LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky reserve guard Reed Sheppard, who was voted the Southeastern Conference’s top freshman by coaches after leading the league in steals, says he will enter the NBA draft.
The London, Kentucky, native was considered one of the conference’s best playmakers and perimeter shooters. He said in a social media post that it was time to pursue his dream of playing in the NBA and asked fans “to go with me” in a one-minute video.
Sheppard’s father, Jeff, was the 1998 Final Four Most Outstanding Player and helped the Wildcats win two national championships, while his mother, Stacey, was a 1,000-point scorer for Kentucky’s women’s team.
Sheppard started just five of 33 games, but was Kentucky’s No. 3 scorer at 12.5 points per contest and averaged an SEC-best 2.5 steals that ranked eighth nationally.
Sheppard also ranked fourth in the SEC with 4.5 assists per game, averaged 4.1 rebounds and made 52% of his 3-point attempts. He earned the Wayman Tisdale Award as the nation’s top freshman as selected by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.
Sheppard is the second Wildcat to enter the draft along with fellow freshman Rob Dillingham, the SEC’s top sixth man who declared last week.
John Adams' Nativity oratorio 'El Nino' gets colorful staging at the Met
Judge dismisses lawsuits filed against rapper Drake over deadly Astroworld concert
Project to shore up Pompeii yields stunning black banquet hall, with frescoes of Trojan War figures
Universal Pictures teases ‘Wicked’ and announces ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’
Hanna and Haley Cavinder say they're returning for last season at Miami
When's the next eclipse after 2024? Watch for these celestial events
Jailed Vietnamese dissident Pham Doan Trang to be honored by PEN America
Luke Combs leads the 2024 ACM Awards nominations, followed by Morgan Wallen and Megan Moroney
Depleted New Zealand batting first against Pakistan in T20
Maine sues biochemical giant over contamination from PCB
A Nigerian schoolgirl abducted by extremists 10 years ago is rescued pregnant and with 3 kids
When's the next eclipse after 2024? Watch for these celestial events