Les Nicholson Photo
As John Calipari continues to try and put his 2023-24 basketball roster tighter, there’s a lot of chatter about what it might look like.
Kentucky just got a commitment from forward Jordan Burks and likely will get one from guard Joey Hart this week. Both are three-star players who had not heard from Kentucky until about a month ago.
There is a lot of speculation on how much sophomore center Ugonna Onyenso and sophomore guard Adou Thiero may have improved.
Some wonder how five-star guards DJ Wagner and Rob Dillingham will fit together and if Justin Edwards, another five-star freshman, could be the team’s best player.
Perhaps the biggest question is will five-star 7-footer Aaron Bradshaw play only the 4 or will he move inside to fill a need at center.
However, surprisingly the one player not being mentioned a lot is Kentucky Mr. Basketball Reed Sheppard, the son of former UK players Stacey and Jeff Sheppard.
“Kentucky is going to have a lot of talent and only one basketball,” said Rivals/Yahoo basketball writer Krysten Peek. “I think the guy who will thrive the most is Reed Sheppard.”
Why Sheppard? He’s not the highest rated, the biggest or the most athletic.
“I think you can slide him anywhere on the perimeter,” Peek said. “He will make the right plays and he does not need the ball in his hands to impact the game in various ways.
“He’s exactly the perfect fit for Kentucky’s talent next year with all he can do and his willingness to do whatever coach Cal needs him to do.”
14 Responses
Go shepherd have the highest Respect for you great basketball player you will be awesome basketball player for Kentucky can’t wait to see you perform
Yep. Go go.
Shepard can shoot the light’s out, he may literally be the best shooter on the team, even if Reeves returns and just like Dominique, Reed knows how Basketball is played in the Commonwealth and what it means to the BBN and he’ll get the others understanding as well… I think Cal has already got his team set for next year, he likes playing 7 or 8 guy’s and this is his golden opportunity. I don’t see us winning a NC but I do believe an Elite 8 isn’t out of the question. Every yr it’s pile on Cal time sometimes he’s earned it sometimes not but this crop is special and they’re about to show you, starting in Canada this summer. GO BB!!!😁
James I am with you on reed
I agree you never hear the Kids name other than listed on the roster. This kid can ball like his father maybe better than Dad. I think he will be a huge part of this years Title team. Yepper i said Title team as in National champs. These guys jell quick as a team and have the fire power and good rebounding not great but good enough to go 50/50 on the boards. What i like is they will be a solid free throw shooting team that in the pass few years they have lacked and cost them many games. A Title will shut up these Cal haters which are 60 percent not UK fans. I wander how wide they can get their lips to kiss Cal’s a?? when he brings home this years Title with the best class in the NCAA. All we hear we need this opps we missed Hunter etc. or did not purchase him. This team is going to be quick and bad to the bone . I would have liked to seen Oscar back the rest never impressed me. Reeves can go or stay who cares. My only question is after the year we have this year what are we going to do next year when we lose our entire team to the NBA.
Bob love your optimism and hope you are right
Reload but I do agree it would be virtually impossible to recruit a new team of this caliber I think that there is endless possibilities for this year’s team as long as we stay healthy and play as a team and not a single player that is what I love about Reed it isn’t just about him it is about the wil of the team and getting that win I just hope that the rest of the team have the same state of mind I seen today were Bradshaw was out injured with a fractured foot and is going to be out for 5 to 6 months
Yeah that injury if true is not a good thing at all
Most of u uk fans are delusional if u think this freshman team u have is gonna be good, this isn’t high school. Like i said many times before the portal has changed the game. Teams are making super teams now with
Experience upper class players!
Experience does help
I’ll bet Shep will be the glue that holds this team together especially when they struggle. Reed is very underrated and the biggest thing of all, he knows what it means to wear kentucky jersey. He is very crafty and smart. his basketball IQ is very high already. Once he learns how to play at college speed, lookout.
With you David. Folks underestimating Reed
I like Adou for break out player, but I think Joey Hart will be the sleeper, he can shoot it probably better than Reed, Joey is bigger and has more athleticism, he will probably be 7th man off the bench, the kid is no slouch, but Reed is going to be good (pedigree) can’t wait to the season start
He could be the man to lead all four years…this is what UK needs to be a champion in the NCAA instead of the NBA!!! And hey!!! They can get an education, isn’t that what UK is there for???
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