The NBA draft is now just a week away, and Big Blue Nation is anxiously waiting to see just how high Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham will go. Through the pre-draft process, Sheppard has really elevated his draft stock, and will likely be a top five pick.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo released an updated NBA mock draft (subscription required), and they now have four Wildcats being drafted.
Reed Sheppard – Pick #3, Houston Rockets
It looks more and more like Sheppard will be the first Kentucky player off the board. After a series of terrific pre-draft workouts and interviews, nearly every analyst has him going very high in the process. He has an NBA skillset and will contribute right away for whoever picks him.
Rob Dillingham – Pick #8, San Antonio Spurs
Dillingham could take a bit of a tumble in the draft, but his talent is undeniable. He can score from anywhere, and is perhaps the quickest player available. His defensive struggles, and an injury he’s been dealing with, could hurt his stock a bit, but he would fit very well in San Antonio.
Justin Edwards – Pick #39, Memphis Grizzlies
Previously, ESPN had Edwards going at the end of round one, but falling into round two is certainly possible. He has tremendous talent, but wasn’t able to consistently show it with the Wildcats. There’s upside there, but a team has to be willing to take a risk, and might be more willing to do so in round two.
Antonio Reeves – Pick #54, Boston Celtics
Reeves has the opposite issue of Edwards. He is likely seen as at his ceiling already, which limits how high he may go. He’s an elite shooter, though, and the Celtics are a good fit, allowing him to come off the bench and do what he does best, which is shoot threes.