LEXINGTON, Ky. – In an impressive display of talent and skill, Kentucky men’s basketball freshman guard Reed Sheppard has been named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week. This recognition comes after Sheppard’s outstanding performance in two games last week, where he averaged 23.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game, with a shooting percentage of 56.7%.
This is the first time Sheppard has received this honor, and it marks the second consecutive week that a UK freshman has been named the top-performing first-year player in the SEC, following D.J. Wagner’s recognition last week. The University of Kentucky has a storied history of success in the SEC, having earned a total of 127 weekly SEC honors during the John Calipari era. Among these accolades, 96 have been SEC Freshman of the Week awards, and 31 have been SEC Player of the Week honors.
Hailing from London, Kentucky, Sheppard had an outstanding week on the court. He played a pivotal role in helping the Wildcats dominate No. 8 Miami in the ACC/SEC Challenge, contributing 21 points, five rebounds, and four assists while also making five 3-pointers and three steals. Sheppard’s stellar performance continued as he made his first career start against UNC Wilmington on Saturday, scoring 25 points and grabbing nine rebounds, both career highs.
Sheppard’s exceptional talent extends beyond his recent performances. He ranks among the nation’s best in several statistical categories, including a remarkable 61.1% 3-point field-goal percentage (ranking 1st nationally), averaging 3.00 steals per game (7th), making 2.75 made 3-pointers per game (60th), recording a 2.58 assist-to-turnover ratio (81st), dishing 3.9 assists per game (160th), swatting 0.88 blocks per game (336th), and snaring 4.38 defensive rebounds per game (345th). Additionally, Sheppard has also showcased exceptional effectiveness in his field-goal percentage and plus/minus statistics.
Looking ahead, Sheppard and the Wildcats are set to face off against Penn in Philadelphia on Saturday. With tip-off scheduled for noon ET, the game will be held at the Wells Fargo Center and broadcasted on ESPN2.
For the latest updates and news regarding the Kentucky men’s basketball team, fans can follow @KentuckyMBB on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and visit UKathletics.com.
