Top 5 potential Reed Sheppard replacements for Kentucky ft. Koby Brea
Kentucky's one-and-done Reed Sheppard was selected third by the Houston Rockets in the NBA draft last season. He was one of the most efficient players on John Calipari's roster as he averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals across 33 games.
However, the most scintillating aspect of Reed Sheppard's game was his 52.1% 3-point clip, leaving a huge void in the program. With that, as Mark Pope prepares for his first year as the Wildcats coach, let's look at the possible replacements he can fit in for Reed Sheppard.
Top 5 potential Reed Sheppard replacements for Kentucky heading into the 2024-25 season
#1, Koby Brea
If he can build up on the humungous season he had for the Dayton Flyers, Koby Brea can be Mark Pope’s version of Reed Sheppard, at least from the 3-point line.
The junior guard shot 49.8% from the three-point line while attempting 6.1 3-pointers per game. He could find a starting role in Kentucky as his shot volume behind the arc suggests that Brea already aligns with Pope’s system.
#2, Kerr Kriisa
Reed Sheppard led Kentucky in assists last year, and Kerr Kriisa has the potential to do the same in the 2024-25 season. Dishing in transition and making the right plays in the halfcourt are Kriisa’s strongest points.
He led the Pac-12 in assists in 2022-23 and has garnered more than 330 assists across 163 turnovers in the last two years.
#3. Lamont Butler
Butler averaged 9.3 ppg, 3.0 apg and 2.6 pg last season for the San Diego State Aztecs and has gambled his last eligible year for a revamped Kentucky program. Expect him to play with a chip on his shoulder as he wants to make the most out of playing against the best players in the collegiate circuit.
His stats don’t do justice to his 17 double-digit scoring games last season. He remains unfazed in the final moments of the game and is a great defensive unit.
#4, Jaxson Robinson
Robinson is a well-traveled college player and can be a dependable outside shooter on high volumes. His 6-foot-6 frame allows him to maintain his performance level in tough contests, and he can let it fly in a variety of ways.
However, he lacks the versatility to make him a primary or secondary offense orchestrator. Nevertheless, the young guard holds a lot of promise, as he churned out 14.2 ppg on 42.6% shooting last season while only starting six of his 33 games.
#5, Andrew Carr
Andrew Carr’s presence fulfills a lot of the defensive void as the 6-10 forward has above-average athleticism, can block shots and defend aggressively. He posted 13.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 1.5 blocks last season for Wake Forest and has the potential to top it with Kentucky. While he can make 3-pointers, his 52.6% efficiency is mostly a result of attempts inside the arc.