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LONDON \u2014 Reed Sheppard\u2019s message to University of Kentucky fans \u2014 \u201cStay ready.\u201d
Sheppard, and his future teammates, believe big things are ready to take place when they show up to Lexington for the 2023-24 season.
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a very good group coming,\u201d he said. \u201cOur group wants to win. Fans, stay ready, we are going to have a heck of a year.\u201d
Wildcat fans was able to get a glimpse of Kentucky\u2019s future when Sheppard, Justin Edwards, DJ Wagner, and Aaron Bradshaw suited up for Tuesday\u2019s 46th Annual McDonald\u2019s All American Game with each player turning in impressive results.
Sheppard scored four points, recorded a dunk, finished with four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Bradshaw scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Justin Edwards scored 11 points, had five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Wagner totaled 19 points, finished with three assists, two rebounds, and two steals.
\u201cIt was unbelievable to be able to play against the best competition in the world,\u201d Sheppard said. \u201cI had a great time. To be able to play and participate in this is crazy \u2014 it\u2019s a dream come true.\u201d
Sheppard said the experience of participating in the McDonald\u2019s All American Game was more than he expected.
\u201cIt was just just super, super crazy that I got to experience this,\u201d he said. \u201cI was able to hang out with the best players in the world. It was just a great experience to get to know them more on and off the court. To be able to share the court with the other players was just an unbelievable experience for me.
\u201cWhen I got there we had to do a photo shoot, and I guess it was the reveal of the jersey, you could say,\u201d Sheppard added. \u201cWhen I was able to put it on, it was a dream come true. I took some pictures of my own of the jersey. It\u2019s just a huge honor to be able to wear it, and play in it.\u201d
And an even bigger honor to wear No. 15.
\u201cThey had us pick three jersey numbers, and put them on one of the papers. I got No. 15, and being able to wear my dad\u2019s No. 15 was just another great experience.\u201d
When Sheppard wasn\u2019t hooping on ESPN Tuesday, he was participating in Monday\u2019s Powerade Jam Fest at the Delmar Athletic Complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A 39.3 percent (103-for-262) shooter from behind the arc his senior season at North Laurel High School, Sheppard turned in a second-place effort.
\u201cI was nervous but not too nervous,\u201d he admitted. \u201cAll eyes were on you when it was your turn to shoot. And, it was on TV, so it was another super-fun moment that I enjoyed. To be able to compete against some of the best shooters was great to be a part of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt really hit me the first day that this was special. Right when we started to stretch, and practice,\u201d he added. \u201cI knew I had to practice at a high level because I was going up against some of the best players in the world.During some practices you could maybe go half speed, and get by with it, but you can\u2019t these practices. If you do, they can make you look bad. I was ready to play, and it was really fun. I wanted to prove to myself that I can compete with anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n