CBS Sports has named Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard National Freshman of the Year.
Sheppard averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game off the UK bench.
CBS Sports labels him one of the most efficient players in college basketball.
Here is an excerpt:
Freshman of the Year
Reed Sheppard, Kentucky
One of the most efficient players in college basketball is also the best in his respective class. Sheppard averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.5 steals in 28.9 minutes of action per night off the bench. Sheppard made only five starts in 33 games but had an impact whenever he stepped onto the court. Sheppard finished the season shooting 53.6% from the floor, 51.1% on 3-pointers (on 4.4 attempts), and 83.1% from the charity stripe. Sheppard finished five steals shy (82) of breaking the single-season record set by Rajon Rondo during the 2004-05 season.
Sheppard comes from Kentucky royalty. His parents, Stacey and Jeff, both played at the school. The younger Sheppard helped elevate the Wildcats’ offense to new heights. Kentucky finished with the second-ranked scoring offense in the country because Sheppard emerged from a four-star prospect to the best first-year player in the country.
