Mock Draft has Reed Sheppard as 2024 NBA First-Round Draft Pick

Vicky Graff Photo

Kentucky has the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class and coach John Calipari is expected to develop several of those freshmen into first-round picks in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Guard DJ Wagner has been projected as a future first-round pick for years. Justin Edwards has emerged in the last six months as a player with the potential to be in the first-round mix.

Seven-foot center Aaron Bradshaw was one of the top players in the 2023 recruiting class and if he’s healthy he could showcase why he could be a first-round draft pick. Or even if he does not play — and he continues to insist he will — he could still end up in the first round of the 2024 draft.

But Reed Sheppard? The former North Laurel standout and Kentucky Mr. Basketball had not been listed as a potential one-and-done until I saw a mock draft by David Connelly of SportsGrid. He recently listed his top 25 picks for the 2024 draft and not only was Sheppard one of his choices, but he was listed 14th.

Three other Wildcats — Edwards fourth, Wagner seventh and Bradshaw eighth — were also in Connelly’s projections.

Connelly liked what Sheppard did in the GLOBL JAM in Canada.

“He showed off shooting, athleticism, and defense, which may have proven him an undervalued commodity in high school,” Connelly said.

I have said for months that Sheppard will be a much  more important player for UK this season than some believe because of his passing ability and defense. Calipari is going to have plenty of scorers but he needs passers and players who can contribute small, team-oriented objectives that lead to winning. Sheppard does that and won’t change just because he now finds himself listed on a NBA mock draft.