Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard chosen 3rd overall by the Houston Rockets in 2024 NBA draft

Former Kentucky basketball star Reed Sheppard was chosen by the Houston Rockets with the third overall pick in the NBA draft on Wednesday night in New York. He was the first former Wildcat selected.

The former North Laurel High School standout and Kentucky Mr. Basketball winner walked the red carpet in an olive green suit. And, while in the green room ahead of the draft, the son of former Kentucky basketball stars Jeff and Stacey Reed Sheppard and his family celebrated his mom by singing “Happy Birthday.”

The week to remember also included Reed Sheppard throwing the first pitch — to his mom — at a New York Mets-New York Yankees game at Citi Field.

Shortly after Sheppard’s selection, former teammate Rob Dillingham was chosen eighth overall by the San Antonio Spurs. Three other former Kentucky Wildcats are also eligible to be drafted this year — Justin Edwards, Antonio Reeves and Tre Mitchell.

The first two players chosen are both from France. The Atlanta Hawks chose Zaccharie Risacher first overall, followed by the Washington Wizards’ selection of Alex Sarr, the younger brother of former Kentucky player Olivier Sarr.

No former Kentucky high school player who played for the Wildcats had been selected with a top-10 pick in the NBA draft since Rex Chapman went No. 8 overall in 1988. Frank Ramsey (the No. 5 pick in 1953) had been the highest-drafted ex-UK player from the state in NBA history.

Sheppard played just one season for the Wildcats, averaging 12.5 points per game. His 3-point percentage of 52.1% led the nation. He was named the 2023-24 National Association of Basketball Coaches National Freshman of the Year. Reed Sheppard was the first winner from UK to earn the honor since it was created for the 2016-17 season.

The 6-foot-3 guard led Kentucky with 148 total assists and 82 total steals.

Other awards earned by Sheppard included USBWA Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Year, SEC Freshman of the Year (coaches), All-SEC Second Team (coaches), All-SEC Second Team (AP), All-SEC Freshman Team (coaches), Dick Vitale’s “Diaper Dandy” of the Year, Field of 68 Third-Team All-America, Field of 68 National Freshman of the Year, College Hoops Today National Sixth Man of the Year, ESPN National Freshman of the Year.

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