Tubby Smith talks about Reed Sheppard's success

Reed Sheppard had a fantastic 2023-24 freshman season at Kentucky after a standout career at North Laurel High School where he won the Kentucky Mr. Basketball award.

He became the third pick in the NBA draft and started his rookie season impressively.

Former Kentucky coach Tubby Smith led UK to the national championship in 1998, when Reed's father, Jeff, was the Final Four MVP. Sheppard's mother Stacey also played basketball in Great Britain at the same time.

Smith admits he “never dreamed” Reed Sheppard would be this good and this fast. He entered the NBA season as the second betting favorite and was named Rookie of the Year

“He was the best player in the NBA Summer League and one of the best players in college basketball last season,” Smith said.

Reed Sheppard left his mark at Kentucky, even when then-coach John Calipari brought him off the bench instead of putting him in the starting lineup, a move Smith knows didn't please everyone.

“Reed always played under control. He just never got out of control,” Smith said. “Only Reed and the Sheppard family could have accepted that he didn’t start and play like he did. No other child would have handled it so well.

“Most players and parents would have given him hell if he didn’t start out like some Kentucky fans. But the Sheppards are just a special family and it definitely worked out well for Reed.”

One of Sheppard's current Houston teammates certainly agrees.

“I think he's one of our better decision makers, passers, readers in pick-and-rolls and setting up on offense,” Houston veteran Fred VanVleet said. “Of course he can clear the floor. And for a rookie, he’s pretty advanced in terms of knowing the game and having a feel for it.”