Vicky Graff Photo
Since it seems certain Kentucky coach John Calipari will be back again next year based on what he said on his final radio show of the season Monday night, full attention can now turn to the second biggest question about UK basketball — will Reed Sheppard be back for a sophomore season after his sensational freshman year or will he head to the NBA.
Calipari certainly hinted that he could have one or two of his freshman point guards off this year’s team return for next season. Odds are Rob Dillingham is headed to the NBA and raising his draft stock considerably this season. That leaves Sheppard and D.J. Wagner as two players Calipari obviously is thinking could return.
“We’ve got one or two that could come back and solve that issue (of having an older point guard) for us because of what they’ve been through,” Calipari said. “And then if not, then we’ve got to look who’s out there (in the transfer portal).”
Calipari has landed guards Davion Mintz, Kellan Grady and Antonio Reeves from the transfer portal. He constantly mentioned the need for UK to get “older” next season and UK’s freshmen guards consistently had trouble defending older, stronger guards.
Calipari was not shy about his sales pitch to a transfer portal point guard.
“And if you’re a point guard, and you’re near draftable, why wouldn’t you come here?” Calipari said. “And that’s where the NIL plays a part of it, because if they’re really good, it’s not like recruiting freshmen. It isn’t. It’s totally a different situation.
“It’s either, we get one or two of the guys that were playing some point to be back if that’s what they choose to do, or we go find one.”
49 Responses
Reed Sheppard has bailed him out all season long.
King CALcified wants him to hang around and do more of it.
It’s a crop of fans whom I know like to give Reed the utmost credit, but Dillingham had the most 20 point games other than Reeves. Some of you tend to pick and choose which players to put on pedestals instead of just being a d*mn fan and supporting the coaches and all of the players.
They better…they both looked scared and tenative in last game.
Don’t be too quick to lay the “scared & tentative” on Reed Sheppard. The pathetic instructions the fraud gave specific players is an unknown which directly affected their game!
Here’s hoping UK instructs the spineless AD to get with it and arrange for a greatly reduced buyout to get rid of the fraud. Then having Sheppard and Perry with a real coach will get UK to the elusive FF!!!
If the fraud returns it’s just letting more dirt to be dumped on the dying UK BB program which glory days are long gone.
We need Reed, Travis, Moreno from Georgetown, Jasper Johnson and a new younger coach.
Ok he looked confident and completely ready..now which statement is more true?
Don’t blame the player when the pseudo-coach has the history to prove he has confused, ruined, lies to &/or cheated so many players since he arrived!
Starting with KY Mr Basketball Jon Hood being delegates to the far end of the bench instead of letting him play and get used to playing so he would be ready when needed to hit 3’s vs WVU instead of losing with all those super-talented players because he never coached them. Then Willis was lied to after he scored 20+ points to beat UK & the fraud said he would be getting a lot of minutes, but the next game barely got in the game.
Then Dontae Allen, another prolific shooter had his confidence shattered and his life flipped upside down because the fraud wanted a pet to be the hero instead of Allen who brought UK back from the jaws of defeat on the road in the SEC. And the player (Hopkins?) who went to the Big East a few years ago & starred but could hardly get in the game without being told what he did wrong when under the crushing thumb of the fraud.
These few examples make it clear why to blame the fraud instead of a player,.
Dontae Allen just played his 4th year of college ball and wasn’t even one of the 4 best players on Western Kentucky. He doesn’t play defense and he acts very lazy on and off the court. He should be averaging at least double figures for a conference USA team but he isn’t. He’s averaging 8 in his redshift junior season so what difference would he make playing for Kentucky in the SEC?
Anybody who thinks that he looked like a nba ready guard is smoking crack. He definitely did look scared to death and they had zero to do with coaching
Sheppard and Wagoner could both use another year of college, as well as Edwards, Bradshaw, Onyenso, and Ivisic. Individually and team wise, this team did not improve a whole lot throughout the year. Any strides they made on the offensive side of the ball were negated by their horrific defense and lack of game preparation.
When you start nearly every game down by 10, that doesn’t say much for how your coaches prepared the team.
Dillingham is the only one who may be ready for the NBA. What happened to Wagner, Edwards,
and Bradshaw? All suppose to be high draft picks but certainly didn’t prove it. Was very disappointed
in them. Especially Edwards and Bradshaw. How they were named 5 Star players is something l
will never understand. Not even sure they will ever be ready for the NBA. Am not an NBA scout,
but they didn’t show me very much.
OldFan, you are so right that this team did not improve during the year.
In FACT, just as in prior years when UK played summer games BEFORE being confused, infected, damaged, broken down & divided…
Once again the TEAM which was so dominant in summer games with innate chemistry, unselfish play, TEAM 1st spirit & attitude, energy for 40 minutes BEFORE the fraud broke down that TEAM & ruined them by the time the season started!
That comparison of TEAM BEFORE the fraud vs the shattered group of players the fraud “produced” is Prof enough because it happened every time! The TEAM which looked like a FF contender suddenly looked like a R32 team during the 1st 5 to 7 regular season games which has been consistently an indication of how the team would based end up in the Big Dance.
Year after year, I followed the projections accurately made by the Professor, based on the early season games and sure enough UK played to the level projected. No improvement from Nov to March… but a lot of destruction during the months between summer games & the start of the season!!!
I think Sheppard Wagner Bradshaw Big Z and Thiero all return Burks and Hart will transfer. I would still go get a transfer guard. You need at least 4 good guards on your team for a deep run. Sheppard Wagner Fland and I would get a PG who can shoot the 3. If he could develop players Hart should contribute in year 2. I seen him play in high school and he looked like a white Michael Jordan in the game I seen him play. Lol I know its a funny metaphor but he was getting in the passing lane doing windmill dunks and reverse dunks and hitting almost every 3 he shot. He reminded me slot of Sheppard except Sheppard can shoot better but I think Hart is more athletic. I don’t know why Cal would even give someone a scholarship and waste it with no intention of playing him. I guess he picked up a good red shirt year. But I can see him being a great college player by his redshift sophomore year. He should transfer to a Murray state or morehead state and he would be one of the best players.
OldFan… the start of game after game in the hole was so true – and if the fraud has started Sheppard & Dillingham instead of his 2 top pets, UK would not have been in a hole. Game after game those 2 lead UK back into the game after starting in a hole. And yet, so many screamed and yelled that starting did not matter. It mattered when I was in the 7th & 8th grade around 1960 and that mere fact has never changed for many reasons, including a good start by getting ahead early in every game
Stop crying old timer & enjoy the fact that cal has us a insanely talented team that’s able to contend for a ship every single year, let’s just fire the guy that gets the #1 or #2 ranked recruiting class year after year & hire another billy Gillespie that plummets our team in the ground & then you’ll definitely be crying realizing how good we have it with Coach CAL. I don’t wanna ever go back to the last 2 tubby years & then Gillespies 2 years after, now talk about depressed & when we hired cal & he got us Wall, Cousins, Orton, Bledsoe & Dodson 5 top ranked recruits something I only saw Kentucky get one other time in 10 yrs the 04 class of rondo, Crawford & morris f**k man I was appreciative, this isn’t our low at all cause we all know Cal will take his #2 recruiting class & sign some hella transfers with whoever returns & do something big next yr, hes too damn stubborn & way too good of a coach to leave UK on bad note… Anyway GO BIG BLUE & Coach CAL
good stuff Little Baron – also look at what Brooks has done out west.
Thanks bbn cricket…
Yes, Brooks is yet another.
It’s always nice of they can recover from the damage & move on. Unfortunately, some have been so damaged they will never be the same – their confidence/ self-esteem gone.
A big difference between selfish and self-esteem.
Sheppard maybe, but when Calipari gets canned Wagner will hit the portal.
That would mean UK hit the daily double!
Bring in Jeff Sheppard as an Assistant Coach – regardless whether Reed stays or not; no obligation. Look at what he & his wife developed – a genuine star – National Freshmen of the Year! and a true UK fan wearing the UK jersey with pride.
I will defend Reed over and over if anyone tries to put ANY blame on him for UK collapsing the 1st weekend.
What is the (oh too) COMMON denominator for 5 years and even longer…
it is the fraud. Nothing to debate or argue! Just a fact!
Reed Sheppard needs to come back ..period he’s not ready.
Dirk tell me who is not ready for a guaranteed 12 to 20,000,000 dollar contract? Thats 8 digits for a 19 or 20 year old kid to decide on to come back to Ky for more pressure. My question is, is he ready to come back to Ky and play for a tradition that will only except going deep in the NCAA as a successful year, over all that money?
We’ve noticed you have expressed your OPINION on several occasions lately that Reed is not ready for NBA status where like most draftees at a young age, he will be conditioned and coached to improve his skills and talent. Many of his stats, as a freshman exceed his teammates declaring for the draft as well as better than many in the ncaa. Actually according to his stats and performance in one season appear to be more impressive than yours in 4 years when you were finally drafted somewhere in the second round I believe it was…PERIOD!
I don’t think he’s emotionally or mentally ready
I think it is obvious how well Jeff Sheppard "coached" Reed.
To me, I saw a young man who knows how to play basketball beyond his years. It seems clear he has been learning about this game since a young age. High School coaches are great, but Reed is not like the vast majority of incoming freshman basketball players. I agree with Little Baron, that his parents have coached him exceedingly well.
However, I don’t think Jeff gets all the credit here. I recall Reed attributing his in-game focus to his mother, Stacey, also a former great UK basketball player in her own right.
In addition to the clearly evident influence on Reed’s basketball skills, his parents instilled a love and respect for UK basketball, and Reed’s love and respect, like anyone’s, generates pride.
I have watched UK basketball for many more years than I care to remember. One distinguishing characteristic of UK basketball that always attracted me to the program was the contributions over the decades made by a linage of Kentucky boys who grew up loving the UK Wildcats, dreaming of having the honor to wear the uniform.
Reed Sheppard put his Kentucky Pride on full display this past season.
Reed Sheppard is one huge reason this team was so much fun to watch.
What makes you think Jeff Sheppard is a good coach? I know he’s a good guy. Thats a fact.
It’s official….just read that Cal is back but will be staff changes. Staff may be a part of the problem but only the smallest. Cal gets his way with Barney AGAIN!!…what a F-in downer.
Mike, I myself want him out. In what I’m hearing there some changes will be made that Mitch applied to him how the program will be run from here on out Time will tell.
Great day for the other SEC mens basketball programs.
These comments are pathetic. 😫🍼
I agree with Jimmy, these comments are truly pathetic.
Most of the comments I have read, all appear to be pro Reed Sheppard and not fans of the rest of the other freshman other the Rob Dillingham. Reed, Rob, DJ and Edwards all showed the ability to score in different season games and they all struggled offensively at times. Defensively they all struggled against skilled teams mostly older players. And since I’m being honest here, all the 5 and 4 star freshmen looked lost in the NCAA tournament game and could use an extra 1 or 2 more years at Kentucky.
Wagner is much more athletic and a better offensive player than he showed. Has to improve his shooting and work on a mid range game . Gets in too deep at times . The weight room will do wonders for him . Work on the delivery of his jump shot . Too mechanical . Needs a smoother delivery .
First, cudo to my hometown of Harlan and the rest of the county on a great run to the state finals. 1st finals since 1944. Second, there’s no John Wooden or Adolph Rupp walking through the door.I was 11 when I watched the Cats lose to UCLA and at that moment I knew what basketball meant to us. I don’t agree with the moves that Cal does or his bench management. ( Reed and Dilly should have started ) but across the basketball landscape right now I don’t see many or any that can or would want to take the most pressured coaching job ( any sport, any level ) in the country. Jay Wright is 60 and Coach Drew isn’t leaving Baylor ( a lifetime job regardless of his success) to come to Kentucky. It’s the job that every great coach is afraid of and a job that isn’t made to cut your teeth on. Cal and Tubby created their own monsters because of instant success and then unable to maintain it. I will support Cal only on the fact that he can hold up under the pressure better than most. I don’t blame him for last Thursday but he drives the car so he gets the tickets. Totally agree with the backlash over the past 5 years. My reasoning is that if they can use the NIL the right way UK should be the #1 place to land kids looking past college to the next level but maybe staying longer than one season because they don’t have to run for the money for moms because the money is right there for the taking. Some NIL deals pay these kids more than the next level. Put Cal on a year to year term and see. He’s 65 he doesn’t have the options he once had he can coach. His fist 5 years are as good as you will ever get in today’s college game. So, wait and see.
I can’t believe Shepard would return after the way cal did him all year! During the last game it looked like he was intentionally trying to throw the game in retaliation!! It looked so obvious. Guess I was wrong! Just can’t see him staying at KY. Look for Cal to be totally pathetic next season!!!!
The ONLY thing Reed needs is more strength. Take a look at his dad’s pictures while @ UK – he’s more “cut”. A summer in the weight room and he could/should be the #1 NBA pick next year.
Someone mentioned Jeff as an assistant coach – that should have been done years ago !!!!!!
DJ is only 18, I think he should and might go back for his sophomore year. Louisville might be an option. Isn’t his grandpop there? The entire group (minus Rob) needs to run it back.
The premies that the fraud brings in are here for one purpose, showcase their individual brand to enhance their standing for the NBA draft.
There is no purpose to win for UK.
The premies that the fraud brings in here not only know they will be allowed to start and play regardless of their efficiency or effectiveness on the floor because that is how the premie showcases his brand and that is the common goal shared by each premie and this fraud.
Calipari is committed to these individual purposes, and not the purpose for which UK and the BBN pay him, which is to advance the interests of the program and compete for championships.
Barnhart is complicit with the fraud in the destruction of the one time Gold Standard of College Basketball.
Remember Cal doesn’t take loosing likely. He’s been exceptional for all his life. The biggest problem some of you don’t want to remember is all the guys he started with as assistants that new what they were doing. Most got head coaching jobs and moved on. To be a great coach you have to have good knowledgeable people to back you up. If Cal changes his staff and gets the help he wants, he will do will. There’s a lot of good experienced help he can bring in. Love him or hate him, give him one more chance.
Remember Cal doesn’t take loosing likely. He’s been exceptional for all his life. The biggest problem some of you don’t want to remember is all the guys he started with as assistants new what they were doing. Most got Head coaching jobs and moved on. To be a great coach you have to have good knowledgeable people to back you up. If Cal changes his staff and gets the help he wants, he will do well.There’s a lot of good experienced help he can bring in. Love him or hate him, give him one more chance.
I guess the catch and release philosophy applies to UK basketball coaching.
21 felony arrests are not enough. Give the criminal one more chance.
How did that work out for a certain NYPD officer this week.
Giving this Fraud one more chance is UK’s sports’ version of NEW YORK’S CRIMINAL INJUSTICE SYSTEM.
Everything I read from yal makes me sick to say I’m a uk fan we have had a few bad seasons lately but for the last few seasons we have battle pandemics ,gays getting to stay around longer ,, while we had to play grown men ,say what you won’t about couch cal ,but he is still one of the best out there ,most of the stay around players will be gone after this year so mark it down ky will win the sec this coming year and make a deep run in the tournament if not win it all so for all you cry babys out there cry some more….
Thanks I really think that most of us agree with you.. Always a few naysayers and many are not KY fans!!
Couch cal love ky and this program,,but yal will never be Happy yal don’t care for the players or couching staff,,and beside who would won’t to come couch ky because if they don’t win to yal satisfaction yal will have him on the hot seat ,,,just wish love all could love ky for who they are but for most it’s about yal and not the team so just grow up and move on.
Well I think the guys were not ready they all looked puzzled so that’s my opinion Reeves did a good job.In fact he is the only one that really cared
about winning
Cal still doesn’t know how to coach, Mitch still has no guts, only a blank checkbook. Dumb and Dumber will get their comeuppance when Cal bows out to Phoenix Online University next March during the first weekend. This is a nightmare in slow motion. Eli Capistrano, Capachino, whoever calls himself the president at the University is technically decapitated with his head up his rear-end. These 3 stooges all need to be on an island alone with all the other coconuts. Not one of these idiots have Ky Blue in their blood, just yellow bellies full of greed, arrogance, and convinced they are legends in their own minds. Fat Cal needs to be taken behind the barn, given a good a×× whooping instead of cowardly hiding in New Jersey with his mob buddies, collecting his take for throwing another March dud at the fans feet. I believe he throws games, yes I do. He is as crooked as a dog’s hind leg. Old Mitch got his share when he met with Cal. That’s why he was all smiles. As for Cappadocia, he is so far out out there he thinks he is in the UK, instead of President of UK, as in KENTUCKY. Heck, I don’t know if Capalolla is even president there any longer. He may be taking the dirt nap. What a mess. I need my Thorazine before I go to bed. These people are driving me further insane.
I would hope they would all come back. After all, when you get in the playoffs with the big boys, your freshman’s can’t hold up period for Kentucky to have a good team next year.They will need everybody to come back.Forget the pro crap..
That would be nice Jay but will never happen unfortunately