CRAWFORD | Reed Sheppard makes a tough call — will leave Kentucky for NBA Draft | Sports

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Reed Sheppard, the national freshman of the year who was became an iconic player in his single season at the University of Kentucky, will declare for the NBA Draft, he said in a social media video released Thursday. He is expected to forego the remainder of his college eligibility.

Sheppard didn't start a game for Kentucky, but earned national accolades and is projected as a top 8 draft pick for the Wildcats.

"I'm just a little boy from London, Kentucky, with a big dream," Sheppard said in a video posted to his Instagram account. "Playing basketball at the University of Kentucky was a huge part of my dream. I am so thankful to wear the blue and white jersey that represents my family, my friends, and the hard-working, faithful fans of the Big Blue Nation. Kentucky is home. Kentucky will always be home. However, there is another part of my dream — to play basketball in the NBA. I believe it is time to pursue that dream. Therefore, I will be entering my name into the NBA Draft today. BBN you have been with me from day one, the faithful and passionate. I'm asking you to go with me on this journey. I'm looking forward to taking you with me."

Kentucky's Reed Sheppard has a quiet moment in his lockder while reporters talk to one of his teammates before an NCAA Tournament practice session in Pittsburgh's PPG Arena on March 20, 2024.
ERIC CRAWFORD

Sheppard's decision was the most-highly watched NBA Draft decision process in recent memory at Kentucky. When Mark Pope was introduced as Kentucky coach last Sunday, the crowd broken into an ovation and began chanting "one more year," at just the mention of the word "shepherd." Reed Sheppard wasn't in the gym that day, but his father, Jeff, a former Kentucky player was, as was his mother Stacey, who also played for UK.

Asked about Sheppard on his first UK radio show a day later, Pope said, "Reed is in that elite air status where he's a lottery pick. He's going to be the fourth or fifth or sixth or seventh pick in the NBA Draft," Pope said. "And that is not something to be taken lightly. It's really extraordinary. The way he's going to be successful in his future is if he really searches inside himself and finds out where his heart is pulling him, in all honesty. You know, Jeff, and Stacey and a Reed are very spiritual people, and will go where God is calling it. And that's just the truth. And, and so I told Shep (Jeff) I'm spending a lot of time praying that God will call him back to Kentucky. But we'll see how that goes."

In the end, the call came elsewhere. Rex Chapman, who was in Rupp Arena Saturday, appreciated the difficulty of Sheppard's decision more than most. He made his own NBA decision when a player at Kentucky.

"I'm glad he wasn't here," Chapman said Sunday. "That would have been a hard thing for him. It's very tough, and especially with Reed growing up here. I grew up in the state, but I grew up a Louisville fan. Kentucky is Reed's dream school. And he's a Kentucky kid, Eastern Kentucky kid. And I know for a fact that they didn't think any of this stuff would happen this fast. ... You work your ass off to become as good as you can to play at the University of Kentucky and you do that, and now you're forced to make a very adult decision. I'm happy he's in this position. But man, it's hard. ... And I can say this, he's got the two best people, in (parents) Jeff and Stacey, to advise their family that's very grounded. They know that basketball will in one day. So I have no no, no doubt that they'll make the right decision for Reed."

Sheppard joins a growing list of Kentucky players to leave the program after the departure of John Calipari, though his decision has little to do with Pope, who was a teammate of his father's.

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