One of the most surprising developments of the 2023-24 college basketball season was the complete disintegration of the Kentucky basketball program. The Wildcats got bounced in the first round and John Calipari left for Arkansas, sending the school in a new, unfamiliar direction. However, that doesn’t mean Kentucky didn’t produce some talented players who could shine at the next level. One of those is point guard Reed Sheppard.
Reed Sheppard Draft Profile
Sheppard came off the bench for the Wildcats but was one of the drivers of what became one of the best offenses in the country. There were moments of inexperience and inconsistency, although Sheppard’s stats won’t show it. Even if he was a little undersized as a freshman, his efficiency makes him an intriguing prospect at the next level. At one point, he was being considered as a potential No. 1 pick before the NCAA tournament.
Strengths
Offense, offense and more offense. Despite his smaller stature, Sheppard was arguably the most lethal player on Kentucky. He posted 50-50-80 shooting splits, and managed to dish out nearly five assists per game as well. There’s fluidity with the way he operates and he’s always looking to make the right pass to set up teammates. He’s a better rebounder than advertised, which makes him a good all-around prospect. Even if he isn’t given the keys to the offense right away, he can be a sharpshooter from Day 1.
Weaknesses
Sheppard has good instincts defensively but he’s always going to have trouble on that side of the floor given his size. Of course, he will be able to bulk up a bit and could have a bit of a late growth spurt to make this less of a concern. It’s hard to get the Oakland game out of my mind with Sheppard. He looked completely lost against that zone defense, failing to take shots or attack open spots. It took him out of his element and he never quite recovered. That can’t happen in the NBA, especially if he’s being asked to be a lead guard. That mental hurdle is something he’ll have to get over, along with the ability to adapt as the defenses change.
Player comparison: A smaller James Harden
I believe in Sheppard more than most people, and I do think he can be a playmaker like Harden with time. The shooting efficiency is going to be there, even if the overall frame is not. Kyle Lowry is another potential comparison, and Sheppard should be more than comfortable having a career mirroring the veteran. It’ll come down to how he’s deployed early in his career but I can see him being a smaller version of Harden with bits of Lowry mixed in.