Reed Sheppard officially signs NLI with Kentucky MBB

Reed Sheppard is officially a Kentucky Wildcat.

On Wednesday afternoon, surrounded by friends and family at North Laurel High School in London, KY, Sheppard signed his national letter of intent with UK. He will join the program in the summer. Sheppard initially committed to Kentucky in Nov. 2021, the first from the class of 2023 to choose the ‘Cats. He is considered a four-star prospect and the No. 31 overall high school senior in the country, per the On3 Consensus.

Kentucky has since announced Sheppard’s official addition.

Welcome to the family, @reed_sheppard!#LaFamilia pic.twitter.com/mcBBVjXTM6

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) November 9, 2022

The 6-foot-3 combo guard is one of four class of 2023 commits for Kentucky right now. Five-star future ‘Cat Justin Edwards is expected to sign Wednesday evening while a pair of five-star commits, Aaron Bradshaw and Robert Dillingham, will sign later during the early signing period, which ends one week from today on Nov. 16. Uncommitted five-star guard DJ Wagner is believed to be on the verge of making his final decision, which could come before the early signing period ends.

For those who don’t know, Reed Sheppard is the son of Jeff and Stacey Sheppard, who both played basketball at UK and produced all-time great careers during their time in Lexington. Jeff was a two-time NCAA champion in 1996 and 1998, taking home the NCAA Final Four Most Oustanding Player award in ’98. Stacey is among the top 10 in Kentucky women’s basketball history in several categories. Reed was offered a spot at Kentucky by head coach John Calipari in July 2021 and only needed a few months before making up his mind and following in his parents’ footsteps.

Suiting up for the North Laurel Jaguars since sixth grade, Sheppard is about to embark on his final high school season. He’s coming off junior year averages of 25.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 4.4 steals where he helped lead North Laurel to the state tournament while winning Gatorade Kentucky Player of the Year along the way.

The 2022-23 season has a chance to be the Jaguars’ best shot at a state title with Sheppard on the roster. Along with a difficult in-state schedule, North Laurel is also playing a loaded national schedule that includes matchups against ranked programs such as Imhotep Charter (PA) and Huntington Prep (WV), among others.

What is Kentucky getting in the 6-foot-3 standout? Sheppard is a skilled combo guard capable of playing both on and off the ball. A strong three-level scorer, he has a smooth and consistent jumper with NBA range — and he’s got the confidence to let it fly. The in-state prospect gets to his spots in the mid-range and thrives as a pull-up threat, while also finishing with craft and touch inside. An underrated athlete, he’s also known to throw down the occasional poster slam when barreling down the lane with a full head of steam. Bringing a high basketball IQ to the table, he’s also comfortable as a passer and playmaker. Defensively, he plays with effort and is active with his hands, creating regular steal and block opportunities. He’s working on adding strength and improving his lateral quickness, but his skill will translate to the next level.

Now, his status as a Kentucky Wildcat is official.