BREAKING: Shackled Reed Sheppard made a remark about his parents.
Kentucky Basketball only had Reed Sheppard for one year, but it was an outstanding one.
Initially regarded as a 4-star recruit, Sheppard quickly made a name for himself despite being in a recruiting class at Lexington that included three of the top 10 5-star recruits. Hailing from the Bluegrass state, he was the best player in his Kentucky class.
Standing out in such a competitive environment isn’t easy, but Sheppard’s efficiency soon made him one of John Calipari’s top players. He finished the season with impressive shooting stats: 53.6% from the field and 52.1% from three-point range. He also averaged 12.5 points per game, placing him third on the team in scoring.
Now, Sheppard is projected to be a lottery pick and could even be selected in the top five.
With parents who both played collegiate basketball, Sheppard’s smooth transition from high school to college wasn’t surprising. He often speaks highly of what he admires most about his parents, Jeff and Stacey Sheppard, mentioning them frequently.
Meet Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard on @Stadium: “There was never any jersey or trophy hanging in the house. (My parents) didn’t want to be known as basketball players.”
On facing Bronny/Rob Dillingham in AAU, CP3/Book/Curry/Kobe as models, 42-inch vertical, Austin Reaves comparison: pic.twitter.com/jbM3V4EeIF
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 30, 2024
Reed Sheppard often expresses gratitude for his upbringing, emphasizing that his parents weren’t defined by their basketball pasts and that their home wasn’t filled with his jerseys. They were simply normal parents doing their best to raise their son.
It’s also intriguing to learn that Reed played all the major sports growing up. He shifted his focus to basketball when AAU started, though he also played football and soccer, which he frequently mentions.
Now poised to be a top-five pick, Sheppard’s decision to stick with basketball is something for which all parties, especially Big Blue Nation (BBN), are grateful.