Kentucky freshman Trent Noah has helped inspire other 13th Region players to believe their dreams can come true. (Vicky Graff Photo)
North Laurel’s Reed Sheppard played in the 2022 and 2023 state tournaments representing the 13th Region while Trent Noah of Harlan County played in the state tourney in 2024 and reached the championship game.
Several “mountain” teams were in last week’s state tournament, including North Laurel, and the Sheppard/Noah impact is still being felt in mountain basketball and apparently will for quite a while.
“Back here in the mountains basketball is king,” said Breathitt County coach Jeff Honeycutt. “What they did just adds to the history of sports in the mountains. I watched Richie Farmer, John Pelphrey, The Unforgettables.
“When a mountain does good at the University of Kentucky, people really rally around him. I can’t describe the feeling you get from the fanbase. Everybody wants your team to win but if you are from the mountains you have that identity and the fans love you.”
North Laurel coach Nate Valentine knows what Sheppard, who is now in the NBA after being a first-round draft pick, and Noah did by joining the Kentucky basketball program to influence mountain basketball.
“What they have done shows guys there is hope and they can do it. If you want to play in the NBA, put your mind to it and shoot for that and don’t let anybody laugh at you,” Valentine said. “I said that early to Reed.
“Those guys worked at it. To see those guys improve like they have has been unbelievable. It’s no secret they have God given ability but made the most of it and got in the gym and worked. Every kid who plays at North Laurel thinks they are the next Reed Sheppard and I tell them I hope they are.”
He might not be the next Reed Sheppard, but 6-8 junior Reece Davidson of North Laurel — Sheppard’s cousin — made a name for himself at the state tourney. He had 41 points on 16-for-22 shooting and 10 rebounds in a quarterfinal loss to Montgomery County after having 35 points and nine rebounds in a first-round win over Breathitt County.
5 Responses
Where is Reece Davidson going to play at?
He is just a junior
He is actually a true 3 with great floor vision and a great shot from deep past the 3 point line. Right now he’s not being highly recruited but that will change this summer. I would like to see what he could do on a big setting like the peach jam. Its hard to evaluate players who don’t play a ton of AAU ball and I think alot of times these kids get overlooked. I don’t see him suiting up in blue and white but if he has a great freshman season I could see him transfer to Kentucky as a sophomore or junior. Yes I’m way ahead of myself but that’s the feeling I’m getting at the moment.
Great piece as usual Larry.. Always like to see the mountain kids do well. I grew up in the 13 region around Middlesboro in Bell Co. but back then and for years it was Bobby Keith and Clay Co..he was hard to beat.If you had someone other than Clay Co representing the 13th region it’s because Clay Co had a bad year which wasn’t to often..Coach Keith was the best I ever seen to work a crowd and the referees..
Yes, Bobby keith could work the fans and refs