TORONTO– If you listen closely, you can hear the loud applause coming from Big Blue nation.
Reed Sheppard, a 6-2 McDonald’s All American and freshman guard from North Laurel High and one of their own, has the Commonwealth in an uproar after his brilliant performance during the Cats’ 92-69 victory over Team Canada on the second day of the Globl Jam here Thursday night.
Sheppard started and filled up his stat line with 14 points on 5 of 8 shooting with two threes. He also grabbed two rebounds, four steals and two blocks in 25 minutes. He also had a sports center moment when he blocked a three, then raced down the floor for a dunk to end the half.
Wow.
Wow.
If this trend continues, Sheppard, the All-American 18-year-old boy, will be making Livvy Dunne-type NIL money.
Kentucky fans had to wait until midnight to see the taped delay of his coming out party. But it was worth it. just to watch him drain back-to-back threes within 30 seconds in the first quarter as the Cats raced to a 49- 34 lead at halftime and increased their lead to27 in this blowout.
Sheppard got to celebrate the victory with his father Jeff, who played for Kentucky and the MVP of the Cats’ 1998 NCAA tournament champions and his mother Stacey, who was a star on the Kentucky women’s team in the same decade.
“It means everything. They’re my mom and dad. They’ve been here for me my whole life They’ve taught me so much. So beig able to play for Kentucky and hae htem i the stands cheering me on and cheering for the team it’s really special.
And it’s something I’ll never forget.”
Jeff Sheppard wore No. 3 when he played for the Cats. But he showed up at the Mattamy Center this week wearing a white Kentucky jersey with the No. 15 Reed will wear this season.
Reed just took a little while before he took his first of what should be many bows. In the Cats’ opening game victory over Team Germany, Sheppard missed all four shots he took. In the post- game locker room, coach John Calipari made Sheppard get up in front of the entire team and recite the following line: I couldn’t make a shot.”
“Say it,” Cal said.
Sheppard said it and then smiled.
It was meant to show him stuff like that will happen. Just turn the page.
Sheppard must have a short memory. He lit up the game and ignited the crowd of blue and white fans with his heroics.
“Man, Reed has been a dog out there,” fifth year senior wing Antonio Reeves said. “he’s got that dog mentality. He’s out there blocking shots, getting a couple dunks. getting rebounds. He’s doing everything the team needs him to do. And that’s what we’re looking for.”
Reeves and Tre Mitchell are the oldest players on this team at 22. The rest are freshmen and sophomores. But they play with unusual maturity. constantly looking to make the extra pass as evidenced by 27 assists on 35 made field goals. I know it’s only July, but this team has the same talent, depth and potential as the 2017 team with De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk and Bam /Adebayo that advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight and was championship-good once Calipari’s two seven-foot shot blockers– Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso- return from injuries. The players have all brought in to making extra pass and they are starting to shoot the ball with confidence from the three.
Other than Reeves, Reeves led the Cats with 23 points. Justin Edwards, who struggled in the opening game win over Germany, had 16 points and five rebounds and 6-8 Adou Thierro added 11 points, six rebounds and five assists. Robert Dillingham had eight assists and only one turnovers and Mitchell blocked five shots against a Canadian team that has size and six Division I players. Oh yes, and three of the freshmen– DJ Wagner, Edwards and Sheppard– all had threes.
The win ensured Kentucky will play for the Globl Jam gold medal in Sunday night’s 8 p.m. final that will be televised. on CBS Sports Network.The Cats, who play 0-2 Team Africa Saturday, will get the winner of the Canada-Germany game.
