Upsides

He is far and away the best 3-shooter in this draft class, and one of the best shooters we’ve seen in a good while. He has an excellent release, is super accurate, and was one of the most efficient high volume three point shooters in college basketball. He is at his best shooting it off the catch, but also can make threes on the move and off the dribble. He isn’t quite as dynamic of a shooter as Ja’Kobe Walter, but that’s besides the point. He will provide immediate value to whatever team drafts him because of his three point shooting ability.

His passing is insanely underrated, like he honestly is one of the best passers in this draft class. His vision, IQ, and execution are all great. The only reason he didn’t average 7+ assist per game was because he played with several ball dominant guards who he had to share playmaking duties with.

His shot creation is underrated. He doesn’t have a fancy handle or great footwork, but he is so good at shooting off the dribble and started to get better on drives to the rim towards the ends of the season. His floater also looks like it could be really good.

He is such a good off-ball defender. He is very very very good at getting into passing lanes for steals, he doesn’t ball watch, and plays good help defense

He is an insanely smart basketball player for his age. He was only a freshman this season, but he played like a 5th year senior with how well he understands the game. He doesn’t make very many mistakes court (the tournament game was a completely outlier).

Downsides

His on ball defense needs some work. He gets pushed around pretty easily because of his size, and this isn’t really something you can fix in the NBA.

He hasn’t gotten to shine as much as other prospects because he is playing on a team with other good guards who he shares ball handling duties with.

Projection

Best team fits: Literally anywhere, but especially San Antonio

Worst team fits: Literally nowhere, he’d be a good fit on any basketball team on the planet right now

Shades of: Jason Kidd, TJ McConnell/Seth Curry hybrid, Donte DiVincenzo

Reed Sheppard

[img]http://i.imgur.com/B82myfu.png[/img][/url]]()

https://youtu.be/QMYGeMbZhYY?si=TFcWk2aeONdjJN1N

He is only 6'3 but he looks like a 6'3 Klay Thompson. Best shooter in the draft and good defender. I guess the worry would be how does his defense translate to the nba at his size. But there are good short players in the nba. I believe he has too much BBIQ, motor, and fundamentals to be a bust or pass on. If we get him, his main progression should probably be shot creation and defense translating.

Reed Sheppard - Kentucky (PG/SG - HT: 6’2” -

- Smallish combo guard who can shoot, defend, and playmake. 
- Amazing shooter, mostly on spot ups. Super quick release.
- Not much of a shot creator for himself
- Good playmaker but maybe not a full time PG
- Gets a lot of steals but I question his quickness at the next level

• pretty limited athleticism. Does not have any pop

  • Shades of Gary Harris with more passing, Aaron Holiday with more shooting, Seth Curry with more defense, Austin Reaves with less height Range: 3 - 12

Poste(s) : PG

Âge : 19 ans

Taille : 1m85

Stats : 12.5pts, 4.1reb, 4.5ast, 2.5stl, 0.7blk

Adresse : 54%fg, 52%3pt, 83%ft

Beaucoup de mystère entoure Reed Sheppard, d'abord underdog en AAU, puis à la fac de Kentucky. Jusqu'où continuera t-il de déjouer les pronostics ? Dorénavant très attendu, il devra faire face à de nouvelles attentes en NBA, même si le fiasco de sa March Madness a légèrement remis en perspective son incroyable saison statistique. Il incarne d'ailleurs peut-être le plus grand écart entre plancher et plafond. Ne se limitant pas seulement à un rôle de shooteur en mouvement, Sheepard est capable de créer pour les autres et de driver vers le panier. En défense, malgré ses limites physiques (1m90, avec des épaules étroites), il excelle au contre et à l'interception grâce à des mains hyper précises et une lecture du jeu exceptionnelle. Alors, plutôt pile ou face ?

Tier 1 - Ceiling:

All-Star, 3PM & 3PT% NBA League Leader

Nationality

American

Draft Day Age

19.99

Wingspan

6'3

Avg ranking (top 6 NBA draft sites) 12.2

My Jan Ranking 4

Best Case - Shades of/

Coby White

Derrick White

Mark Price

Stats:

26.0 MPG

11.9 PPG

74.1 TS% on 7.0 FGA

53.6 3PT% on 4.0 FGA

87.1 FT% on 2.2 FTA

9.0 TRB%

24.0 AST%

5.1 STL%

3.4 BLK%

15.1 TO%

17.3 USG%

140.2 ORTG

92.8 *DRTG

14.3 BPM

Reed Sheppard Scouting Report (as of January 7, 2024)

Overview:

Reed Sheppard is a 6'3", 185-pound point guard from the Kentucky Wildcats with a strong case for being a first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He's known for his shooting prowess, floor generalship, and defensive tenacity, making him a well-rounded prospect who can contribute to both ends of the court.

Strengths:

Elite shooter: Sheppard boasts an elite shooting stroke, making him a consistent threat from beyond the arc. He can hit open shots with ease, both in catch-and-shoot situations and coming off screens. His ability to space the floor creates opportunities for himself and his teammates. Intelligent playmaker: While not a flashy passer, Sheppard plays with a high basketball IQ and makes smart decisions with the ball in his hands. He can orchestrate the offense efficiently, find open teammates with timely passes, and manage the game effectively. Strong defensive player: Despite his size, Sheppard is a pesky and energetic defender. He possesses good footwork, uses his length effectively, and disrupts passing lanes with active hands. His effort and hustle on defense are valuable assets. Leadership qualities: Sheppard demonstrates strong leadership potential on the court. He's a vocal leader who communicates effectively with his teammates and leads by example with his work ethic and positive attitude.

Weaknesses:

Limited athleticism: Compared to some NBA point guards, Sheppard lacks elite athleticism. This could limit his ability to finish through contact in the paint, particularly against bigger and stronger defenders. Average scorer: While he can create his own shot, Sheppard isn't a prolific scorer. He primarily focuses on facilitating for others and relies on his shooting to generate offense. He might need to improve his shot creation skills to become a consistent scorer at the NBA level. Turnover-prone: At times, Sheppard can struggle with ball security, leading to turnovers. He needs to improve his decision-making and refine his dribbling skills to reduce turnovers in the NBA's faster-paced environment.

Overall:

Reed Sheppard is a high-character prospect with a well-rounded skillset that could translate well to the NBA. His elite shooting, intelligent playmaking, and defensive hustle make him a valuable asset, especially for teams seeking a floor general who can contribute on both ends of the court. While he might not be a dominant scorer, his leadership and basketball IQ could make him a valuable piece for a team looking to build a winning culture.

Additional Notes:

Sheppard comes from a basketball lineage, with his father Jeff Sheppard having played professionally in Europe. Some scouts compare him to a young Delon Wright due to his defensive prowess, playmaking abilities, and leadership qualities, while others see him as a more offensively-oriented player like Tyus Jones. His shooting ability, leadership, and defensive tenacity make him a good fit for any team seeking a reliable point guard who can contribute immediately and grow into a key role player in the NBA. Overall, Reed Sheppard is a player to watch closely in the lead-up to the 2024 NBA Draft. He has the talent and potential to be a valuable asset for any team, and his work ethic and positive attitude suggest he is ready to contribute at the next level.

Reed Sheppard is the son of former NBA player and Kentucky basketball legend Jeff Sheppard. Although Jeff didn't have a long NBA career, Reed has the opportunity to not only have a long NBA career but to also be a star in the league for years to come.

Reed Sheppard is a swiss army knife type player. He impacts the game on both ends of the floor.

Reed Sheppard is making his case for the best freshman in all of college basketball, competing against his own teammate Rob Dillingham for that honor.

Bio: 6 foot 3: 187 pounds: 19 years old (04): Point Guard / Shooting Guard

Strengths: Excellent three point shooter: Free throws: Ball handling: Court vision: On ball defense: Good at blocking shots for a 6 foot 3 guard: Has that DAWG in him

Weaknesses: At times he can be careless: Sometimes isn't confident enough: Small frame: Limited offensively off the ball: Not very fast

FINAL SUMMARY: Reed Sheppard is a dynamic college player and he is the reason why Kentucky wins some of its games. He is one of the most consistent three point shooters in the country, and he is a clutch free throw shooter as well. Reed has all of the characteristics of a lead NBA guard, I have no doubt that he will be able to run an NBA offense. On the defensive end Reed is fun to watch, he averages just under 3 steals a game and just under 1 block a game as a freshman. Even with Reed's small frame he is able to hound the opposing offensive players relentlessly. He is not the most athletically gifted player but he makes up for it with his effort on both ends of the floor. Any NBA team would benefit immediately from imputing Reed into their rotation. Reed should be a lottery pick, he is one of the most well rounded players in the draft and he might be the most well rounded guard in the whole draft.