"I know I can jump but..." - Reed Sheppard recalls being stunned at his 2024 NBA draft combine measurements

NBA Draft prospect Reed Sheppard tells LA Clippers star Paul George his surprise at the combine. Sheppard surprised everyone after recording a 42-inch vertical jump. The people at the combine were shocked with his ability and according to the prospect, it surprised him as well to see his ability to jump that high.

The Kentucky Wildcats standout is mostly known for his stroke from outside the three-point arc. In his lone college season, Sheppard made 52% of his shots from beyond the arc, which is a difficult feat to reach. He also knocked down 53% of his shots from the field.

But what shocked many was his ability to jump high. As he appeared on "Podcast P with Paul George," Shappard shared his experience at the combine and his athleticism.

"I know I can jump but I didn't know I was gonna have the highest vertical in the NBA Draft," Sheppard said.

"It was all fun and I looked up at the board and when I saw 42, it kinda made me laugh because I wasn't expecting that. And I know no one else was expecting it so it was a funny time.

George asked Shappard if fans would see his vertical leap on display in potential participation at the dunk contest. The Wildcats star had this to say:

"Yeah, not a chance."

Shappard talked about his vertical leap at the 43:00 mark.

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According to Reed Sheppard, his iconic moment at the draft combine garnered some attention and even caused fans to make some memes. His fellow draft combine participants also poked fun at him surprising everyone with his athleticism.

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Which teams could select Reed Sheppard at the NBA Draft?

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After the NBA Combine, teams were able to see what the prospects could do on the floor. Most mock drafts have fixed their eyes on Alex Sarr as the number one pick in the draft this year, which could mean that the Frenchman might be part of the Atlanta Hawks soon.

Reed Shappard is still within the top-five range of the draft. Bleacher Report has projected the Kentucky guard to be selected as the sixth pick of the draft. That could mean that the Charlotte Hornets might get a chance to add another player to their backcourt.

Some have Sheppard as a potential top-five pick. CBS Sports have mocked the prospect of being selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the fourth pick in the draft. With his intelligent passing, pairing him with Victor Wembanyama could be a deadly combo for the league as both of them can also score efficiently.

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