BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Reed Sheppard became the latest University of Kentucky men's basketball player to become a lottery pick Wednesday during Night 1 of the 2024 NBA Draft.
The Houston Rockets selected the 6-foot-3 guard with the third pick in the first round. Sheppard is the third Wildcat to go in the lottery in the last three years.
Carson Wallace was selected with the 10th overall pick last year and Shaedon Sharpe was drafted with the seventh pick in 2022.
Sheppard led the country in 3-point shooting in 2023-24 at 52.1%. He mostly came off the bench, but still averaged 12.5 points and 4.5 assists in 28.9 minutes per game as a freshman.
Sheppard went to North Laurel High School in London, Kentucky, and was one of the top players in the 2023 class. He won the state's Mr. Basketball award and was named a McDonald's All American.
His parents -- Jeff and Stacey Sheppard -- played college basketball at Kentucky in the 1990s.
The San Antonio Spurs picked Rob Dillingham in the eighth round. The 6-1 freshman averaged 15.2 points and 3.9 assists a game and shot 44.4% from 3-point range. He was then traded to Minnesota Timberwolves.
This will be the last crop of John Calipari-coached UK players to be drafted. Calipari left after last season to take over at Arkansas.
Prior to Wednesday's first round, Calipari produced 35 first round picks at Kentucky, including 23 lottery picks and three No. 1 overall selections (John Wall, Anthony Davis and Karl-Anthony Towns).
The second round continues Thursday.
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