Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard is making waves in the world of college basketball so far this season, and the rest of the country is finally finding out what Kentuckians have known for a few years now that he belongs in the conversation for the nation’s best player.
The London, Kentucky native has exploded onto the scene for John Calipari’s Kentucky team through the first 14 games of the season, and he is making the most of his chance with the wildcats, averaging 12.5 PPG, 4.7 RBG, 4.3 APG, 2.8 SPG and 0.9 BPG and could end the season as part of the 50-40-90 club, as he currently is shooting 58% from the field, 56% from behind the arc, and 90% from the charity stripe. Keep in mind that he is doing this all coming off the bench for around 26 minutes per game. He would be a starter on 99% of teams in the nation with the numbers he is putting up, but the hometown hero is living his dream as a wildcat.
Sure, players like Zach Edey, Hunter Dickinson and RJ Davis are likely going to be the some of the names you see at the end of the season when the Wooden Award is handed out, but I believe the fact that Reed Sheppard is contributing just as much to his teams’ success off the bench as those players are in their starting roles says all you need to know about the player that Reed Sheppard is.
This does not come as a surprise to those who watched him during his time at North Laurel High School, as he was named a McDonald’s All American, which is a very rare thing to see when it comes to small-town Kentucky. Sheppard boasts a plus minus of 15.3 so far this season, which is up there with the likes of Zion Williamson and Anthony Davis as the best in recent memory for a single season. This is the biggest tell in just how crucial he is for the Wildcats, as when he is on the court, you see just how hard he plays on both ends of the floor. He’s got no problem digging in on defense and clamping up any type of player, whether it’s a guard the same size as him or a center who he is giving up 60 pounds to, and he has the skill on offense to go get his own basket or create chances and find open passing lanes for his teammates to cash in on.
The maturity is also a big factor in why he has succeeded so far this season, as he is only a freshman but has the attitude and mindset of a five year NBA-vet. Coach Cal raves about what a coachable and beloved player that Reed is, and that may be the biggest compliment you could receive from a coach with the status of someone like John Calipari. Combine the great skills, heart, maturity, and effort with his insane basketball IQ and you have the perfect all around basketball player, and the biggest reason that Kentucky is currently 18th in the Kenpom rankings, number six in the AP Poll and one of the favorites to take it all the way.
It is still early, so we have no clue what the future holds for Sheppard. As a born and raised Kentucky kid with a passion for wildcat basketball, he could very well stay another year or maybe even all four years to continue living out his childhood dream with his childhood team. Or maybe he could take his dream to the NBA and be a key contributor for a contender like the Los Angeles Lakers or Miami Heat, both of whom are teams that Reed fits the culture for.
So, can Reed Sheppard help the cats get back to the promised land for the first time since 2012? There is certainly a real chance that they will dance all the way to national championship number nine when the madness begins.
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