Two of the top players in the 2024 NBA Draft had a combined six starts for Kentucky last year. Despite their talent, it could be an argument that Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham were both underutilized.

Now, both are projected to go in the top-10 of the NBA Draft next month.

While the NBA Combine las week wasn’t as helpful for Dillingham, it was another impressive showing for Reed Sheppard.

Sheppard has seen his name anywhere from No. 1 overall to No. 8 — at the lowest. But. he’s consistently around the 3-5 range. However, following the last week of workouts and the combine, ‘several’ NBA teams have graded Sheppard as their best available player, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

“Sheppard measured a little bigger than expected at 6-3 in shoes while testing a 42-inch vertical leap in Chicago. He also looked like the clear-cut best shooter in the draft every time he had a ball in his hands — both at the combine and his pro day in Los Angeles this week,” Givony wrote. “Several teams have said that Sheppard’s statistical profile — with his incredible scoring efficiency (56% FG%, 52% 3P%, 83% FT%) combined with his excellent steal, block and passing metrics — have him ranked as the No. 1 prospect in their draft models, something that surely has caught the attention of analytically inclined front offices, such as the Houston Rockets.”

Sheppard’s resume speaks for itself and his consistency over the last year has been evident. The one thing you can’t teach is his knockdown shooting ability that is extremely lethal. Becuase of that, Givony doesn’t see Sheppard falling outside of the top-5.

“With the premium that NBA teams are increasingly placing on perimeter shooting, it’s hard to see Sheppard dropping below the top 5, with his fit in San Antonio alongside Victor Wembanyama looking especially strong at the Spurs’ No. 4 pick.”

The NBA Draft is set for June 26-27.

Kentucky’s new head basketball coach, Mark Pope, is almost finished with the 2024-25 roster, but he is looking to add one more guard who can score the basketball. 

The goal was to add former North Florida guard Chaz Lanier to the roster after he took a visit to Kentucky, but on Friday, he committed to play for the Wildcat’s biggest SEC rival, Tennessee. 

Tennessee had more minutes to offer Lanier, but this is a massive loss for the Wildcats as he would have been a perfect final addition to this roster, but now Coach Pope will have to keep looking. 

Coach Pope will turn his attention to former BYU guard Jaxson Robinson, who played for the Wildcat’s new coach last season. Robinson is an elite scorer and is currently still in the NBA Draft. If you are a Kentucky fan, you are hoping Robinson pulls his name out of the draft. If he does this, all signs point to the former BYU Courger following his previous head coach to Lexington. 

Robinson is an elite scorer who would be the perfect final guard addition to this roster. He is a player who has played a lot of college hoops, so he would fit right into what Coach Pope is building. Robinson can shoot, and that is why he would be a perfect fit for this system. 

Missing on Lanier hurts, especially knowing he is going to a rival, but Coach Pope is going to find a piece to finish this roster, and Big Blue Nation needs to hope it is Robinson. 

Today is a good day to check in on the latest Kentucky football recruiting efforts. While out on the trail the Wildcats are extending plenty of scholarship offers to talented underclassmen and one in particular is eye-opening. Let’s dive in.

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Impressive Pennsylvania Prospects

Daikiel Shorts offered three top 100 players during one trip to Harrisburg High School. Messiah Mickens is a top ten running back in the country and the No. 58 overall player in the 2026 recruiting class according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He committed to Penn State early in the process, giving James Franklin a verbal prior to his sophomore season.

Shorts also offered Micken’s talented teammate, Elias Coke. A four-star wide receiver, he’s the No. 262 player in the 2026 recruiting class. Kevin Brown is the highest-ranked player of the trio. The 6-foot-5 interior offensive lineman is the No. 35 overall player in the rising junior class.

Leo Delaney

A top ten player at his position in the 2026 recruiting class, the offensive tackle is the No. 80 overall player in the country. He’s one of a few prospects offered by Kentucky during Brad White and Mike Stoops’ travels to Charlotte, along with LB Elijah Littlejohn.

Tyler Merrill

A 6-foot-5, 330-pound interior offensive lineman from Mechanicsburg, PA, Merrill is ranked as the No. 86 overall player in the 2026 recruiting class. Penn State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Michigan have already extended offers to the exceptional offensive lineman.

Luke Waffle

Hailing from Middletown, NJ, Waffle is a four-star defensive lineman in the 2026 recruiting class, ranked as the No. 158 overall prospect. Penn State, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Texas are among his other early interests.

Ben Nichols

A four-star talent from Michigan, On3 ranks Nichols as the 11th-best interior offensive lineman and the No. 172 overall player in the 2026 recruiting class. Michigan State and Notre Dame are the top schools targeting Nichols.

Lasiah Jackson

A 6-foot-3 safety from Georgia, Jackson is a Top 200 player in the 2026 recruiting class. He does not yet hold an offer from Kirby Smart’s program, but Ole Miss is another SEC school already making a move.

Twin Brothers

The Kentucky coaching staff was in Miami to offer two players from Norland High School, the Desir brothers. Mandrell Desir and Darryll Desir are twins who play on the EDGE in the class of 2025. The three-star rising seniors already have offers from Florida State, Miami, and Oregon, among others.

Multiple Players from Cass Tech

Detroit powerhouse Cass Tech has been kind to the Kentucky football program, sending Deone Walker and DeAndre Square to Lexington. Eric Wolford is trying to keep that Michigan pipeline alive. This week he offered 2026 tight end Victor Polk and 2026 LB Brian Stovall.

More Scholarship Offers

Brayton Feister — It’s the first SEC offer for the 2027 LB from Akron (OH) Archbishop Hoban.

Travis Robertson — Kentucky is the second offer for 2026 offensive tackle from West Bloomfield (MI), the alma mater of UK cornerback Max Hairston.

Joel Ervin — The Fort Myers 2026 offensive tackle has offers from Miami, UCF, and South Carolina.

Donald Tabron — The Detroit quarterback is entering his first season at MLK High. UK is his second Power Four offer.

Kayden Edwards — Another young quarterback, Edwards is a 2027 prospect at talent-rich Ironton (OH) High. Vince Marrow offered two other Ironton players, 2026 OL Caleb Jacobs and 2028 TE Luca Silva.

Darius Dennis — Kentucky is the second Power Four offer for the 2027 Dayton defensive back.

Kai Pritchard — The three-star New Jersey IOL is a top 300 prospect according to 247 Sports and ESPN.

Maddox Cochrane — On3 ranks the Virginia offensive tackle as the No. 209 player in the 2026 recruiting class.

Jamarcus “Fatt” Whyce — The 2026 Dayton EDGE is a four-star talent in two recruiting services. Kentucky is his first SEC offer. His teammate, 2027 DL Jeremiah Nash, also received a UK offer.

Benjamin Corhei — The Naples (FL) 2026 offensive tackle is being recruited by most of the schools in the Sunshine State.

Learn more about Andy Luedecke and franchise ownership through these resources:
Andy’s Story
Why a Franchise
Service Based vs Brick and Mortar
Semi Absentee Ownership
The Process and How It works

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