Reed Sheppard wins Junior International Championship in Italy, earns MVP

Kentucky signee Reed Sheppard continues to shine on the biggest stages imaginable. To close out the month of March, it was at the McDonald’s All-American Game in Houston — arguably the most prestigious honor you can earn as a high school basketball player. And now to open April, he has helped lead Team Ohio to the 2023 Junior International Championship in Italy, earning Most Valuable Player honors along the way.

Sheppard, one of five high-profile signees in Kentucky’s top-ranked recruiting class for 2023, spent the weekend competing in the event out in Lissone. There, he led Team Ohio to a 5-0 overall record while leading the way in scoring.

The Under-19 international event featured five days of competition from April 6-10 with 12 teams across eight countries and 135 athletes competing for the title, Team Ohio joining host Galvi Lissone, Toronto United, KK Rijeka, USK Prague, Bayern Munich, MENA Dubai, KK Borac, Pallacanestro Forli, College Borgomanero, Aurora Desio and UEB Cividale. Dating back to 1993, it was the 29th edition of the competition that brings some of the world’s best talent to the city of Lissone.

Sheppard joined Indiana signee Gabe Cupps — the future Wildcat’s grassroots teammate with Midwest Basketball Club on the adidas 3SSB circuit — along with the likes of Matt Butler, Dominique Aekins, Sam Whitaker, Miles Heide, Colin White and Landon Vanderwarker. Cupps’ father, Brook Cupps (also the coach of Midwest Basketball Club) coached the team in Italy.

“Reed has been wreaking havoc on defenses all tourney long,” Team Ohio said of its star guard on Twitter. “With elite shooting and slashing abilities, Reed keeps opposing defenders’ hands full all game long.”

You can check out Sheppard’s complete championship performance on YouTube below, courtesy of JIT Lissone: