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Has freshman Reed Sheppard hit a wall at Kentucky or have the Wildcats stopped making sure he is an integral part of the UK offense?
Sheppard played so well before Southeastern Conference play started that he elevated himself to a lottery selection in several NBA mock drafts. However, in SEC play either teams have started defending him better, he’s being too unselfish or UK is not looking for him enough on offense.
In six SEC games, Sheppard has taken 27 shots and made 11 while averaging 9.0 points per game. From 3-point range, he’s 11-for-20. At the foul line, he’s 7-for-10. Despite not having an assist in the loss at South Carolina, he has 20 assists and 10 steals.
Before SEC play, Sheppard had taken five or fewer shots in just four games, and three times he had 10 or more shots and he also had games with eight and nine shots.
He is still averaging 11.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game. He’s shooting 55.5 percent overall from the field and is making an amazing 54.8 percent (34 of 41) shots from 3-point range. At the foul line, he’s 34 of 41 for 82.9 percent less.
Sheppard’s lack of shot attempts has even stood out to legendary college basketball analyst Dick Vitale.
“Many will say (Reed Sheppard) is the best SHOOTER in the nation — check out the # of shots in the last 5 games — not more than 4 a game. To me, he should get a minimum of 10 shots per game. Reed is so UNSELFISH,” Vitale posted on X.
Sheppard had taken five shots in the three games before he got only four at South Carolina. However, when you are shooting like he is, why not make sure he gets more shots?
Former UK All-American Kenny Walker feels there is a combination of reasons for Sheppard’s drop in productivity.
“I love the energy he and (Rob) Dillingham bring off the bench. They are fun to watch. They have both been great,” Walker said on WPBK-FM radio Thursday. “Reed is such a humble kid. He’s a pass-first kid who wants to see his teammates do well. He has played better than most expected but he has remained very unselfish.
“He does not take shots unless he is wide open. I think he should shoot more and be more aggressive.”
Sheppard has been perhaps too unselfish but that is his DNA.
“He is smart defensively. I didn’t think he could guard taller, bigger guards like he is doing now. But he is expending a lot of energy defensively doing the best he can and that might also be affecting his offense a little bit because of how hard he has to play on defense,” Walker said.
“But when we need baskets we know he can knock down shots and he needs to be more aggressive on offense in my opinion. It’s on the coaching staff to get him to shoot more. They have got to figure that out.”
8 Responses
Edwards comes before Sheppard in Cal’s opinion. Edwards needs more shots to get him going 😂
Shepperd is not a gunner like Reeves, his first thought is to find someone else who has a shot. This gets the ball moving and does find better shots, but for Reed to get more shots he needs to start and play 30 minutes. Edwards is not going to make it here at Kentucky. He needs to transfer to a smaller school where he can be the No. 1 option on offense and then he will flourish, but not here.
I am not sure Edwards has the heart, motor, or the "want to" to take better advantage of his talents. This has been one of my problems with Cal for years. He puts more emphasis on the "star ratings" than he does the other components.
Read a while back he wanted Shepard to step back some where the others could benefit, and to pass the ball more! Everybody making remarks he had slowed way down no way! Guess he’s been reading remarks too! Played him more tonight and look how great he is. First game this season when introduced told all about him, number one freshman pick.Parents were both stars at UK and am sure he’s been coached most of his life. Extremely knowledgeable!
Sheppard’s minutes are falling and will continue to decline as the pets use their rising time to showcase themselves for the upcoming NBA draft process.
Sheppard does whatever it takes to win some of the other players play for stats. Edward’s is to worried about forcing shots since calapari brags on him all the time. He must be doing clyde Drexler dunks in practice. To me he has a low moter and looks lackadaisical sometimes in the games. If anyone needs to shoot more it’s definitely Sheppard. The combinations of players Cal puts out there doesn’t help the matter. I would start Wagner Sheppard and Dillingham and have big z and Mitchell down low. Kinda like a 3 guard 2 forward offense. That’s a all offensive lineup then once we get up by 8 or 10 then start making substitutions. Edward’s isn’t even a top 5 player on the team so why is he worried about him scoring a 30 point game? He was extremely overrated coming out of high school. The top 3 freshman on kentucky in ant order is Sheppard Dillingham and Wagner. Then you have Bradshaw and Edward’s right outside of them. The only 3 players that could possibly reach 30 in a game is 3 players that I mentioned above. Sometimes it’s like Cal doesn’t even pay attention to the games only practice and we’ve heard in the past players who are studs at practice and in the games they seem lost.
Sheppard needs to shoot when he has the opportunity. He will not take a shot and pass instead. Is he not comfortable shooting that much, or is he being instructed to pass first?
The other player freshman on the team Berks or Burke to me is a better player than Edwards and should be playing more has not gotten a chance and probably will be on another team next year won’t stay at Kentucky our coach is not playing the best players why I do not know