From London to Lexington to Houston to star
When Reed Sheppard committed to Kentucky, many fans assumed it was a feel-good story more than a future NBA pipeline. The legacy kid from London, Kentucky—son of UK champion Jeff Sheppard—was expected to be a developmental piece, maybe a long-term contributor. One season, some elite efficiency, and a top-three NBA Draft selection later, Sheppard is rewriting the narrative.
Now entering his second season with the Houston Rockets, Sheppard has been named the No. 1 NBA sophomore to watch by ESPN. That’s not just hype—it’s the byproduct of both Houston’s roster shake-up and Sheppard’s projected growth trajectory. The Kentucky product averaged 12 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds a game on insane shooting splits of 53.6 from the field, 52.1 from deep, and 83.1 from the FT line.
The rookie numbers weren’t splashy—just 4.4 points in 12.6 minutes across 52 games—but context matters. He buried 33.8% from three, shot over 81% at the line, and put up a 49-point explosion in a G League game that reminded everyone just how explosive he can be.
This offseason, the Rockets shipped out Jalen Green in a blockbuster deal to land Kevin Durant. That trade cleared a pathway for Sheppard to carve out serious minutes behind Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson. He’s expected to serve as a connective piece—a playmaker, secondary ball-handler, and floor-spacer whose perimeter instincts and basketball IQ make him a natural fit.
There are questions: Will his shooting stabilize with volume? Can he hold up defensively in small-guard lineups? But there’s also upside: If Sheppard breaks out, Houston’s ceiling rises dramatically. ESPN's analysts suggest that the team’s title hopes may hinge more on Sheppard and Jabari Smith Jr. than on Durant's age-36 output.
Sheppard headlines a group of top sophomores that includes Zaccharie Risacher, Stephon Castle, Matas Buzelis, and Donovan Clingan. That’s elite company.
Not bad for a kid from London, Kentucky.