Reed Sheppard surprised dad by switching to his old jersey number

Last month, word broke that Reed Sheppard will wear No. 15 at Kentucky, the same jersey number his father Jeff wore during his career as a Wildcat 30 years ago. Today, the freshman guard told reporters the change was part necessity — sophomore Adou Thiero already wears the No. 3, Sheppard’s high school number — and part tribute.

“Adou was wearing No. 3, so I figured after that I’d just have to go with Pops’ old number and rock the No. 15,” Reed said.

Sheppard admitted that the seeds behind the number change were planted long before he arrived in Lexington, but he wanted to keep it a surprise from his father. Jeff Sheppard won two national championships (1996, 1998) and 1998 Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors in the No. 15 Kentucky jersey.

“I definitely thought about it. I kind of always kept it to myself though. I didn’t want to — I never told him. I kind of in my head thought, I’m probably going to wear No. 15, but I never said anything to him so this year was the first time he ever heard about it.”

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“It shocked him. I don’t think he was expecting it.”

As you might imagine, the moment Reed told his dad he will wear No. 15 was pretty special.

“It was really cool. It was cool for me to be able to tell him and it shocked him. I don’t think he was expecting it just because I wore No. 3 my whole life, but after I told him, it was a really cool moment.”

The switch is even more fitting when you realize that Jeff Sheppard also wore No. 3 in high school and switched to No. 15 in college. As Dick Gabriel reminded Reed, that’s because Bill Keightley told Jeff No. 15 was the only number left (Chris Harrison wore No. 3 from 1991-95).

“That’s just always been my number. I’ve always rocked the No. 3. Dad actually wore No. 3 in high school as well and my sister wore No. 3 so I just wore No. 3 and when it got switched, it was no big deal.

“He told me the big story [about Bill Keightley]. He told me that No. 15 was the last choice available, so that’s what he got. It was a funny story.”

Reed will also wear the No. 15 when Kentucky represents the United States next week at the GLOBL Jam in Toronto. The Wildcats will be wearing special USA jerseys, which have yet to be revealed.

“That’s going to be really special,” Sheppard said of wearing a USA jersey. “It’s really cool being able to do that and it’s going to be even better to do it with the University of Kentucky.”

Check out some footage of Sheppard rocking the No. 15 in a recent practice:

No. 15 – Reed Sheppard 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/kQ4MP6XJoa

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) July 3, 2023