OK, maybe Reed Sheppard actually is a robot

Remember that shooting robot Toyota built a few years back that never missed? It set the Guinness World Record for most consecutive free throws ever made and essentially perfected the art of shooting. “Coach Cal should sign that thing” jokes were layups back then.

And then Kentucky actually brought it to Lexington. It doesn’t go by Toyota’s given name of Cue6, though. He’s simply called Reed Sheppard here.

The freshman guard currently leads the nation in true shooting percentage at 74.6% and 3-point shooting at 54.1%. He’s on pace to beat Doron Lamb’s all-time Kentucky career shooting record of 47.5% by nearly seven percentage points. Those things don’t happen by accident.

How has Sheppard become an all-time shooter? He works to perfect his craft, spending countless hours in the gym getting shots up.

“Every dang day,” UK strength and conditioning coach Braden Welsh captioned in a video of No. 15 launching threes in the Joe Craft Center. Splash, splash, splash.

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And then he shared the actual splits thanks to Kentucky’s fancy NOAH Shooting System. As expected, they’re pretty freaking ridiculous.

162 makes on 194 attempted 2-pointers for 84%, 122 of 170 from three for 72%. That’s a grand total of 284/364 — 78% shooting overall.

Doesn’t get much better than that.

A behind-the-scenes look at Reed Sheppard’s daily shooting workout.

🔥 78% FG
🔥 72% 3PT
🔥 84% 2PT

🎥: BradenWelsh/IG pic.twitter.com/Vx4BQPgCab
— KSR (@KSRonX) January 16, 2024

“They are not robots, they’re not machines,” John Calipari says — well, often. “They’re not going to make shots every night.”

Unless your name is Reed Sheppard. Shooting rules do not apply to you.

“Is Reed Sheppard going to start tonight?”

Laurel County’s finest has quickly emerged as an all-time fan-favorite. He’s so popular, in fact, he’s got Richie Farmer of all people calling into the pregame radio show asking if Reed Sheppard is going to start for the Cats.