2:44 PM
Reed Sheppard, the son of two-time national champion Jeff Sheppard, committed to Kentucky basketball on Saturday.
After a strong July, Kentucky offered Sheppard, a Kentucky native whose mother also played for the Cats.
Sheppard didn't know what to think about the offer. I was in the hotel room with my parents. It was hard to believe. Getting the offer meant a lot. Coach Cal liked watching me play. A lot of guys don't get the chance to play at Kentucky. He believed in me. It was very special.
Kentucky's offer dramatically changed Sheppard's recruitment, and the Cats were the clear favorite to land him. The involvement of Calipari helped seal the deal.
Sheppard said that Calipari is a great guy. It felt different when I met him. I have always watched him coach. He has been very successful. He helps get his players to where they want to be.
Sheppard is a combo guard and is ranked in the 60s.
Sheppard can also make shots. He has no wasted motion on his jump shot, both off the catch and on a pull-up jumper. He knows how to create separation in ball screens, whether he attacks the hedging defender, shoots behind the screen or finds the open man. Sheppard moves well to find space for his jumper off the ball.
Jeff Sheppard was the Most Outstanding Player of the 1998 Final Four after winning two national titles at Kentucky. His mother was the school's all-time leading scorer.
