In a thrilling midseason development, senior Antonio Reeves and freshman Reed Sheppard have been named among the 25 players selected for the prestigious Wooden Award watch list. This list features contenders for the 2024 John R. Wooden Award Men’s Player of the Year, and being included on it is considered a great honor. However, players who were not chosen for the preseason or midseason list can still make it to the Wooden Award National Ballot. This final ballot will consist of 15 elite players who have proven their worth and met the qualifications of the Wooden Award.
Antonio Reeves has been a standout player for the Wildcats, garnering recognition as the 2023 Southeastern Conference Co-Sixth Man of the Year. He currently leads the team in scoring, averaging an impressive 18.6 points per game in the 2023-24 season. Reeves has consistently achieved double-digit scoring in 13 out of the team’s 14 games, and he has even surpassed the 20-point mark in six games. Notably, he put up a remarkable 30 points against Louisville on December 21, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished by a Kentucky player since Tony Delk achieved the same in 1995.
Reed Sheppard, on the other hand, has been a revelation as a freshman. He is one of only two freshmen to make the cut for the midseason list. Currently averaging 11.9 points per game, Sheppard has also been a contributor in rebounds, assists, and steals, with average stats of 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. Sheppard has showcased his scoring abilities by recording two 25-point performances this season. Against Louisville, he even achieved a double-double with 11 points and an impressive 11 assists, marking the most assists by any UK player in the history of the series. Additionally, Sheppard has been acknowledged as a two-time SEC Freshman of the Week.
The Wooden Award has only been awarded to two players in the history of the University of Kentucky basketball program: Anthony Davis in 2012 and Oscar Tshiebwe in 2022. Reeves and Sheppard have the potential to add their names to this illustrious list of recipients.
Fans will have the opportunity to witness the Wildcats in action once again as they face a tough challenge against Texas A&M on Saturday. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET and will be aired on ESPN. For the latest updates on the Kentucky men’s basketball team, make sure to follow @KentuckyMBB on various social media platforms and visit UKathletics.com, the official website of UK Athletics.
