3 guard | Freshman | Kentucky



Despite coming off the bench to start the season, Sheppard has been phenomenal every moment he’s been on the court. He is averaging 13.9 points, 3.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 3.0 steals in 26 minutes per contest. More importantly, Kentucky is consistently a drastically better team with him on the floor, as his plus-minus jumps off the page every game.

Sheppard is such an appealing bet at this point because of his combination of elite shooting, plus skill and elite feel for the game.
So far, Sheppard has made 54.1 percent of his 4.1 3-point attempts per game. That rate won’t continue, but he’s definitely an elite shooter off the catch with the look of a 40-plus percent NBA 3-point shooter. Over the last two games, he’s showcased an ability to run Kentucky’s offense and play with the ball in his hands. Defensively, he’s always in passing lanes and makes timely rotations, with an impeccable sense of anticipation and unbelievable hand-eye coordination.

But the obvious questions here are real. Sheppard is listed at 6 foot 3, but doesn’t quite look that tall. He’s also not overly long. These measurements have led to defensive questions, both in terms of how his skills translate to the next level and his on-ball capabilities. UNC Wilmington actually hunted him a bit late in their upset win over Kentucky [last month]. Athletically, Sheppard isn’t particularly shifty when trying to elude defenders and separate from his man on the ball. As a shooter, he’s been much more of a stand-still guy as opposed to a player flying off movement and creating his own opportunities. His set of skills isn’t perfect yet.

Sheppard is a polarizing player for scouts, and people in front offices are having trouble finding a point of comparison for his game. At the high end, stars like Stephen Curry and Trae Young have similar size, shooting and processing profiles, but Sheppard’s ballhandling is nowhere near their level. Tyrese Haliburton is bigger and has always been a better passer. Tyrese Maxey is way faster. Jalen Brunson has always possessed an elite level of craft and footwork that Sheppard hasn’t displayed quite yet. Moving outside of the All-Star group, Austin Reaves is bigger than Sheppard, while Desmond Bane is built like a truck. Sheppard is more skilled than a player like De’Anthony Melton, who racked up blocks and steals as a guard, and he’s a better shooter than Tyus Jones. But he isn’t as good defensively right now as someone like Alex Caruso, nor is he that much better offensively at this stage despite being more gifted with the ball in his hands. Luke Kennard has come up a few places, but Kennard didn’t produce defensively at Sheppard’s level, nor did he showcase as much on-ball ability. JJ Redick has also come up as a Sheppard comparison (he was a sneaky elite steals accumulator at Duke), but he played far more off the ball and was an elite shooter off movement. There isn’t really an NBA archetype for Sheppard right now.

Still, everything Sheppard does well is at a premium in today’s NBA. Only a few front-office executives have told me they are quite this high on Sheppard, but many more said they’d have a hard time seeing him picked outside the lottery. Others view him as more of a mid- or late-first-rounder.

With this draft’s upside as questionable as it is at the top, I’m more willing to bet on outliers like Sheppard breaking the mold. He’s been my favorite player in the country to watch so far in college hoops, and if we’re betting on guys with non-traditional pathways toward breakout stardom — think Haliburton, Maxey, Brunson and others — it makes sense to value those who possess elite feel and shooting ability as opposed to other athletic traits.

[Jamaaliver]

Man, I love this kid's game.

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