Reed Sheppard, Trey Townsend share college basketball's most unique legacy story

If you grew up in Kentucky, you know that there was no better feeling than when the teacher rolled in the TV cart on Thursday and/or Friday of the postseason so you could watch tournament games. Nowadays, it’s a projector but the fact one year ago, Reed Sheppard was sitting in a classroom at North Laurel High School watching the NCAA Tournament and now he’s about to play in it is another neat chapter in his storybook journey.

“It’s really cool because I was that kid sitting in the classroom watching Kentucky, always dreaming of playing at Kentucky,” Sheppard told reporters yesterday. “You watch a Kentucky game then you go outside at recess and you pretend you are one of the players so now, being able to play for Kentucky, other kids being able to watch us play on TV is pretty cool.”

Kentucky plays at night so children across the Bluegrass won’t be watching at school; however, there’s no doubt they’ll be tuned in at home, imagining themselves wearing Reed’s (and his father’s) No. 15 jersey. Sheppard has had plenty of big moments in his freshman season, most notably a game-winner at Mississippi State; a March moment could eclipse them all.

“It means a lot,” Sheppard said of his first (and potentially only) NCAA Tournament. “I’m from Kentucky. I’ve always dreamed of playing at Kentucky. Being here in March Madness, it’s really special, and being able to do it for the first time in a Kentucky jersey, it’s going to be really awesome. I’ve got a really good group of guys around me that’s going to make it even better so I can’t wait to get out there and start playing.”

Once Kentucky does take the floor, they’ll face an Oakland team whose star has a story very similar to Reed’s. Trey Townsend leads the Golden Grizzlies in scoring (16.9 PPG), rebounding (7.8 RPG), steals (1.3 SPG), and assists (3.1 APG). Both of his parents played for Oakland, his father for Greg Kampe, now in his 40th year as coach. Of course, both of Reed’s parents, Jeff and Stacey, played for Kentucky as well, with Stacey still holding the record for most steals and Jeff winning two titles and Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors. There can’t be many players in college basketball with that type of legacy, and tonight, two of them will square off against one another.

“It’s really cool,” Reed said when asked about Townsend. “For him, I’m sure he feels the same way I do. It was always his dream to play, his was probably Oakland and mine was Kentucky so being able to do that, follow our dads, it’s really cool. Not a lot of kids can say they have the opportunity to do that. You know, you play a game, you do something, you can talk to your dad about it. And your dad played here so he knows what you’re going through, good or bad, so it’s pretty cool.”

Townsend’s comments when asked about his story yesterday read almost exactly like Reed’s. They are essentially the Spiderman pointing at Spiderman meme.

“I mean this whole journey of being a part of Oakland has been just such a dream come true,” Townsend said. “Not one moment is more special to me than another. Just being able to wear this uniform, this Oakland University uniform, and represent this university that I’ve been around my whole life that, like you said, both my parents were a part of and played basketball here, it’s been such a special thing for me.”

Tonight, one story will add a chapter. Will it be a Cinderella upset or the first step of a Final Four run? Both are worth rooting for, but only one will be played out at recess in the Bluegrass tomorrow.

Subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel for press conferences, interviews, original shows, fan features, and exclusive content.