The case for Doron Lamb over Reed Sheppard
Reed Sheppard’s lone season in Lexington was historic. Not great. Not impressive. Historic.
Doron Lamb with a message to BBN on where he stacks up among all-time Kentucky shooters
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) July 14, 2025
He’s proud of that 47.5% career average from three pic.twitter.com/djVReSdQco
The Kentucky native lit up scoreboards, shot a jaw-dropping 52.1% from three-point range (75-of-144), and somehow managed to look effortless doing it. It was the highest single-season percentage in school history—and frankly, one of the best in the history of the sport. He holds the record for highest percentage made in a career from deep.
But is Sheppard the best shooter ever at Kentucky?
He has the efficiency, but he doesn’t have the volume or longevity. That title may still belong to Doron Lamb.
Lamb, a two-year sharpshooter under John Calipari, knocked down 144 threes on 47.5% shooting across 78 career games. He was more than just a marksman—he was a national champion and a go-to scorer in critical moments. His three-point shooting in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, including a 3-for-6 night in the title game against Kansas, was instrumental in Kentucky cutting down the nets.
Let’s play the what-if game. If Sheppard had stayed for a second year and matched his freshman usage, he’d be on pace for 150+ threes on similar efficiency. That would’ve moved him past Lamb in volume and left him in a tier of his own.
But Sheppard’s departure for the 2024 NBA Draft made this more than a projection—it made it a final chapter. There is no way to know if he comes back how his percentages would look. He would have definitely got shots up under Mark Pope, but you can't say for sure he would have made them.
The numbers say Sheppard was the most accurate. But the best shooter in Kentucky history? That still might be Doron Lamb. He did it longer, did it on a championship team, and did it when the stakes were highest.
Still, one thing’s clear: whether it’s Lamb, Sheppard, or even Travis Ford and Cameron Mills lurking in that top five—Kentucky basketball has never had a shortage of snipers. Who is your pick to be the best shooter in Kentucky history?