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‘Several teams’ have former Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard ranked as top prospect in NBA Draft

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‘Several teams’ have former Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard ranked as top prospect in NBA Draft


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.

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“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.



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Former Kentucky education commissioner to leave California superintendent job

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Former Kentucky education commissioner to leave California superintendent job


LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – A former Kentucky education commissioner is out of a superintendent job he took in California.

A joint statement from the Governing Board of the Laguna Beach Unified School District and Jason Glass said Glass and the district has reached a mutual agreement to conclude his service.

Glass will be superintendent until the end of May, and the district thanked him for his service and dedication to the students, staff and families of the district.

“Dr. Glass expresses gratitude for the opportunity to serve this exceptional community and wishes the District continued success,” the statement said.

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Serving as the Commonwealth’s education commissioner for three years, Glass had resigned from the position in 2023.

Glass had cited anti-LGBTQ laws and changes to future commissioner of education confirmation procedures as reasons for his departure

Copyright 2026 WKYT. All rights reserved.



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Former Kentucky FOP spokesperson pleads guilty to wire fraud

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Former Kentucky FOP spokesperson pleads guilty to wire fraud


LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – A former spokesperson for the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police pleaded guilty Thursday to wire fraud after stealing thousands of dollars from the union and fellow officers.

Ryan Straw entered his plea at the Eastern District federal courthouse in Kentucky.

Straw was under investigation for embezzlement as of last November, according to a letter from the FOP board.

According to that letter, Straw convinced other officers to give him money for an investment club. That money was never invested. Straw was also suspected of taking funds from the lodge itself.

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The FOP gave Straw the chance to return the money, but he did not.

Straw previously conducted media interviews and spoke about police matters, including accountability issues at the state level.

He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sentencing is pending.

Copyright 2026 WAVE. All rights reserved.



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Which Kentucky Derby horses are running in the 2026 Preakness Stakes?

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Which Kentucky Derby horses are running in the 2026 Preakness Stakes?


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Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby. He won’t be at the Preakness. And that’s becoming a familiar story.  

This marks the second straight year and the third time in five years that the Derby winner has decided not to compete in the Preakness Stakes despite having a healthy horse. The reason is almost always the same: two weeks isn’t enough time.  

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Trainer Cherie DeVaux made the call quickly after Golden Tempo’s dramatic last-to-first Derby victory on May 2.  

“Golden gave us the race of a lifetime,” DeVaux said in a statement. “We believe the best decision for him moving forward is to give him a little more time following such a tremendous effort.”

DeVaux and Golden Tempo are focused on the June 6 Belmont Stakes instead.  

The pattern is pretty clear.  

From 1997 to 2018, every Kentucky Derby winner ran the Preakness, keeping the Triple Crown path intact. That streak ended with Country House, who won the Derby on the disqualification of Maximum Security, was scratched from the Preakness. The sport has been wrestling with the question ever since. Maryland’s racing leaders have considered moving the Preakness one week later, from the third Saturday in May to the fourth, though no change has been made.  

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Of the 14 horses entered in the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park on May 16, just three made the trip from Churchill Downs. None of them won the Derby. One nearly caused the biggest upset in recent memory.  

Ocelli (Post 2, 6-1)

The most intriguing Derby returnee. Ocelli finished third at 70-1 odds on May 2, giving trainer Whit Beckman and jockey Tyler Gaffalione a surprise ticket to Laurel Park. He was the lone maiden in the Derby field and remains a maiden heading into Saturday. Nobody expected him to be here.  

Incredibolt (post 12, 5-1)

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The morning-line co-favorite among Derby runners. Incredibolt finished sixth at Churchill Downs and trainer Riley Mott moved quickly to point him to Laurel Park. Jockey Jaime Torres won the 2024 Preakness aboard Seize the Grey. The connections believe the 1 3/16-mile distance suits Incredibolt better than the Derby’s mile and a quarter.  

Robusta (Post 4, 30-1) 

The longest shot of the Derby trio is Robusta, who finished 14th of the 14 in the Derby. The question with any horse coming back this quickly after a tough Derby is how much the race took out of him. At 30-1, it seems the market has answered that question.  



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