When Reed Sheppard committed to Kentucky, many fans assumed it was a feel-good story more than a future NBA pipeline. The legacy kid from London, Kentucky—son of UK champion Jeff Sheppard—was expected to be a developmental piece, maybe a long-term contributor. One season, some elite efficiency, and a top-three NBA Draft selection later, Sheppard is rewriting the narrative.
Now entering his second season with the Houston Rockets, Sheppard has been named the No. 1 NBA sophomore to watch by ESPN. That’s not just hype—it’s the byproduct of both Houston’s roster shake-up and Sheppard’s projected growth trajectory.