Typically, you don’t see a 6-foot-3, 187-pound, below-the-rim guard swivel their way into lottery conversations. Without any explosive athleticism and a lack of a current skill set to be a lead guard in the NBA, Reed Sheppard’s archetype would more than likely tell you he’s not a lottery pick.
And with the modern NBA wing continuing to evolve into increasingly more lengthy and athletic frames, the Kentucky freshman’s size should come into even more concern, right?
Well, the solution is similar to a philosophy of what many players are told when they’re young.
If you can defend well and tenaciously, or sink the outside shot at a high, consistent clip, you could more than likely play at any school of your choosing.
Sheppard excels in both of these aspects for the Wildcats, and understands when not to force the issue offensively, while remaining grounded defensively and flustering ball handlers night in and night out.
As a 54.2% 3-point shooter on 4.2 attempts, combined with 2.4 steals in 20 games, the London, Kentucky native is a direct reflection of that very axiom.