Rockets Select Reed Sheppard in 2024 NBA Draft

Posted: June 26, 2024 -- 10:09 p.m. CT

During tonight's 2024 NBA Draft, the Houston Rockets selected guard Reed Sheppard with the third overall pick.

Sheppard (6'2", 182) was an early entry candidate following his freshman season at Kentucky. He was named National Freshman of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association in addition to earning All-America Honorable Mention by the Associated Press.

Per 40 minutes played, Sheppard averaged 17.2 points, 6.2 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 3.4 steals while shooting 53.6% from the floor, 52.1% from 3-point range and 83.1% from the foul line. He ranked eighth in the nation in steals per game and first in 3-point percentage with a minimum of 30 attempts.

Dating back to 2001-02, Sheppard joined Tyrese Haliburton and Steph Curry as the only Division I players to have averaged at least 16.0 points per game, 6.0 assists per game, 5.0 rebounds per game, 2.5 steals per game and 2.5 three-point field goals made per 40 minutes played in a season with a true shooting percentage of 60.0% or better. Sheppard was the third Division I freshman to have recorded at least 80 steals and 75 3-pointers made in a single season.

Sheppard turned 20 years old on Monday. His parents, Jeff and Stacey, were both star basketball players at Kentucky during the 1990's. Jeff won two national championships and was the Most Outstanding Player of the 1998 Final Four while Stacey still ranks top-7 in school history in assists, steals and 3-pointers made.

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