Guess which Kentucky player 8 1/2-year-old Shephard Reed was hoping to meet when he got to attend his first University of Kentucky basketball game Saturday?
Obviously, it had to be sensational Kentucky freshman Reed Sheppard.
“He did not get to meet him but he got his basketball signed by Coach (John Calipari) which was great,” Shephard’s mother, Susan Reed of Louisville, said. “They couldn’t get in early enough before the game started to try and meet Reed.”
Susan Reed is a single mother who adopted Shephard and his brother and his 7-year-old brother Sam. They were born in Arkansas — Kentucky’s opponent Saturday — and their birth family is originally from the Marshall Islands.
Reed’s mother and step-father took the boys to the game after managing to secure tickets Thursday night.
“The boys were screaming and so excited when I told them they were going to the game. Shephard laid out his outfit Friday night,” Susan said. “I asked them about the cheerleaders Sunday morning and they told me they did not even see them. Sam said his favorite player was (Antonio) Reeves and they were both talking about how amazing the players were.
“They liked the introductions and loud music. They also liked the food and Rupp Arena ice cream.”
So does her oldest son appreciate the significance of his name even if his name is not spelled exactly like Reed Sheppard?
“My mom’s maiden name is Shephard, so that is where that comes from,” Susan said. “But when I was pursuing adoption I learned the reason there were so many people from the Marshall Islands in northwest Arkansas is because that is where the United States did (nuclear) bomb testing in World War II and messed up the islands. The U.S. made a pact in the 1980’s that if people could get here from there they could stay without a Visa and northwest Arkansas had jobs.
“My grandfather was Colonel Shephard who was a pilot in World War II and took pictures of the atomic bomb testing. I just felt like my granddaddy was orchestrating all this and the name would represent both my mom’s and dad’s family.”
Her father is legendary sportswriter Billy Reed who passed away about two years ago. He wrote for the Courier-Journal, Lexington Herald-Leader and Sports Illustrated.
“I think he would love Reed (Sheppard). My sister and I talked about how he seems like such a neat kid and a special kid that my dad would have loved,” Susan Reed said.
Susan Reed graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1996 but was there the same time that Reed Sheppard’s parents were in school.
“I remember Jeff and Stacey both had great faith. Jeff was always so straight-laced and very serious. He was not into partying and everyone respected his religious faith,” Susan Reed said.
She grew up in Louisville and had to like Kentucky, Louisville and Indiana because of her father’s job. Louisville was a national power under coach Denny Crum as she was growing up and she still has a 1986 Louisville national championship T-shirt.
“I have so many great memories of dad going in and interviewing Denny Crum,” she said.
After graduating from UK, she worked for Louisville athletics director Tom Jurich doing game management. Former UK coach Rick Pitino became the Louisville coach while she was still working at UofL.
“It would irritate my college friends that I could cheer and root for Louisville,” she said.
Her sons got into sports recently but her son Shephard is ready to get more interested in basketball.
“He said, ‘Mom I can’t wait to go over there and practice the moves I learned from watching Reed.’ They are getting into sports more and I hope they can do a basketball camp this summer,” Susan Reed said. “They enjoy soccer which is kind of funny because my dad was not a fan of soccer at all. He thought it was not really a sport and I have no idea why he was not a fan.
“Shephard declared it was the best day of his life (at the UK game) and my dad would have loved that. I need to do better and make sure I get to a game with them.”
Her son was a bit perplexed when UK’s season started and he learned that Reed Sheppard was playing for the Cats. However, he liked the similar name.
“My cousin (Winchester Mayor JoEllen Reed) told us about Kentucky Branded having a ‘Let’s Go Reed’ shirt and he thought that was cool, so we both have one,” she said. “It’s just kind of a neat story and I know no one would have appreciated it more than my dad.”
3 Responses
Great story Larry I love how compassionate our fans are. Hope you get to meet your hero little buddy. Any update on the football team? Or spring football?
Love sharing stories like that Terry
Great story.