The 2024 NBA Draft class is among the most fascinating in current reminiscence. Not for it’s top-end expertise, however reasonably its lack of it. It’s onerous to discover a sure-fire all-star on this class, in contrast to previous years when a number of gamers profiled as franchise cornerstones. That doesn’t imply that the draft gained’t produce good gamers.
The 2024 class turns into way more fascinating once you start to take a look at these gamers because the third, 4th or fifth man on a crew. Somebody who isn’t essentially the star, however plugs in completely to a crew and is a key contributor to profitable. Within the playoffs we’ve seen Mike Conley Jr., Derrick White and Josh Hart all stand out as “tremendous function participant” who elevate a crew subsequent to their celebrity.
Groups on the lookout for that type of participant within the draft may have an eye fixed on Reed Sheppard, the freshman guard out of the College of Kentucky.
Reed Sheppard, 6-foot-3 guard, Kentucky
2023-2024 stats: 12.5 factors, 4.5 assists, 2.5 steals, 53.6% FG, 52.1% 3PT, 83.1% FT, 67.9% EFG
Participant comparability: Mike Conley Jr.
Strengths
Sheppard had an amazing freshman season at Kentucky. Regardless of coming off the bench, he was one of many Wildcats’ most impactful gamers. In a loaded Kentucky recruiting class that featured DJ Wagner, Justin Edwards and Rob Dillingham, it was Sheppard who rose to school superstardom. The four-star recruit is the son of two former Kentucky basketball gamers and was Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball in 2023.
Trying on the stat sheet, the very first thing that may bounce out is Sheppard’s taking pictures percentages. He hit over 50% of all his photographs in his freshman season, together with 52.1% of his threes. It didn’t matter the place or how he was taking them, the ball was getting in as a rule. Sheppard shot 51% on threes off the dribble and 51.4% on catch and shoot jumpers. He confirmed the potential of getting his shot off from deep vary, in transition in addition to within the choose and roll.
Reed’s bounce shot is textbook. He’s balanced and has nice kind. He’s not as inventive off motion as his teammate, Dillingham, however he’s environment friendly together with his mechanics even beneath contest. Sheppard’s launch will possible want to hurry up a bit as he faces defenses on the subsequent degree, particularly given his lack of measurement.
A significant a part of Sheppard’s attract as a prospect is his defensive flashes. At 6-foot-3, he’s not an ideal defender, however he comes up with numerous steals and blocks. Sheppard has robust and fast fingers on and off the ball. 2.5 steals a recreation with a 4.6% steal share are nothing to smell at. If Sheppard is ready to get a hand on the ball, chances are high it’s going to end in a steal and a bucket on the opposite finish. He offers good second efforts when he’s beat to dam photographs from behind or poke the ball away. He’s blocked various three pointers this yr as effectively. He averaged 0.7 blocks per recreation at Kentucky.
Reed Sheppard’s potential to drive turnovers is elite: 3.2 Shares per recreation and is the one excessive main (and solely freshman) to have each 2.5+ block price and 4.5+ steal price
It is easy to see how that is all within the circulation of the protection and he completely calculates his gambles pic.twitter.com/YH3Ji5FRkx
— Wealthy (@MavsDraft) March 24, 2024
Sheppard can be a high-IQ participant on the offensive finish. It’s not too typically you see him drive a play or make the mistaken determination. He’s a prepared passer and a selfless offensive participant. Out of the choose and roll he’s able to making skip passes excessive of defenses to search out shooters, or lobs to bigs on the roll. Sheppard is among the finest PnR scorers within the draft, statistically. He scored 1.06 factors per possessions in that motion.
Sheppard’s not a flashy passer, however he’s stable sufficient and eliminates most of his errors. His hit forward passes in transition are amongst the perfect in faculty basketball. Sheppard had a 24.1 help share, which might have been third finest on the Spurs behind Tre Jones (30.8) and Blake Wesley (25.3.)
Weaknesses
Very similar to his Kentucky teammate, Dillingham, Sheppard will come into the league as an undersized guard. At 6-foot-3, Sheppard will possible be requested to play level guard minutes, even when his finest place is probably going an off-guard connector. His measurement wasn’t a significant subject at Kentucky, however towards subsequent degree athletes, Sheppard will possible have a harder time defensively as a consequence of his lack of size. His measurement can even necessitate creativity in producing his personal shot.
That’s significantly a problem as a consequence of his lack of ball-handling and playmaking upside. Sheppard had a tough time dealing with the ball beneath excessive ball strain within the SEC. When a crew blitzed a ball display, Sheppard would cease useless in his tracks and sometimes instances make a sloppy move. Sheppard averaged 4.5 assists and a pair of turnovers in his freshman season. He has an underrated first step that permits him to assault closeouts, however it’s not too typically that you just see him create sufficient separation to create his personal shot or paint contact. There have been moments, like Kentucky’s win over Mississippi State, the place Sheppard appeared like a star within the making who may get his personal shot off towards robust protection, however it wasn’t one thing he was persistently requested to do for the Wildcats.
His NCAA Match efficiency will go away a nasty style in followers’ mouths. In a primary spherical loss, Sheppard had solely 3 factors on 1-5 taking pictures in 26 minutes. It was in contrast to Sheppard to vanish in an enormous second. But Oakland took him out of the sport by going to a zone by which he by no means actually attacked. It’s only one recreation, however it helps a number of the criticism individuals have for Sheppard’s upside as a go-to possibility offensively.
Sheppard nonetheless has some work to do on the defensive finish as effectively. Positive the steals and blocks are nice, however his off-ball protection isn’t excellent. He’s consistently watching his personal man, which regularly instances makes him late to his defensive rotation. He’s a mean display navigator, generally getting caught off guard by a choose. Sheppard is susceptible to permitting defenders to blow by him when he doesn’t get right into a low defensive stance. These are frequent errors for youthful gamers. Sheppard might want to clear them up nonetheless, as his measurement already places him at an obstacle.
Spurs match
San Antonio wants taking pictures instantly. Sheppard is the perfect shooter within the class. He’s additionally only a sensible basketball participant who has been tremendous productive all over the place he’s performed. The Spurs want to begin including good basketball gamers to enhance their celebrity – Sheppard matches the invoice. Might Sheppard grow to be San Antonio’s second coming of Derrick White? An off-ball guard who can knock down threes, deal with the ball in spurts and play sound protection could be a welcomed addition to the roster.
Sheppard would slot in effectively with the Spurs up-tempo type of play. I can envision Reed grabbing a rebound and pushing the ball forward to a streaking Wembanyama, or working the ground and hitting a transition three-pointer. Within the half-court he’d slot in with the Spurs heavy ball-movement offense. He’s a participant who doesn’t want the ball in his fingers 24/7 to be efficient. He’s very “Spurs-ian” in the best way he performs.
We’ve seen Kentucky gamers outperform their faculty capabilities once they get to the following degree. Jamal Murray, Devin Booker and Tyler Herro all went from merely off-ball shooters to go-to guys within the NBA. It’s tougher to see that upside in Sheppard’s recreation, however I’ve realized to by no means doubt Kentucky guards.
Sheppard doesn’t have the best upside within the draft, however he has one of many highest flooring. If the Spurs find yourself with the Toronto Raptors choose within the 7-9 vary, Sheppard could be a great choice. San Antonio may swing for the fences with their very own choose within the top-6 and choose a stable basketball participant who may turn into an excellent function participant with their second choice.
Earlier Prospects:
Rob Dillingham
