Reed Sheppard is one of the most hyped players in the 2024 NBA Draft class and the heartwarming story of college basketball. His parents were stars at Kentucky and he has continued 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 has been the team’s best player in some of its most important games.
Here’s why Sheppard is such an intriguing player and what his prospects are in the NBA.
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Reed Sheppard Statistics
| statistics | Average |
|---|---|
| Points | 12.8 |
| Rebounds | 4.3 |
| Assists | 4.5 |
| steal | 2.5 |
| Field goal % | 54.3% |
| % of 3 points | 52.5% |
| Free shot % | 83.1% |
Reed Sheppard’s Strengths
The first point on Sheppard’s NBA resume has to be his shooting. There’s not much more to say about a guy who takes half of his shots from deep at high volume. He is an incredible sniper who can shoot from anywhere on the court. He already seems very comfortable shooting from NBA range.
Sheppard is more than just a gunner. He has good court vision and actively seeks to prepare his teammates. That’s extremely evident in transition, where he might be the best outlet passer in all of college basketball. He constantly has his eyes on the ground and can shoot the ball over defenses with pinpoint accuracy.
Sheppard doesn’t have the best defensive tools, but he does have A+ anticipation of where the ball is going. He has incredibly good hands, as evidenced by his 2.5 steals per game.
Sheppard is an incredibly heady player on both ends of the floor who should maximize his potential.
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Reed Sheppard Weaknesses
In a normal draft, Sheppard probably wouldn’t be in the top 10. At worst, he’ll be a good role player, but he doesn’t have much value to be an All-NBA point guard in his prime.
Sheppard’s athletic limitations are what holds him back the most. 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 a relentless target due to his short stature.
Many of the small point guards who have done it (think Ja Morant, Jalen Brunson, Fred VanVleet) have had some combination of extreme athleticism or toughness. Sheppard doesn’t have the athletic component, so he’ll have to be willing to hit people like Brunson and VanVleet do.
Sheppard also doesn’t have great shot creation skills yet. He often increases his dribble unnecessarily and doesn’t get to the rim much. His game is more perimeter-oriented, making it difficult to project him as a lead guard that he can create for others.
The shooting is undeniable, but I would be wary of using a top pick on Sheppard due to the lack of burst. To me he is more of a late lottery prospect.
Reed Sheppard NBA Mock Draft Projection
This is a strange draft, with no consensus yet reached on the best options. Sheppard has ranged from a top-three pick to somewhere near the bottom of the lottery.
This is where various mock drafts list it:
| Place | Position |
|---|---|
| The ringer | 3 |
| The Athletic | 4 |
| ESPN | 12 |
| SB Nation | 8 |
| bleach report | 3 |
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Reed Sheppard’s NBA Player Comparisons
High Wing: Kyle Lowry
Like the ultra-tough Lowry, Sheppard tends to make winning plays. Lowry outgrew his 6-foot frame by taking a ton of blitzes, using his tall feel to impact the game on both ends of the floor and become a good 3-point shooter. He will go down as the greatest Raptor of all time, a six-time All-Star and NBA champion.
If Sheppard can learn to make plays for others, find a way to overcome his size defensively and become much stronger, Lowry could be high-level competition for him.
Medium: Derrick White
Sheppard has many similarities to White. Both are players who probably won’t lead their team in scoring, but will contribute in every other way.
White has become an elite perimeter defender because of how good he is at determining where the ball will be. He is the best shot-blocking point guard in the league. He has also become a fantastic marksman.
Sheppard already meets most of those same requirements. He is a good connective player. He is a great shot blocker for a guard, coming in hard on shooters and assisting on a lot of jumpers. If he never develops the creation of advantages from him, he could end up as the next high-level player.
Low range: Patty Mills
Mills was never an All-Star, but he is playing in his 15th season thanks to his elite shooting. He primarily came off the bench due to his limitations on offense and his lack of size on defense.
If Sheppard can’t diversify his offensive game, this is a good competition for him. His shooting and the feel of him can give him a solid footing in the NBA as a rotation player on championship-level teams.