Rick Pitino sends message to Reed Sheppard, family while watching Kentucky vs Miami

Rick Pitino coached Jeff Sheppard a little less than 20 years ago at Kentucky. This season Jeff’s son, Reed Sheppard, is a freshman guard for the Wildcats following in his father’s footsteps.

Reed’s mother, Stacy, also played college basketball at Kentucky, where she met Jeff.

While watching Reed play Tuesday against Miami, Pitino was reminded of watching Jeff and Stacy as young players. The former UK coach took to Twitter to tweet about how special it is for him to witness something like that.

“I’m watching Reed Sheppard play n thinking of his Mom n Dad as if it were yesterday,” Pitino wrote. “Such a great experience for both of them. Absolutely wonderful people. Make it happen Reed!!!”

I'm watching Reed Sheppard play n thinking of his Mom n Dad as if it were yesterday. Such a great experience for both of them. Absolutely wonderful people. Make it happen Reed!!!

— Rick Pitino (@RealPitino) November 29, 2023

The Wildcats held just a 42-37 lead against Miami at halftime, but broke things open in the second half. They opened the second half on a 15-4 run on their way during which Sheppard scored five points. They never trailed the remainder of the game on their way to an 95-73 win.

Sheppard led the team in scoring despite coming off the bench, as he finished with 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 5-of-9 from 3-point range. Not only that, but he stuffed the stat sheet with five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Reed has played a big role for the Wildcats so far this season off the bench. The former four-star prospect is averaging 10.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.2 steals this season.

He’ll aim to keep the Sheppard family name a special part of Big Blue Nation history as the season rolls on. It’s certainly been a trip down memory lane for many Kentucky fans seeing him in uniform, including Rick Pitino.

Reed Sheppard explains meaning behind wearing No. 15

Reed Sheppard isn’t your normal Kentucky commitment. As a four-star prospect, Top-40 recruit, and the No. 1 player out of the state Kentucky, the North Laurel product arrives as highly-touted as all the other Wildcat freshman. However, his family ties take his connection to Lexington to a whole other level.

That’s especially true now that Sheppard will be switching his high school jersey of No. 3 to No. 15, the number that his father, Jeff Sheppard, wore back in the mid-90s. Based on UK’s current roster, Sheppard’s son said that he realized that a number switch was possible and that it could be this meaningful for his family.

“Adou (Thiero) is wearing No. 3. So I figured, after that, I would just have to go with pop’s old number and rock the fifteen,” Sheppard said.

“I definitely thought about it. I kind of always kept it to myself though,” said Sheppard. “But I never told him. In my head, I was like I’m probably gonna wear No. 15. But I never said anything to him. So this year was the first time he ever heard about it.”