As the NBA draft got closer, more and more mock drafts began to predict Reed Sheppard would go inside the top three. Most often, he was projected to be the third pick and go to the Houston Rockets. On Wednesday night, that’s exactly what happened.
Sheppard headed for Kentucky as a part of a heralded recruiting class, but was not one of the top ranked players. He wasn’t even a top 50 player in the 2023 class.
As the season wore on, it became apparent that Sheppard had NBA appeal. He was an elite shooter, one of the best in the country. He showed an uncanny ability to pass the ball from anywhere on the floor as well. His help defense was terrific, and he was as good as anyone at getting his hands on the ball to force a steal.
The Rockets clearly needed shooters going into this draft, and Sheppard is the best in the draft. His one-on-one defense needs work, and he isn’t big, but he is fantastic in many aspects of the game. Wildcats fans hope that fans in Houston appreciate him as much as the fans in Lexington did.