According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, the Kentucky Wildcats have two NBA Draft lottery picks coming off the bench.
Givony projects both Rob Dillingham (No. 3) and Reed Sheppard (No. 5) as top five picks in the 2024 NBA Draft.
In his latest update, Givony has no other Kentucky plays listed in his top 25.
Significant changes across the board in our updated top 25 NBA draft prospect ranking. Two Kentucky prospects are in our top five, Dalton Knecht and Donovan Clingan moving up, and more: https://t.co/hwTvPoXB0l pic.twitter.com/3yqFNOPR40
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) March 5, 2024
Here are excerpts about Reed and Rob:
3. Rob Dillingham | PG | Kentucky
6-2 | Age: 19.1 | Previously ranked: 7
Dillingham is a bit of a polarizing prospect among NBA teams, but it’s hard to argue with the sheer star power he offers in a draft severely lacking in that category. He has been just as aggressive and effective against high-level SEC competition, coming up huge down the stretch of several games for Kentucky despite continuing to come off the bench and being on somewhat of a short leash at times.
Dillingham’s ballhandling ability, shiftiness, passing creativity, dynamic shot-making and overall scoring instincts are of All-Star caliber. But his lack of size and length and his thin frame continue to hamper him as a finisher and on defense, leading to a wide range of opinions regarding what kind of NBA player he might become. His explosive offensive game appears tailor-made for the scoring-crazed NBA, however, and that should ultimately help him find a suitor early on draft night, especially if he finishes the season on a strong note. — Givony
5. Reed Sheppard | PG/SG | Kentucky
6-2 | Age: 19.5 | Previously ranked: 12
Despite still coming off the bench, Sheppard has proved impossible to keep off the floor for Kentucky in SEC play, where he already has had several signature moments in cementing his case as the best freshman in college basketball. Scouts regularly express concern about his limited physical tools (6-foot-2 in shoes and 187 pounds with a 6-3 wingspan) and what that means for his defensive and finishing potential in the NBA. But that he continues to make strides with his pick-and-roll playmaking combined with his historically great 3-point shooting is increasingly hard to ignore. Only one NCAA first-round pick in the past 35 years (Michigan’s Glen Rice in 1989) has shot over 50% from 3 on more than four attempts per game like Sheppard is doing this season (see note below), and Sheppard’s basketball instincts should help him impact winning in a variety of other ways. — Givony
