Reed Sheppard committing Saturday

[EmCats3]

Why would teachers know lol. Like he’s gonna spoil it. Hey Mr. Rodgers, I, uh, am going to UVA. I know the entire state will be pissed off. Doesn’t make sense to me.

I’ve said it didn’t make sense, was just passing along some info from someone closer to the source than any of us are lol

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

I’ve said it didn’t make sense, was just passing along some info from someone closer to the source than any of us are lol

I didn’t mean it like you said it, just overall that kind of noise makes no sense to me. I’d believe his core group of friends before any teacher.

 

[Cats192]

Why do you favor Grady over Allen?
If you are going to criticize Allen for his defense, then you have to do the same for Grady

I'm not here to tell you Grady is a great defender. But he's probably better than Allen. Both can be subpar with one being worse than the other.

I also think Grady gives you more on offense. Grady can score at all 3 levels consistently. Allen is out there to shoot 3's. Grady can lead the fast break and create on the break--that's not something Dontaie does.

I think it's telling that Cal has had Allen and brought in Grady to play over him. I know people love to argue "Cal only plays 5 stars so he can get them to the NBA." Grady was a 4-star. He is playing Grady to win games.

 

[Cats192]

Why would teachers know lol. Like he’s gonna spoil it. Hey Mr. Rodgers, I, uh, am going to UVA. I know the entire state will be pissed off. Doesn’t make sense to me.

Yeah. Kids love to create smoke close to the announcement. I'm sure people have asked where he's going and he's given them "an answer." But I doubt very seriously everyone at his high school knows 5 days before he announces.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

Yeah. Kids love to create smoke close to the announcement. I'm sure people have asked where he's going and he's given them "an answer." But I doubt very seriously everyone at his high school knows 5 days before he announces.

If I was a lifetime UK fan(which I am), both my parents played at UK and I had the talent too. I would have committed the day I got offered. I would need zero visits. Maybe the only reason would be to take a free trip to meet some hot co-eds at the “visits.” Except Louisville, they do it totally wrong.

 

[CarolinaCatsFan]

If he commits this early, he was never coming to UK ( and probably lends credence to talk of bad blood between Jeff/Call). Get Wagner, Dillingham, Cook and another top wing and it's not that big of a deal (except for the "Is Richie gonna play tonight?" crowd).

Bigger thing is does Wagner play a year of college ball?

What makes you say that?

 

[yoshukai]

Everybody in the state wants Reed, Cal offered him early, which he rarely does for classes this far away and yet he still doesn’t feel wanted.

One thing Jeff told me early on was that Reed didn’t want a scholarship offer just because of who his parents were . I asked Jeff awhile back if Reed felt “wanted “ by Calipari. He said yes and added that Reed also felt better after scrimmaging with the team because it proved he was in fact “ as good as they were”.

 

[Cats192]

If I was a lifetime UK fan(which I am), both my parents played at UK and I had the talent too. I would have committed the day I got offered. I would need zero visits. Maybe the only reason would be to take a free trip to meet some hot co-eds at the “visits.” Except Louisville, they do it totally wrong.

He'll make stupid money here. Hundreds of thousands.

On one hand--if you're convinced you're a star and you're going to play in the league--maybe you think when you get to UVA and dominate--the NIL $$ will come and you'll get paid in the NBA.

However, if you can consider that you can be very good at basketball and not be a long-term NBA player, making that money for 3-4 years may make a huge difference in your life's financial trajectory.

 

[wildcatdon]

don't know anything about the Cal & Jeff hate feud, but i would hope that isn't true
Jeff was one of the more liked kids that played for UK & led them to a title
If Cal is that stupid not to recognize that, then ............
Again, this is another example of Cal being probably the last coach to offer the kid
That may mean something & then again it may not
Reed has also seen how the home grown kids have been treated during Cal's tenure,
Any kid that hasn't been rated as a 5* did not get a chance

I hope he picks UK, but can sure understand if he doesn't

It will speak volumes about our coach if this kid goes elsewhere. Fingers crossed.

 

[Cats192]

One thing Jeff told me early on was that Reed didn’t want a scholarship offer just because of who his parents were . I asked Jeff awhile back if Reed felt “wanted “ by Calipari. He said yes and added that Reed also felt better after scrimmaging with the team because it proved he was in fact “ as good as they were”.

I can understand being concerned about that when you're a 3 star kid that got on UK's radar last minute.

But Reed's a 5 star kid. Cal loves 5-star kids, regardless of who their daddy is.

 

[Cats192]

It will speak volumes about our coach if this kid goes elsewhere. Fingers crossed.

Will it?

Cal got on him pretty early. Offered early.

If we've recruited the kid hard and he decided to go somewhere else--what does that tell us about Cal? At the end of the day, sometimes kids just don't want what we're offering.

I don't think it's going to matter. He's going to be a Cat.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

I think this is as close to a lock as we can get.

I agree.

 

[woodberry79]

Allen was not a 5*. Like it or not, we all know Cal has an affinity for 5* players and getting them on the floor. So the guys he should look at would be Tyty, Boston, Maxey, Quickley, Herro, Green, Diallo, Monk.

Herro wasn't a five star either

 

[HagginHall1999]

Again, White Greer Maggard is advertising on Reed's Twitter videos. WGM is the sponsoring host for ALL UK camps. There is clearly some budding partnership there.

I don't know what else anyone needs for evidence that this is a done deal.

 

[Cats192]

Herro wasn't a five star either

Neither was SGA. Who took over the starting PG spot from Quade Green--a 5 star.

 

[*Fox2Monk*]

One thing Jeff told me early on was that Reed didn’t want a scholarship offer just because of who his parents were . I asked Jeff awhile back if Reed felt “wanted “ by Calipari. He said yes and added that Reed also felt better after scrimmaging with the team because it proved he was in fact “ as good as they were”.

That’s awesome, I’m glad he had the confidence now to believe that. I think that’s a huge obstacle to overcome being a legacy recruit. Also it’s cool he wanted to earn his ride. I can’t wait to see him play!

 

[wildcatdon]

Will it?

Cal got on him pretty early. Offered early.

If we've recruited the kid hard and he decided to go somewhere else--what does that tell us about Cal? At the end of the day, sometimes kids just don't want what we're offering.

I don't think it's going to matter. He's going to be a Cat.

Fingers crossed.

 

[sk73]

If he was Mike Casey or Jimmy Dan Conner, or Winston Bennett or many other 5 star kids that were from in-state over the years, yes it could be called a dumb decision but they were all the very top recruit for UK and he is is not....Cal is all over one and dones that he can put in the league that will make it a life changing experience for the kid and him. I personally doubt very seriously that he will be boo'd everywhere he goes. I think the vast majority of people in the state, especially those who have followed UK for years will understand him not going to UK if that is what he decides to do.

Cal has had a few one and dones that were lower ranked than Sheppard.

 

[serdi]

Virginia?...I'm not always thrilled with Cal's offense but VIrgina? Really?Have you seen them play?

They have won a Natty since Cal. They have won a number of ACC championships recently...

 

[mdlUK.1]

If he doesn't pick Kentucky this place is going into full meltdown mode lol

So a normal day?

 

[TankedCat]

If he comes to UK its either going to be great or its going to end bitterly

There is no in between. Cal will not have the option to treat him like Dante Allen or recruit over him.

Sheppard has no option but to play like fire and carry the team

Maybe UVa is in the mix because Dad understands that.

 

[serdi]

If it’s not Kentucky I’ll be shocked... but I don’t know anything. Kid is Kentucky royalty with opportunity to play at his dream school

But the current coach doesn't take that into any consideration

 

[Ky_Bred_Cat]

As a UK fan I'd love for him to play here. If he was my son I'm not sure I can say the same thing. As a UK legacy and KY native it's a tough decision for him to make.

The UK program of today, as Cal says, is not for everyone. The program today is built for only one kind of player (whether we get them or not). Even though it was a different era, one of the most surprising and exceptional things Pitino may have ever done here was his management of not one but several rural KY players during his early years here.

 

[bkingUK]

I don’t think that’s the case at all, his dad is a UK legend but not a recruiting or NBA legend. In fact I’d say it’s harder for Kentucky kids to get ranked high because our basketball in state is on the lower end in the entire country. We don’t have the population for it.

I’m not saying he’s not a great pickup. Let me make that really clear. Like, I’m excited as hell to have him (and think he’s a lock). But I think the fan interest in Reed probably have him more publicity and looks than some other anonymous player. I am somewhat concerned the expectations for him are too high I guess. We might need to dial that down a bit.

But you know 100% there will be fans wanting him to play 20 min a game as a freshman? Is he that good? I hope.

 

[bkingUK]

But the current coach doesn't take that into any consideration

which is why Sheppard is about to commit to Kentucky as a junior

 

[yoshukai]

I can understand being concerned about that when you're a 3 star kid that got on UK's radar last minute.

But Reed's a 5 star kid. Cal loves 5-star kids, regardless of who their daddy is.

Well like I said, this was early on . This was when people were just starting to talk about him possibly being UK material. I don’t even know if they actually rank kids in their freshman seasons.

 

[DudahUK]

1. NIL is going to be insane for him here. It won't be anything similar at any other program.

2. Crystal Ball is trending strongly UK this past week. There's a several page long discussion about Crystal Ball to be had--but in general, when everyone is trending a certain direction and the entire internet agrees--what's being predicted is what happens.

I know someone is going to point out times that they've gotten it wrong. But when everyone is in agreement like this--they're right an absurd percentage of the time.

Like Wagner to UK? Just saying. No one thought he was going to Norte Dame.

 

[yoshukai]

That’s awesome, I’m glad he had the confidence now to believe that. I think that’s a huge obstacle to overcome being a legacy recruit. Also it’s cool he wanted to earn his ride. I can’t wait to see him play!

I can absolutely say that he is a great and solid kid no matter where he goes to college . I played in a golf tournament for charity with Jeff and Reed this summer. All these grown men kept coming up telling him he’d look good in blue&white ,he would just smile and say “thank you sir”. This one guy brought his 10 yr old son along , he kinda seemed a little out of place . I noticed Reed made his way over and sat and talked to this kid for quite awhile. I was impressed.

 

[Rideordiewildcat]

I hope it's the cats. It would seem weird to pick this early and not be UK. Not too many 2023 guys choosing their school in 2021. It sounds like UVA is the only competition. If it wasn't UK why choose this early? I mean bigger schools could come calling. Unless he just loves UVA that much. The only reasons I can see to choose this early are it is UK and it has always been UK. Or he knows he isn't going to UK and wants to rip the bandaid off now before the expectations grow even more insane for him at UK.

I think it's UK. You never know, but this seems like fate.

 

[OHIO COLONEL]

Have no idea where he's going...and haven't kept up with his recruitment. Don't know when or how UVA got involved. But, one of the assistant coaches at UVA...his father is a family friend. The asst. coach has a bit of a Kentucky connection. He went to Centre College for two years then transferred because his long term goal was to get into coaching, so his coach recommended that he transfer...and I think worked it out for him to transfer.
So, have no idea if he is the main recruiter for Reed (however I think he was director of scouting up to this year) but he knows the state of Kentucky and I imagine can relate fairly well with the Sheppards.

 

[yoshukai]

Another good sign of it being this early is he’s in state. If he committed to anyone but UK I would think he’d want to do it later in the spring to avoid going to school with UK fan classmates that he spurned.

Or….he knows he wants to go to Virginia and respects the UK fanbase enough that he doesn’t want to string them along . Remember the Harris kid that went to Alabama to play football after acting like he was a UK fan . He said he had known he was going to Bama for months , Ohio State was actually his no.2 choice. Reed would never do that.

 

[yoshukai]

Have no idea where he's going...and haven't kept up with his recruitment. Don't know when or how UVA got involved. But, one of the assistant coaches at UVA...his father is a family friend. The asst. coach has a bit of a Kentucky connection. He went to Centre College for two years then transferred because his long term goal was to get into coaching, so his coach recommended that he transfer...and I think worked it out for him to transfer.
So, have no idea if he is the main recruiter for Reed (however I think he was director of scouting up to this year) but he knows the state of Kentucky and I imagine can relate fairly well with the Sheppards.

Virginia has been on Reed since the beginning.

 

[mdlUK.1]

I hope he comes to UK but if not, I’d rather it be uva over u6.

 

[Cats192]

Like Wagner to UK? Just saying. No one thought he was going to Norte Dame.

Me: I know someone is going to point out the rare times the whole internet gets it wrong, but when everyone agrees it almost always happens

You: Well this one time they got it wrong.

Everytime the internet thinks we're not getting a player--there's always one guy that says "Yeah, we weren't getting Kevin Knox either!" And then the kids goes on to do what most of the internet thought.

For every one of those times the kid surprises us---there are dozens if not hundreds of times they got it right.

Could they be wrong? Sure. But when everyone is in agreement, they're right 99+% of the time.

 

[kb22stang]

It will speak volumes about our coach if this kid goes elsewhere. Fingers crossed.

Wrong, some kids want to create their own legacy, not follow their parents. Some kids don't want to play for a fan base like this and a spotlight this intense. Lots of reasons the kid would pick another school.

 

[sk73]

don't know anything about the Cal & Jeff hate feud, but i would hope that isn't true
Jeff was one of the more liked kids that played for UK & led them to a title
If Cal is that stupid not to recognize that, then ............
Again, this is another example of Cal being probably the last coach to offer the kid
That may mean something & then again it may not
Reed has also seen how the home grown kids have been treated during Cal's tenure,
Any kid that hasn't been rated as a 5* did not get a chance

I hope he picks UK, but can sure understand if he doesn't

Giving an offer after a players sophomore year is very, very rare for Cal. He has just recently offered a few of the top players in the 2022 class.

 

[JAC71]

Why do you favor Grady over Allen?
If you are going to criticize Allen for his defense, then you have to do the same for Grady

Grady has scored over 2000 points is the only reason I want him getting as much time as he can get. No knock on Allen just it is what it is

 

[yoshukai]

Like Wagner to UK? Just saying. No one thought he was going to Norte Dame.

Don’t scare me like that ! For a second I thought I had missed something in Dajaun Wagner’s recruitment.

 

[wldctky_rivals70430]

I highly doubt he is planning to play his jr and sr year in KY gyms as a commit to anywhere but UK. That would just be asking for trouble.

Herro backed out of his Wisconsin verbal and played his senior year in front of hostile crowds and thrived on it

 

[bnewt]

Was Dominique Hawkins a 5 star recruit? Serious question. I can’t remember

Sure wasn't, & how much did he play except when the others in front of him were injured