Jeff Sheppard knows times have changed but his son Reed will still find one thing similar at Kentucky

Reed Sheppard will play for a "crazy" coach at UK just like his father did. (Photo by Les Nicholson)

Jeff Sheppard knows his son, Reed, is playing in a far different era than he did when he was the 1998 Final Four most outstanding player for national champion Kentucky.

“His era is the transfer portal, one-and-done, NIL (name, image and likeness). The (NCAA) Tournament is even bigger than when I played,” said Jeff Sheppard. “When I played, you went to school and that was it. There were not many transfers. Now transfers are a huge part of college sports but it is still Kentucky basketball and fans are still just as passionate.”

North Laurel High School junior Reed Sheppard has verbally committed to Kentucky. His father says one thing has not changed from when he played at UK until now.

“I played for a crazy coach (Rick Pitino) and Reed will play for a crazy coach (John Calipari). They are all crazy. These college coaches are nuts, but it is a good crazy,” Jeff Sheppard said.

Jeff is not worried about his son being overwhelmed by the UK spotlight. Reed’s mother, Stacy, also was a star player at UK.

“Reed has been Reed his whole life. He saw us walk through the grocery store and people stopping us to tell a basketball story,” Jeff said. “Reed would turn and say who was that. I would tell Reed it was a Kentucky fan but I really didn’t know the name.”

“Now we go out and people say, ‘Hey Reed. How is is going?’ They congratulate him. I will ask him who that was and he will say, ‘Dad, that is a Kentucky fan and I don’t know the name.’ Now Stacy and I are just a husband-wife and mom-dad who love our kids. We are just Reed’s parents now and that’s fine.”