Reed Sheppard withdraws from Kentucky-Indiana High School All-Star Classic

Reed Sheppard will not participate in the 2023 Kentucky-Indiana High School All-Star Classic, pulling out of the prestigious event due to obligations at the University of Kentucky, multiple sources tell KSR.

The UK guard signee was tabbed to the 2023 Boys Kentucky All-Star Team back in April, joining a roster featuring the state’s most talented seniors. Players were chosen by the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches and the Kentucky All-Star Selection Committee.

Sheppard will be unable to participate due to academic and practice obligations as a freshman at UK, with move-in scheduled for Wednesday, May 31. Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball formally withdrew from the oldest continuing All-Star Game in the country on Monday, writing in a letter to the event that “there are important events including academic orientation that I cannot reschedule with this commitment.”

The four-star recruit added that he felt it was important to “turn my attention to my new team as we begin trying to build chemistry on and off the court and learn the rigors of the next step in our athletic and academic career.” Part of his concern was Kentucky’s upcoming trip to Toronto for the GLOBL JAM in July, focusing on game preparation with the high-profile event now just six weeks away

“This decision was not easy for me, and I appreciate your thoughtfulness and understanding,” Sheppard wrote.

The future Wildcat will also miss Saturday’s scrimmage against the state’s top juniors, a matchup that would have allowed him to face off against Lyon County’s Travis Perry, now Kentucky’s all-time leading scorer.

Sheppard was set to be joined on the Kentucky All-Star Team by Marcus Eaves (Madisonville North), Crew Gibson (DeSales), Kenyon Goodin (Collins), Jeramiah Israel (Llyod Memorial), Cyr Malonga (Evangel Christian), Jacob Meyer (Covington Holy Cross), Teagan Moore (Owen County), Reece Potter (Lexington Catholic), Gabe Sisk (Ballard), Gerard Thomas (Henderson County), and Chappelle Whitney (Warren Central). The Kentucky boys’ head coach is Owensboro’s Rod Drake.

The Kentucky-Indiana All-Star series includes two games, the first slated for  June 9 at the Owensboro Sports Center and the second for June 10 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.