Eight months ago, when you asked who would be the National Freshman of the Year, many would say Justin Edwards or DJ Wagner.
Aaron Bradshaw, a top-five prospect at 7 feet tall, also could have been an option.
All three of these players were 247 Sports' top 10 recruits in the 2023 class. Some may have predicted that Isaiah Collier, the No. 1 overall pick, might be selected.
They would all be wrong.
Reed Shepard was chosen in his place.
Shepard, a four-star recruit from London, Ky., was just named CBS Sports Newcomer of the Year. He was previously named NABC Freshman of the Year.
“Shepard comes from Kentucky royalty. His parents, Stacey and Jeff, both played at this school. The younger Shepard helped take the Wildcats' offense to new heights. Shepard's four “He has gone from star prospect to one of the best first-year players in the country,” CBS Sports analyst Matt Norlander wrote.
Sheppard shot 53.6 percent from the field and 52.1 percent from 3-point land during his freshman season. Not to mention, he averaged 4.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in addition to scoring 12.5 points per game this season.
While off-ball defense is often cited as a weakness, Shepard also averaged 2.5 steals per game. It was an all-around great season for the young guard, one that could see him become a top-10 pick in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft. The Kentucky standout could stay in the Bluegrass State and continue his high-profile career, but fans should expect him to play professional baseball next fall.
Regardless of what his future holds, this is truly a great year for this young guard and there are no limits to his future.
