Reed Sheppard’s basketball journey just blasted off into the NBA stratosphere. The Kentucky freshman sensation heard his name called third overall by the Houston Rockets in Wednesday night’s draft, proving that sometimes the best things come in small packages.
The 6-foot-2 guard may not tower over the competition, but his shooting touch is nothing short of gigantic. Sheppard lit up scoreboards across the SEC, draining threes at a blistering 52.1% clip that had NBA scouts salivating.
“Reed’s got that Kentucky pedigree,” a Rockets insider told the Courier Journal. “We’re betting his sweet stroke and basketball IQ will translate just fine to the next level.”
Sheppard’s one-and-done campaign in Lexington was a masterclass in efficiency. He stuffed stat sheets to the tune of 12.5 points, 4.1 boards, 4.5 dimes, and a thieving 2.5 steals per game. Oh, and he managed all that while starting just five games. Talk about instant impact off the bench.
The London, Kentucky native joins a Rockets squad that’s been stockpiling young talent like it’s going out of style. With recent top picks like Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Jalen Green already in the fold, Houston’s looking more like a launchpad for the next NBA dynasty.
For Big Blue Nation, Sheppard’s selection keeps alive a 17-year streak of Cats hearing their names on draft night. It’s further proof that Lexington remains the fast track to NBA dreams.
As Reed trades in his Kentucky blue for Rockets red, one thing’s for certain – Houston, we don’t have a problem. We’ve got a sharpshooter ready for liftoff.
