Men's Basketball

ReedSheppard

  • position Guard
  • height 6-3
  • Weight 187
  • class Freshman
  • Hometown London, Ky.

2023-24 (FRESHMAN)
National Association of Basketball Coaches National Freshman of the Year … United States Basketball Writers Association Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Year … Dick Vitale’s “Diaper Dandy” of the Year … Field of 68 National Freshman of the Year … Field of 68 Third-Team All-America … College Hoops Today National Sixth Man of the Year … Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year by the league’s coaches … All-SEC Second Team honoree by the media and coaches … All-SEC Freshman Team selection … Four-time SEC Freshman of the Week … Averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game … Saw action in all 33 games for UK and made five starts … Shot 53.6% from the floor, a nation-best 52.1% from 3-point range and 83.1% from the free-throw line … Only player in the country to amass 145 assists, 80 steals and 75 3-pointers … Just the second player in UK history to have 80 or more steals in a single season … Had 21 games scoring in double-figures, including seven with 20 or more … Led UK in scoring seven times, assists in 18 games, steals in 25 games and blocks four times … Had 26 games with three or more assists and 13 games with three or more swipes … Erupted for 27 points on seven 3s in the win over No. 4 Tennessee on the road … Matched a career-high with 11 assists in the home win over Vanderbilt … Scored a career-high 32 points, including the game winner with less than a second to play in a win at Mississippi State … He scored 23 points after halftime in the come-from-behind win and also added seven assists, five rebounds and two steals … Had eight points, six assists and four steals in the upset of Alabama … Charted 13 points, five assists and five steals in the win over Ole Miss … Logged 21 points, all in the second half, and added five boards, three assists, two blocks and two steals vs. Gonzaga … Totaled 16 points and six assists in the first matchup with Tennessee … Posted 24 points, eight boards, six assists, two blocks and a steal at home vs. Florida … Had 14 points, five assists and four steals in a comeback effort at Arkansas … Charted 14 points, including the game-winning free-throws, at Florida … Had 11 points and 11 assists in the road win at Louisville … It was the most assists for a UK player in the series’ history … Had 25 points, nine rebounds and six assists in his first collegiate start against UNC Wilmington … Had 21 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals in the upset of Miami … Charted 25 points and drained seven 3s against Stonehill … Logged 13 points and four steals against No. 1 Kansas … Had 12 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two rejections in his collegiate debut vs. New Mexico State.

HIGH SCHOOL
Rated as high as No. 22 overall by ESPN … McDonald’s All-American … Mr. Kentucky Basketball in 2023 … Helped Team Ohio to win Junior International Championship in Italy and earned MVP honors after scoring 26 points in the title game … Averaged 22.5 points, 8.5 assists and 8.4 rebounds per game … Finished high school career with 3,727 career points … Led North Laurel to the state Sweet 16, averaging 25.2 points, 7.6 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 4.4 steals per game as a junior… 2022 Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year.

PERSONAL
Born June 24 in London, Kentucky … Parents are Jeff and Stacey Sheppard … Has a sister, Madison … Parents both played college basketball at Kentucky … His father was the MVP of the 1998 Final Four and won two national championships … Lists his most memorable moment as a basketball player as winning a high school regional … Honor Roll student … His most prized possession is his dog … Chose No. 15 because it’s the number his father wore at Kentucky … Favorite food is steak … Favorite movie is Hoosiers … Pregame superstition is taking a nap … Dunked for the first time in eighth grade … Lists Chris Paul as his favorite player and Devin Booker as his favorite Wildcat … Chose Kentucky over Indiana and Louisville.

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