Reed Sheppard looks back on AAU game vs. Bronny James, Rob Dillingham 'That game was a lot of fun'

Per usual, this year’s 2024 NBA Draft class will feature several players who have played against or even with one another throughout their basketball careers. With paths commonly crossing at the high school, college, and AAU levels of basketball.

But in the summer of 2022 there was an AAU basketball game between Midwest Basketball Club and Strive For Greatness in the Las Vegas Big Time Finale that featured some of the top names in this year’s NBA Draft. With Reed Sheppard, Robert Dillingham, and Bronny James all sharing the court for a game at Bishop Gorman High School.

Before Sheppard and Dillingham became teammates at Kentucky, they were opponents in this particular matchup. With Dillingham and James teaming up but suffering a loss to Sheppard’s Midwest Basketball squad is a game that Sheppard remembers fondly.

“That game was a lot of fun,” Sheppard recently told The Athletic’s Shams Charania. “We had our same team the whole year, that was our last tournament, that was our last AAU Tournament ever. Not a bad way to end it. So going out it was exciting, we knew they had put together the team with Bronny and Rob like you said and all the other really good players that they had on the team.”

Sheppard ended the game with 16 points, nine rebounds, and four assists, helping lead his team to a win despite the firepower of Strive For Greatness. An AAU team that also featured Mackenzie Mgbako, Mookie Cook, and Wesley Yates who were each top 50 prospects in the 2023 class along with James and Dillingham according to On3’s Industry Recruiting Rankings.

“But going out I mean we wanted to win, we knew they put that team together and we were excited to go out and play against them and that was the best we played all year. And it was so much fun, just the crowd was into it, everyone was into it,” Sheppard said. “So it was a really fun way to end it with a really special group of guys that we had on our team.”

Sheppard, Dillingham, and James now all have their sights set on the NBA Draft in June. With Dillingham and Sheppard climbing up draft boards following impressive freshman seasons as Kentucky’s backcourt duo. Combining for 27.7 points per game last season as now both are regarded by many as top 10 overall picks in many mock drafts.

Meanwhile, James continues to be the biggest storyline of the NBA Draft. With many curious where and if he’ll get drafted and potentially team up with his father at the next level.