Reed Sheppard, North Laurel open season with Top 10 win over Lexington Catholic

The North Laurel boy’s basketball program is still headlined by Kentucky commit Reed Sheppard, but a slight change in this season’s roster has the Jaguars hunting for a deeper run in Rupp Arena this spring.

On Monday night in London, Ky., No. 3 North Laurel (1-0) hosted No. 7 Lexington Catholic (0-1) in front of a packed house that officially introduced both squads to the 2022-23 season. Led by a near triple-double of 23 points (on 8-12 shooting), eight rebounds, and eight assists from Sheppard, North Laurel cruised to a 77-65 victory over the Knights.

Following an early exit from the Sweet 16 tournament last year, the Jaguars have returned plenty of talent and added some key pieces. Dreams of playing on the final day of the state championship are alive and well.

“I’m super thrilled about how we played tonight,” Sheppard said after the win. “First game just coming in and fighting. Obviously, there’s stuff I think we need to work on still just throughout the year, adding new stuff to the offense and work on the defense. Just get together as a team more but the whole year is going to be super fun and I just can’t wait to grow and have fun with each other.”

Big crowd here tonight in London.

Top 10 matchup between North Laurel and Lexington Catholic.

Reed Sheppard headlines the game. Also excited to watch Ryan Davidson/Gavin Chadwell (NL) and Reece Potter (LC) pic.twitter.com/rzYO4TjxE4

— Zack Geoghegan (@ZGeogheganKSR) November 29, 2022

North Laurel has established a reputation as a program with a decade-plus of built-in continuity. Just about every player on the roster has played basketball with each other since elementary school, and some since kindergarten. The likes of junior Brody Brock and senior Ryan Davidson (who is Sheppard’s first cousin) have all played alongside Sheppard dating back to early grade school.

But a new piece to the puzzle is being implemented. 6-foot-4, 230-pound junior forward Gavin Chadwell, who transferred from Knox Central after earning football scholarships from Kentucky and EKU, brings a necessary component to the hardwood at North Laurel. Chadwell is a brick wall on defense, possesses a constant motor, and fits seamlessly into head coach Nate Valentine’s game plan.

“He’s so doggone physical,” Coach Valentine said of Chadwell. “Obviously it’s a tough matchup when you’ve got someone beating and banging on you like that. He’s hard to move. He’s just relentless, he doesn’t stop. He just keeps coming and coming and coming and that wears you out over the course of the game. If anyone knows it, it’s us because we had to battle those guys the last three years.”

Chadwell, who was only recently ruled eligible to play, finished his official North Laurel debut with 17 points and seven rebounds on 6-9 shooting, including a 5-7 mark from the free-throw line. Matched up against seven-foot Miami (OH) commit Reece Potter, Chadwell imposed his physical will against the entire Lexington Catholic front line.

“He brings a whole different option in every single offensive play that we have and on defense he’s an animal down there, really,” Sheppard said of his new teammate. “You can’t get by him he’s so strong. He just uses his body so well to clear out the lane and get rebounds. I’m super glad to have him on my team.”

Chadwell is already feeling the love from his new school, too.

“It’s a family. Not just with the guys but with the fans. You can tell they’re behind you here,” Chadwell said.

Aiding Sheppard and Chadwell in North Laurel’s win were the aforementioned Brody Brock and Ryan Davidson. Brock finished with 18 points on four made three-pointers while Davidson added 13 points and seven rebounds.

On the Lexington Catholic end, Potter recorded 12 points, six rebounds, and five assists on 4-8 shooting for the Knights while junior guard John Reinhart went for a team-high 20 points on a 6-12 clip from long range. 6-foot-3 junior Tyler Doyle chipped in 13 points of his own.

Staying true to his roots

Not many would have blamed Reed Sheppard if he elected to play his final high school season outside of the Bluegrass State. He’s a bonafide star at this level, cementing himself as a consensus four-star prospect in the class of 2023. After committing to Kentucky a little over one year ago, he would have had his pick of any prep school across the country.

But that’s not how the in-state product was raised. In fact, it was never even a discussion. There is unfinished business still left on the table in London.

“There was not a chance in the world,” Sheppard said about the idea of transferring. “Growing up a North Laurel fan my whole life, there isn’t anybody else — my last year of high school — I’d want to play with than my best friends and that’s what we’re doing this year. I’m super happy.”