Kentucky has two top-five picks in latest ESPN mock draft

Going into the final week of the regular season, Kentucky has not one, but two projected top-five draft picks. And I promise you they aren’t who you would’ve expected them to be entering the year — shoot, they still aren’t starting for the Cats with two games to go before postseason play begins.

Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard, welcome to the top five, the former jumping up to No. 3 and the latter up to No. 5 in ESPN’s latest draft projections.

Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo said that while the dynamic backcourt duo has “plenty to prove come tournament time,” they “have done enough this season to warrant serious consideration near the top of the draft.”

Starting with Dillingham, Givony acknowledged the ups and downs of the flashy guard, but said the upside is just too intriguing for teams to pass up.

“Dillingham is a bit of a polarizing prospect among NBA teams, but it’s hard to argue with the sheer star power he offers in a draft severely lacking in that category,” he wrote. “He has been just as aggressive and effective against high-level SEC competition, coming up huge down the stretch of several games for Kentucky despite continuing to come off the bench and being on somewhat of a short leash at times.

“Dillingham’s ballhandling ability, shiftiness, passing creativity, dynamic shot-making and overall scoring instincts are of All-Star caliber. But his lack of size and length and his thin frame continue to hamper him as a finisher and on defense, leading to a wide range of opinions regarding what kind of NBA player he might become. His explosive offensive game appears tailor-made for the scoring-crazed NBA, however, and that should ultimately help him find a suitor early on draft night, especially if he finishes the season on a strong note.”

Kentucky's Rob Dillingham – our No. 3 ranked prospect – polarizes NBA scouts, but it's hard to argue with the star power he offers in a draft lacking in that category. His shiftiness, creativity, shot-making and scoring instincts are all-star caliber, projecting long-term. pic.twitter.com/4kNt3soh4e

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) March 5, 2024

As for Sheppard, Givony said the productive in-state talent is “impossible to keep off the floor” while adding he’s clearly the “best freshman in college basketball.”

“Despite still coming off the bench, Sheppard has proved impossible to keep off the floor for Kentucky in SEC play, where he already has had several signature moments in cementing his case as the best freshman in college basketball,” he wrote. “Scouts regularly express concern about his limited physical tools (6-foot-2 in shoes and 187 pounds with a 6-3 wingspan) and what that means for his defensive and finishing potential in the NBA. But that he continues to make strides with his pick-and-roll playmaking combined with his historically great 3-point shooting is increasingly hard to ignore.

“Only one NCAA first-round pick in the past 35 years (Michigan’s Glen Rice in 1989) has shot over 50% from 3 on more than four attempts per game like Sheppard is doing this season, and Sheppard’s basketball instincts should help him impact winning in a variety of other ways.”

DJ Wagner has slipped to No. 34 overall in the early second round, followed by Justin Edwards at No. 43, Ugonna Onyenso at No. 51 and Zvonimir Ivisic at No. 60 among projected draft selections. From there, Antonio Reeves comes in at No. 67 overall, then Tre Mitchell and Aaron Bradshaw to close things out at Nos. 71 and 72, respectively.

Nine players in the top 75, but two surprising faces at the very top of that list.