Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham 'will be in the mix' for No. 1 pick in 2024 NBA Draft

Kentucky freshmen guards Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham have essentially secured their positions as lottery picks in next month’s NBA Draft. But just how high could they go in the order? In a pool of players regarded as the weakest in years, could they hear their name called first by Commissioner Adam Silver?

If you ask ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, he says Sheppard and Dillingham are both candidates to be taken with the No. 1 overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks when the draft begins on June 26.

“This draft is wide open,” Givony said. “Reminds me a lot of 2013 where I don’t think we’re gonna know who the number one pick is going to be until Adam Silver steps up to the podium and announces a pick.

“The Atlanta Hawks have a long process in front of them that includes interviews, medicals, workouts, background checks. I believe that they are going to cast a wide net here with guys like Alex Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher, Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham, and Donovan Clingan. All those guys will be in the mix and I think it’s gonna be quite the process here for them to figure out who to take.”

Went on the NBA Combine broadcast to talk about the Atlanta Hawks' options at No. 1. Which prospects might be in play, what their process will look like, and why things are still very much wide open at the top of this draft. pic.twitter.com/F3WloYCLzU

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 15, 2024

In his post-Lottery mock draft released on Sunday, Givony has both Sheppard and Dillingham as projected Top 5 picks. He currently has Sheppard going 3rd overall to the Houston Rockets and Dillingham right behind him at 4th to the San Antonio Spurs.

But given the talent ranked ahead of them, Givony believes there is a chance one of the former Wildcats could improve their stock enough over the next month to slide into the top spot.

If one of Sheppard or Dillingham does wind up going number one, they would become the fourth-ever Wildcat to do so in program history. The previous three all came under former head coach John Calipari, who developed John Wall (2010; Wizards), Anthony Davis (2012; Pelicans), and Karl-Anthony Towns (2015; Timberwolves) into top picks during his time in Lexington.