You would be hard pressed to find many if any 2023 guards in the country that is putting up the numbers and filling up a stat sheet like Reed Sheppard is. Through 8 games he’s averaging slightly over 31 points a game (2nd in the state of Kentucky)  10.5 assists 8.2 rebounds. He hung 45 points on the #3 team in Kentucky, Covington Catholic a perennial top 10 team in Kentucky that’s known for being a tough defensive type team on 16/21 shooting. He narrowly missed a “quadruple double” last game posting 17 points 13 assists 10 rebounds and 7 steals. Crazy thing is Reed has posted a “quadruple double” already. That came during his freshman season, yes his freshman season 24 points 14 assists 10 rebounds and 10 steals against Jackson County. You might be wondering if he has a good team around him and the answer is yes. North Laurel is off to a 8-0 start averaging 95 points a game and is ranked 4th in the state of Kentucky by the Louisville Courier Journal. 

When I asked Reed what lead to him making such a huge jump into his sophomore season? It quickly became apparent from him that former North Laurel teammate and current South Alabama guard Adam Sizemore was instrumental in the summer development. Adam took Reed under his wing when Reed was a 8th grader. He helped guid him to a strong varsity season as a 8th grader. This summer Sheppard tells us Adam put him through strength workouts prescribed for Adam from South Alabama that helped him pack on 10 pounds of muscle to his 6’2 athletic frame. Reed feels that added strength has improved all parts of his game to an even higher level. His numbers certainly back that up. They also did 7 AM skills training sessions that continued to develop an already impressive skill set. Adam calls Reed after each of his games to break them down and to show support to him. Someone once told me it’s wise to prophesies off those thats already successfully traveled down the path your currently traveling. Reed is certainly benefiting in his relationship with Adam

For many of you the name Sheppard and being from the Bluegrass state of Kentucky might ring a bell. Reed’s father Jeff won 2 National Champions and was the Final 4 MOP in 1998 when Kentucky cut down the nets and took home the title. Mom doesn’t have to take a backseat to nobody in the house either. Stacey Reed, now Stacey Sheppard still stands 7th all time in scoring in Kentucky Wildcats history and had a fabulous career in her own right. Whats it’s like having a mother and father with the pedigree his parents have? He told me he feels he get great support, but it’s never for forced. They talk to him about things he can do better. There just trying to make me better he calmly told me. When asked who the best shooter is in the house right now? Reed quickly replied me. You got to love a kid with confidence. 

Reed will play with Ohio based Midwest Basketball Club and play up 17U this AAU season. He has a close relationship with another emerging young star and close friend Gabe Cupps. Reed has offers from High Point, Iona, Stetson, South Alabama and recently received his first, but certainly not last Power 5 Conference offer from Iowa. He definitely has time on his side in picking a school. When I asked him what he’s looking for in a school he told us he wants it to feel like home. Where coaches and teammates are like family and he can build relationships and he wants to win. When asked about the University of Kentucky he says it’s every kids dream growing up in Kentucky. He watched almost every game growing up, but it will have to feel like home for Reed. So Kentucky like many other schools will have to work to build a special relationship with him. If anybody doubted Reed’s game after reading this let me tell you this. He recently sense I started writing this article went for a 50 point triple double against cross town rival South Laurel. No that’s not a misprint. 50 points 11 assists 10 rebounds on 18/29 shooting in a 84-77 win. We will continue to track this young prospects game along with a boat load of Power 5 college coaches all across the country the next few years.