With Reed Sheppard officially announcing that he will be entering the 2024 NBA Draft, many NBA mock drafts still have him going in the lottery, so it’s no surprise to see he’s all-in on the pros.
Before the season started, many thought Sheppard would be a multi-year player, but nobody saw what was coming for his future in his only season with the Kentucky Wildcats.
Throughout the season, Sheppard was a team player and would help the Cats as much as he could to be successful, even after it was clear he was the team’s best player.
“Whatever coach tells me to do, whether it’s to go get a stop or get some water, I’m down to do it as long it helps the team be successful,” said Sheppard.
Sheppard finishes his UK career averaging 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game, though those numbers only begin to tell how impactful he was.
Here’s a roundup of where Sheppard stands in the most recent mock drafts, all of which have him going in the top 10.ESPN: 7th (Memphis Grizzlies)
SB Nation: 8th (Utah Jazz)
FOX Sports: 10th (Atlanta Hawks)
Sports Illustrated: 7th (Memphis Grizzlies)
Bleacher Report: 3rd (San Antonio Spurs)
NBADraft.net: 4th (Portland Trail Blazers)
CBS Sports: 4th (Charlotte Hornets)
The Ringer: 8th (Memphis Grizzlies)
Tankathon: 5th (San Antonio Spurs)
Sportsnaut: 9th (Houston Rockets)
With Sheppard passing many expectations, it isn’t a surprise that he is listed to be drafted in the top 10 in this upcoming year’s draft, and if he tests well in the NBA Draft Combine, Sheppard could make sure he becomes a top-five pick in the draft.