Kentucky All-Star Team Won’t Fill Spot Vacated by Mr. Basketball Reed Sheppard

screenshot-1108

Reed Sheppard (Les Nicholson Photo)

Mr. Basketball Reed Sheppard’s vacant spot on the Kentucky all-star team that will play Indiana June 9 and 10 will not be filled according to Scott Chalk, executive director of the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches (KABC).

The North Laurel star sent a letter to Chalk Monday explaining he would not be able to participate due to academic and basketball practice requirements at the University of Kentucky.

“Being that Reed is Mr. Basketball there is really no replacing him,” said Chalk.

There is a selection committee for the other 11 players on the team.

“We try to be careful that players who make commitments will be there and play,” Chalk said. “But that doesn’t apply to Mr. Basketball. There had been some discussion from Reed and his parents about not knowing if he could play or not. There was nothing we could do. He was Mr. Basketball selected by a statewide vote and it was not up to us to override that decision and put someone else on the team.”

Sheppard’s letter was released to Les Dixon of the 13th Region Media Network and he told Chalk he was expected to be on UK’s campus May 30 to start his freshman year.

“There are important events including academic orientation that I cannot reschedule with this commitment,” he told Chalk. “My time as a Kentucky high school basketball player has been something I will treasure for the rest of my life, but I am equally as excited to begin the next chapter of my career in becoming a UK Wildcat.”

He wrote it was “important” to focus on his new team and building chemistry but admitted the decision was “not easy” for him.

Chalk admits not having Sheppard will have a financial impact on the all-star games. He anticipates a smaller crowd at Saturday’s scrimmage against the Kentucky junior all-stars that would have matched Sheppard against Lyon County’s Travis Perry, the state’s all-time leading scorer.

“A lot of people were excited to see Reed against Travis and some of those people won’t come now. Some will not get tickets (to the game) in Owensboro because Mr. Basketball will not be playing. We are not doing this to make money. We just want to make it a great experience for the kids and not having him maybe hurts the experience or reputation of the game a bit with no Mr. Basketball.

“We really felt this was the year to revive interest and get people excited about the game. We thought we could split or maybe win both games.”

Sheppard not only is Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball, but he is a McDonald’s All-American and top 40 player in his recruiting class.

Chalk, a former high school coach, understands colleges pushing for players to get on campus as early as possible but said he expects Indiana to have several Division I signees on its roster. The Hoosiers have players headed to Michigan State, Purdue, Notre Dame and Vanderbilt.

“Some schools understand how important this all-star series is and will want them to play in the games,” Chalk said. “I know it is hard to tell a (college) coach you want to play in a game and stand up to coach Cal (John Calipari) and the UK staff. It puts Reed in a terrible situation. He’s walking on eggshells to not do anything to give him less of a chance to get playing time.

“I also understand that UK just has seven scholarship players for practice. But this is the crowning achievement of a high school career and it’s too bad he cannot play in the game.”

6 Responses

  1. So he officially says he understands while making it plain he feels this is absolutely wrong.

  2. Just another example that Used Car Salesman don’t give a Rats Ass about the State of Kentucky! I wanted to see the Kid play in the All Star games because I won’t be watching his year before going pro.

  3. Calipari is a fraud and this is disgraceful if it is as it seems, Calipari putting Reed Sheppard between this rock and hard place.

    If this is Reed’s decision without that imposed compulsion, I am disappointed in Reed, but if it is as I believe, the real culprit is the fraud who as Rick points out does not give a rats behind about UK basketball, the Commonwealth, or its traditions.

    Just call me Benny!!!!

  4. It’s sad. What a neat experience he will miss. A good coach would make sure he gets to play! Shame on him!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

All articles loaded
No more articles to load
Loading...