Reed Sheppard is one of the most hyped players in the 2024 NBA Draft class and the feel-good story of college basketball. His parents were both stars at Kentucky, and he has carried on that legacy.
Sheppard has gone from a relatively unheralded recruit to arguably the most productive freshman in his class. His shooting percentages have been outrageous all year, and he's been the team's best player in some of their most important games.
Here's why Sheppard is such an intriguing player, and what his NBA prospects look like.
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Reed Sheppard stats
| Stat | Average |
|---|---|
| Points | 12.8 |
| Rebounds | 4.3 |
| Assists | 4.5 |
| Steals | 2.5 |
| Field goal % | 54.3% |
| 3-point % | 52.5% |
| Free throw % | 83.1% |
Reed Sheppard strengths
The first bullet point on Sheppard's NBA resume has to be his shooting. There isn't much more to say about a guy who is making half of his shots from deep on high volume. He's an amazing sharpshooter who can pull from anywhere on the floor. He already looks very comfortable shooting from NBA range.
Sheppard is more than just a gunner. He has good court vision and actively looks to set up teammates. That is extremely apparent in transition, where he might be the best outlet passer in all of college hoops. He constantly has his eyes down the floor and he can fire the ball over the top of defenses with pinpoint accuracy.
Sheppard doesn't have the best defensive tools, but he does possess A+ anticipation of where the ball is going. He has outrageously good hands, as evidenced by his 2.5 steals per game.
Sheppard is an incredibly heady player on both ends of the court who should max out his potential.
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Reed Sheppard weaknesses
In a normal draft, Sheppard probably wouldn't be going in the top 10. He will be, at worst, a good role player, but he doesn't have much equity toward being an All-NBA guard at his peak.
Sheppard's athletic limitations are the biggest thing holding him back. At 6-3 with a short wingspan, he doesn't have good NBA size.
Life is extremely difficult for a small guard in the NBA. The next level is all about creating mismatches, and Sheppard will be relentlessly targeted due to that short stature.
Many of the small guards who have made it — think Ja Morant, Jalen Brunson, Fred VanVleet — have had some combination of extreme athleticism or toughness. Sheppard does not have the athleticism component, so he will have to be willing to hit people as Brunson and VanVleet do.
Sheppard also does not have great shot-creation skills yet. He will often unnecessarily pick up his dribble and he doesn't drive all the way to the rim much. His game is more perimeter-oriented, which makes it difficult to project him as a primary guard who can create for others.
The shooting is undeniable, but I would be leery of using a top pick on Sheppard due to the lack of explosion. He's more of a late lottery prospect to me.
Reed Sheppard NBA Mock Draft projection
This is an odd draft, with no consensus forming yet on the top picks. Sheppard has landed anywhere from a top-three pick to somewhere near the end of the lottery.
Here's where various mock drafts list him:
| Site | Position |
|---|---|
| The Ringer | 3 |
| The Athletic | 4 |
| ESPN | 12 |
| SB Nation | 8 |
| Bleacher Report | 3 |
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Reed Sheppard NBA player comparisons
High end: Kyle Lowry
Like the ultra-tough Lowry, Sheppard tends to make winning plays. Lowry overcame his 6-foot height by taking a ton of charges, using his high feel to impact the game on both ends of the floor and becoming a good 3-point shooter. He will go down as the greatest Raptor of all time, a six-time All-Star and an NBA champion.
If Sheppard can learn how to make plays for others, figure out a way to overcome his size defensively and get a lot stronger, Lowry could be a high-end comp for him.
Median: Derrick White
Sheppard has a lot of similarities to White. Both are glue guys who probably won't lead their team in scoring, but they will chip in everywhere else.
White has become an elite perimeter defender because of how great he is at timing where the ball will be. He is the best shot-blocking guard in the league. He's also become a terrific shooter.
Sheppard already ticks off most of those same boxes. He's a good connective player. He's a great shot blocker for a guard, closing out hard on shooters and getting a hand on a lot of jumpers. If he never develops his advantage creation, he could end up as the next high-level role player.
Low end: Patty Mills
Mills was never an All-Star, but he's playing into his 15th season thanks to elite shooting. He mostly came off the bench due to his limitations on offense and his lack of size defensively.
If Sheppard is unable to diversify his offensive game, this is a good comp for him. His shooting and feel can give him a solid NBA floor as a rotation player on championship-level teams.
