Reed Sheppard Scouting Report
An historically good shooter + defensive playmaker, but how does his game translate?
Name: Reed Sheppard
Birth date: June 24, 2004
Height/Weight: 6’3/187
Wingspan/ standing reach: N/A
Hand size: N/A
Position: Guard
Pre-Draft team: Kentucky
Tools: Shooting, feel for the game, steal-forcing
Background: Grew up a big Kentucky fan since his parents played there; earned an McDonalds All-American selection in 2023. Won SEC Freshman of the Year.
Stats: 12.5 PPG 4.1 RPG 4.5 APG 2.5 SPG 0.7 BPG 2 TOPG on 54/52/83
Pros:
Outstanding shooter both spotting up and off the dribble; quick to get his feet set
Causes lots of chaos on the defensive end
Has a great motor and always plays hard
Intelligent player; the game has naturally clicked for him and it shows
Moves well off-ball; an ideal off-ball guard
Clearly makes his teammates better by knowing how and when to score or pass. His ability to recognize double teams and mismatches with and without the ball is outstanding
Has great defensive instincts with extremely active hands
Quick to get into his pull-up shooting motion and is an efficient off the dribble shooter
Adaptive to plays; thrives on taking what the defensive gives him
Quick processing speed to what is happening on the floor
Cons:
Not a point guard, making him a tweener with his size
Poor on-ball defender
Lacks great explosion towards the rim, making his drives easier to defend and separation harder to get
Swing Skills:
What is his overall defensive impact with some contradicting defensive traits?
Summary:
Offensively, Sheppard’s ability to adapt to how the defense is set up and what the defense wants from him, while also knowing his own strengths and weaknesses, is impressive. While his left hand is not a strength, he still is capable at winning against defenses that shade him away from his dominant right hand and from there taking what the defense gives him: pull-up jumpers, beating digs from the helpside defense to find an open teammate, or left handed drives. While there is not one single trait as a creator that makes Sheppard dynamic or hard to defend, his ability to make the correct decision consistently makes him that much more lethal with the ball in his hands.
The aforementioned decision making matters for his playmaking above any other area, although it also plays a role in his strong freshman year efficiency and defensive production. While not a floor general or true point guard, Sheppard does have an unconventional way of making his teammates better. His ability to recognize double teams, knowledge of when to shoot or pass, and ability to stretch every second of the possession to his favor are all traits every scorer needs. He also knows where his teammates are at all times, allowing for him to make up for not always being able to see over defenses. However, he can ‘chance’ some of these passes against double teams on the move, like his lone turnover in this game against Florida.
Sheppard’s best trait is his shooting, and it takes no time to see why: he was the only player to shoot 50% from 3 on 100+ attempts, and he is just as lethal pulling up as he is spotting up. With an ideal jump shot form, his shot is hard to block and easy to get off over defenders. He gets the same release every time with consistent mechanics, and is smart about when he takes his shots. Sheppard’s ability to stop on a dime and properly plant his feet every time from every speed is one of his top traits. On top of this, the way Sheppard can pull up equally well on both right hand and left hand dribbles makes his game unpredictable with the ball in his hands. Defenders cannot sag off of Sheppard, because the variety of ways to win are so diverse. He can win by quickly shooting as the screen gets set in a P&R, he can relocate to spot up, he can win as a transition shooter (both on and off the ball), and he can shoot off the dribble over defenders. His shot from top to bottom is ideal, and makes him one of the premier off-ball threats at his size.
One other area that Sheppard should grow even more in as the floor opens up is his floater and non-rim paint shots. When he catches & drives, he times his shot to be able to get the floater off where neither his primary defender nor the help defender can contest him. Like his shot, he has great touch on his floater and is able to hit runners both going straight and leaning right/left. He also can hit push shot floaters when he flashes, but didn’t get to show that much at Kentucky.
While his on-ball defense leaves a lot to be desired with scouts, Sheppard’s ability to force turnovers without sacrificing defensive rotations and the flow of the defense is elite. His fundamental use of his hands by keeping them high, knowing where his man is and when he can/cannot gamble, good overall awareness, and quick reflexes make him one of the best steal/3 point shooting combinations we have ever seen. Sheppard’s ability to force mistakes without making the defense prone to an unorganized collapse means he is likely able to stay on the court during high pressure/end of game situations. With a good motor and knowledge of when to put his hands up with what angle to put his hands at, he makes it difficult to sneak plays past him defensively, both on-ball and off-ball.
The biggest concern for Sheppard’s defense comes from how easily exploitable he is in the pick & roll. He doesn’t do a consistently good job of keeping track of what the gameplan is in terms of if his job is to stick with the ball-handler or the roller/popper. He also puts himself in no man’s land too often, being confused and too slow to react to the play. On top of that, he is easily removable from the play in screens, which is the best way to negate his active hands at times. Take these two plays as examples of how he can be in the wrong spots, even if the second play results in a block due to a slow release and taking too long to shoot.
These defensive traits project him towards being a positive team defender, being able to make others around him better on this end while being trusted to maximize his strengths and minimize his shortcomings. If Sheppard ends up on a team with a coach that is considered intelligent in hiding his defenders to keep them positive, Sheppard has a chance to hit his ceiling of a disruptor on defense while being a dynamic jump shooter.
Overall, Sheppard’s ability to find several avenues to impact the game as a playmaker, shooter, and defender make him a unique prospect. His shooting is his safest bet, with hidden playmaking because of a multiple guard system that didn’t allow for him to run point as much as he could have if he was the only prospect on his team, for example. Defensively, he struggles against drives, but finds ways to force turnovers to make up for his on-ball defense. The sell on Sheppard is that he always finds a way to impact the game, even when the gameplan is to force him into his weaknesses. His feel for the game is off the charts, and smart shooters that continue to learn, get stronger, and improve on weaknesses generally stick in the league. Look for him to thrive as a shooter early in his career, and for him to grow into a more complete offensive player as the years grow. If he goes to the right team, his defense can be maximized, which could make him a top 50 player that complements a franchise cornerstone.
Similar to: CJ McCollum
Projected draft range: 3-10
Expected role: Shooter with some creation ability thanks to processing speed, with the ability to force turnovers on defense.
Unplayable if: P&R and some on-ball defense can be exploited in the playoffs.
Exceeds expectations if: Defensive stats translate, and he finds ways to maximize his playmaking with more spacing and better playmaking opportunities.
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