Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham make NBA Draft news

We are 15 days away from the 2024 NBA Draft and the top two former Kentucky Wildcats on draft boards are making headlines ahead of the event.

First, the good news that’s familiar for Kentucky basketball fans. You’ve heard this many times before. “______ will represent Kentucky in the NBA Draft green room.” Reed Sheppard received a green room invitation, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

There were a dozen players who were invited to the green room and another dozen more will be once we get closer to the event. Last year the final invitations were not sent until two days before the NBA Draft. If Sheppard accepts the invitation, Givony reports the former Kentucky Wildcat will join Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, Donovan Clingan, Matas Buzelis, Stephon Castle, Dalton Knecht, Tidjane Salaun, Ron Holland, Cody Williams, Devin Carter and Ja’Kobe Walter.

You may be noticing one big omission from that list: Rob Dillingham. The shifty point guard is a projected lottery pick as ESPN’s No. 7 overall NBA Draft prospect. Why wouldn’t he get a green room invitation?

Dillingham is dealing with one final technicality. He’s still not eligible for the NBA Draft. That is, he will not be eligible until he completes a pre-Draft workout with the Lakers this Friday after he spent the summer nursing an ankle injury.

“Dillingham has not yet completed all the requirements needed to be eligible for selection in the draft, per the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement,” writes Givony. “An ankle injury prevented Dillingham from conducting athletic testing and shooting drills at the NBA draft combine in Chicago in mid-May, and has thus far also prohibited him from attending private workouts with NBA teams.”

I’m not a Draft-nick, however, I don’t think many people knew Dillingham was dealing with an injury ahead of the NBA Draft that may be hampering his stock. At least it should be all cleared up before showtime in Brooklyn.

This year’s event tips off at the Barclays Center on Wednesday, June 26. For the first time, it’s a two-day event, with the second round airing the following day at 4 pm EST from ESPN’s studio in Manhattan.

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