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<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LEXINGTON \u2014 Former North Laurel star, and University of Kentucky freshman Reed Sheppard continues to turn heads after playing a big role in No. 12 Wildcats\u2019 95-73 win over No. 8 Miami (Florida) at Rupp Arena on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sheppard totaled 21 points, his second 20-point game of the season, while adding five rebounds, four assists and three steals. He led Kentucky in plus\/minus at +35, and he has had at least two steals in every game this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sheppard\u2019s play caught Miami head coach Jim Larra\u00f1aga\u2019s eye. He stated both Sheppard and Rob Dillingham are \u201ctwo NBA guys.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThose guys are pretty good. I\u2019d say those two guys are, I mean Reed ended up starting in the second half,\u201d he said. \u201cI mean, those are two NBA guys. They’re terrific college players, but they\u2019ll play beyond for sure. They can shoot it, they handle it, they share it extremely well. And I think that’s what’s impressive about Kentucky’s offense is how well they share the ball. They had 26 assists and we had eight, it’s not a good stat for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When asked what makes Sheppard so difficult to guard, Larra\u00f1aga was complimentary of the freshman\u2019s game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s so good at everything. I mean he can shoot it, he can handle it, he can pass it,\u201d he said. \u201cHe finds the open man great and he defends you know, you might look at him and think that okay, he’s not that athletic. You try to score on him, but he\u2019s moving his feet using his hands and doing a great job at the defensive end of the floor as well. He comes up with a lot of deflections and steals as well. He had four assists and one turnover and then Dillingham had nine assists and no turnovers. That\u2019s a pretty good night from your bench. They don\u2019t start.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sheppard was his normal self after the win, commenting on the Rupp Arena crowd, and the players of his teammates, shying away from his +35 effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe crowd was unbelievable,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t think they sat down. It was so loud. From the first possession to the last possession, they made a huge impact on the game. They made it tough for Miami to run plays. It will be a moment we will never forget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n