BB Recruiting
Reed Sheppard shows out in Senior Debut, Record Near Triple-Double
Published
2 years agoon

The No. 1 player in Kentucky for the 2023 class, guard Reed Sheppard and North Laurel took the floor for the first time this season in a top 10 matchup against Lexington Catholic.
Being the lone Kentucky kid in Kentucky’s 2023 recruiting class, and the son of Kentucky legends Jeff Sheppard and Stacey Reed, Reed has a lot of pressure on him this season to be great. A game against a fellow top-10 team in Lexington Catholic is a great way to start the season.
Sheppard stuffed the stat sheet as he recorded a near triple-double with 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists on an efficient 66.7 percent from the field. Even though Catholic put a lot of attention on him, Sheppard still let his presence be known by constantly finding an open teammate.
Reed Sheppard @reed_sheppard North Laurel @NorthLaurelBB Senior guard season debut highlights. The UK Basketball @KentuckyMBB commit 23pts 8reb 8ast and team win pic.twitter.com/HrshcFhzmp— Lovell Martin Jr (@Mints2u29) November 29, 2022
Sheppard wasn’t alone, as he received a lot of help in his Senior debut tonight from a Knox Central transfer junior forward Gavin Chadwell. While being a fantastic basketball player, Chadwell also holds football scholarships from Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky.
Chadwell played a great game in his North Laurel debut posting 17 points and 7 boards, and going 6-9 from the field. With their 77-65 win serving as proof, the Sheppard-Chadwell two-man game poses a huge threat for the rest of the season if Chadwell can keep it up.
The eyes of Big Blue Nation are on Sheppard this season he tries to get North Laurel back to Rupp Arena again this season to try and take home a state title. In less than a year, the BBN will get to see him play at Rupp Arena in the Kentucky blue.
Share this:
- Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
- Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
- Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
- More
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
Related

You may like
Cats Galore: Tracking The 14 Kentucky Alums In The 2025 NBA Playoffs
Rockets Rookie Reed Sheppard to Miss at Least Four Weeks With Thumb Injury
Reed Sheppard Picked By NBA GMs To Win Rookie Of The Year, Be Top Player in Five Seasons
Reed Sheppard Drawing Comparisions to Future NBA Hall of Famer
Trent Noah Says He Looks up to His Friend Reed Sheppard, On and Off the Court
Last Season’s Players Say They Will Continue to Support Kentucky Following Calipari’s Departure, “I’ll Come Back, For Sure”
BB Recruiting
Kentucky Earns Commitment From European Big Andrija Jelavic
Published
2 months agoon
April 12, 2025
Earlier today, Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats received the commitment from Andrija Jelavic, a 6-foot-11 big from Croatia.
As first reported by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Jelavic is one of the most highly regarded European prospects that is taking his talent to the NCAA.
Soon to be 21 years old, Jelavic averaged 10.8 points per game on 60% shooting from the field to go along with 7.4 rebounds per game for Mega Superbet, the same club that NBA Champion and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic played for.
As a shock to most, who were expecting Pope’s next commit to be a guard of some sorts, international players can now sign lucrative NIL deals. Kentucky, along with several of the elite colleges, are now in the European market.
Jelavic, with shades of current European big men, can do just about everything on the court. He can shoot, dribble, pass, finish at the rim, etc. With a very relevant comparison, Jelavic plays almost perfectly in the replacement role of Andrew Carr.
His commitment now makes him the fifth member of Pope’s additions this offseason, joining Kam Williams, Jaland Lowe, Mouhamed Dioubate and Jayden Quaintance.
With a 7’2” wingspan, joining an already impressive Kentucky frontcourt, it’s safe to say for certain that this new team will not lack in that department.
Next year’s roster was loaded with talent already, but now with the addition of Jelavic, lots of questions are arising: Who will start? How many more players is Pope going to add? What will happen with the walk-ons?
There’s plenty to think about for Pope and his staff before the season starts, but like he said back when he introduced himself to Big Blue Nation, “We’re here to win banners.” He’s going to make the moves he thinks will do just that for the Wildcats.
Share this:
- Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
- Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
- Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
- More
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
Related
BB Recruiting
Four-Star Guard Acaden Lewis Suddenly Decommits from Kentucky
Amidst a recent wave of positive recruiting news for Kentucky, the surprising decommitment of Acaden Lewis is an unfortunate wrench.
Share this:
- Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
- Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
- Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
- More
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
Published
2 months agoon
April 10, 2025
In a shocking, late at night turn of events, four-star freshman Acaden Lewis has decommitted from Kentucky.
Lewis, a 6’3” point guard out of Washington, D.C. first committed to the blue and white in November of last year, following an in-person visit with Mark Pope in his hometown.
Since then, he’s made multiple appearances in Rupp Arena, been featured in photo shoots with his fellow incoming recruits, and spoken on multiple occasions about his excitement to join the team for the 2025-26’ season.
To say this development is surprising would be a serious understatement.
Lewis released a statement following the announcement, “This was an incredibly difficult decision, but I have to do what’s best for my future,” he said. “Thank you to Coach Pope and the whole Kentucky staff for all they’ve done for me so far.”
While the loss of Lewis is certainly disappointing, there is still much to look forward to next season for Kentucky, who maintain one of the highest rated transfer classes in the nation – and it likely isn’t finished.
To that point, if any reason can be derived immediately for Lewis’ decommitment, it may be found in the same place that Mark Pope and staff will be going to look for answers: the transfer portal.
Share this:
- Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
- Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
- Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
- More
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
Related
BB Recruiting
Top 10 Transfer Prospect, Former Wildcat Recruit Jayden Quaintance Commits to Kentucky
Published
2 months agoon
April 8, 2025
Two days into the week and two booms for the Kentucky Wildcats as Jayden Quaintance announced his commitment to Kentucky on Tuesday morning. NEWS: ASU transfer Jayden Quaintance, a projected top-5 pick in 2026, has committed to Mark Pope and Kentucky, his father Haminn, told ESPN.
Quaintance decommitted from Kentucky precisely a year ago after John Calipari left for Arkansas.
STORY: https://t.co/BXza2vhqzX pic.twitter.com/woe1gvYD6T— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 8, 2025
If the Quaintance name sounds familiar, it should. He was originally committed to play for the Cats out of high school last season as a five-star recruit. While he was interested in staying at Kentucky following John Calipari’s departure, even meeting with Mark Pope, he elected to play for Arizona State.
In his one season with the Sun Devils, Quaintance averaged 9.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, and 2.6 BPG, and earned Big 12 All-Freshman and All-Defensive honors.
The one concern for Quaintance is that he had surgery to repair a torn ACL, which could keep him out for the entire offseason and potentially into the season. That said, the expectation for a return is September, and at just 17 years old, there is so much untapped potential.
Get to know the newest Wildcat commit!
Share this:
- Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
- Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
- Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
- More
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
- Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
- Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
- Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
Related

Updated Draft Stocks For Koby Brea And Otega Oweh After NBA Combine

Kentucky Transfer Jaland Lowe Withdraws From 2025 NBA Draft

The Bluegrass Call: Otega Oweh Returns To Kentucky For The 2025-26 Season

Mark Pope “Devastated” After Transfer Of Travis Perry

Four Star Freshman Forward Commits to Kentucky

The Bluegrass Call: Otega Oweh Returns To Kentucky For The 2025-26 Season

Otega Oweh Receiving “really, really good feedback” From NBA Teams Ahead Of Looming Draft Decision

Q & A With Kentucky Basketball Signee Andrija Jelavic

Mark Pope “Devastated” After Transfer Of Travis Perry

Kentucky Baseball Earns NCAA Tournament Bid for Historic Third Straight Season
Trending
- Men's Basketball2 weeks ago
Updated Draft Stocks For Koby Brea And Otega Oweh After NBA Combine
- Men's Basketball1 week ago
Kentucky Transfer Jaland Lowe Withdraws From 2025 NBA Draft
- Men's Basketball2 days ago
The Bluegrass Call: Otega Oweh Returns To Kentucky For The 2025-26 Season
- Men's Basketball4 days ago
Mark Pope “Devastated” After Transfer Of Travis Perry
- Men's Basketball1 week ago
Four Star Freshman Forward Commits to Kentucky
- Men's Basketball3 days ago
Otega Oweh Receiving “really, really good feedback” From NBA Teams Ahead Of Looming Draft Decision
- Men's Basketball3 days ago
Q & A With Kentucky Basketball Signee Andrija Jelavic
- Men's Basketball2 weeks ago
Kentucky Players And Coaches Offer A Helping Hand In Time Of Worry And Need