UK signee Reed Sheppard handled attention well and ended prep career with historic numbers

Reed Sheppard ended his career as Kentucky's all-time steals leader and was also second in assists and third in scoring. (Les Nicholson Photo)

North Laurel’s Reed Sheppard became a McDonald’s All-American and University of Kentucky signee this season and neither one surprised coach Nate Valentine.

“Reed has continued to develop his game as you would expect from a great player like him,” Valentine said. “He has got a lot stronger. But the biggest thing is he is more mentally strong.”

Valentine says there is no way to prepare for what Sheppard has faced this season.

“I tell our guys they have no idea what it is like to walk in Reed’s shoes and 99.9 percent of people will never know what it is like,” Valentine said. “You think he’s living in a fantasy world where everybody wants to take pictures with him or have him sign an autograph.

“I don’t think any Kentucky high school player since maybe Rex Chapman has endured all he has. Whether we win or lose or he plays great or bad, there will be a line of 50 people, mostly students who yelled and heckled him during the game wanting an autograph or to take a picture after the game. He does it. He puts a smile on his face and does it every game.”

Valentine knows Sheppard will face the same kind of spotlight at Kentucky but feels it is different for a “17- or 18-year-old high school kid” compared to a college athlete.

“The things he has gone through publicity-wise is higher than any player in Kentucky or maybe nationally other than Bronny James (LeBron James’ son). In terms of just pure attention, it has to be an all-time high in Kentucky but he has handled it well.”

Sheppard’s high school career ended last week in a 62-54 loss to George Rogers Clark at the state tourney when he had 23 points, seven assists, four steals, four rebounds and two blocks.

“It has been a heck of a ride. I could not ask for anything better. Coach (Nate) Valentine has been there through it all. North Laurel has been awesome to me and I could not ask for anything else,” Sheppard said after the loss.

He is the state’s third all-time leading scorer with  3,727 points — behind only the record-breaking 4,359 points by Lyon County junior Travis Perry and 4,337 of King Kelly Coleman. He finishes with 1,050 rebounds along with 1,214 assists — the second best total in state history behind 1,352 by Michael Jones of Harlan from 1989-94.

If that’s not enough, he also has 653 steals — again the most in state history based on the Kentucky High School Athletic Association record book.

For his career, he was a 52 percent shooter from 2-point range and 37 percent from 3 despite being the focus of almost every team’s defense for three years. He averaged 22.59 points, 6.37 rebounds, 7.35 assists and 3.98 steals per game in his career.