Kentucky duo Rob Dillingham, Reed Sheppard share excitement while attending NBA Draft Lottery
The 2024 NBA Draft is still a month and a half away, but excitement is already setting in for Kentucky products Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham. During an appearance at the NBA Draft Lottery on Sunday, Sheppard was asked how his parents’ constant support has helped him through the draft process.
“It means everything to me,” Sheppard said. “They’ve been with me ever since I’ve been a little kid. I can’t remember a time my mom hasn’t been at a game. Me and my mom travel everywhere together, all the AAU games, all the high school games.
“They didn’t even miss a college game, which is crazy. So having them here with me for the next step of the journey is unbelievable. I’m super excited to be here and have them with me.”
Sheppard’s parents were a staple this season, routinely appearing on broadcasts of Kentucky games. Both of Sheppard’s parents played basketball at Kentucky, where they met. Sheppard’s mom, Stacey, is Kentucky WBB’s all-time leader in steals per game (2.7) and ranks fourth in assists per game (3.9).
Sheppard’s father, Jeff, guided Kentucky to two national championships in 1996 and 1998. For his efforts, he was named the Most Outstanding Player in the NCAA tournament in 1998. He played two seasons in the NBA.
Now, Reed Sheppard will follow in his father’s footsteps. In ESPN’s latest NBA mock draft, Jonathan Givony projected Sheppard to be the No. 7 overall pick. The only Kentucky player Givony expects to be selected earlier in the draft is Dillingham at the No. 4 spot.
Rob Dillingham is ready for the next level
Dillingham is equally excited for the opporutnity. At the NBA Draft Lottery, the 6-foot-3 guard revealed how he’s prepared for the next level.
“Not over just the past few weeks, but the situations I’ve been in have prepared me for this, to just keep going through whatever,” Dillingham said. “How I look at is, I don’t know how this next six months are gonna go, but I’m gonna speak it into existence and try my hardest, give my all, and do what I can do to be in the best position for me and help my teammates.”
In his lone season at Kentucky, Dillingham averaged 15.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 47.5% from the field and 44.3% from beyond the arc. For his efforts, he was named the 2024 SEC Sixth Man of the Year and an All-SEC Second Team member.
The 2024 NBA Draft will be held on June 26-27. For the first time this year, the draft will expand to a two-night format. The first round will be held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., while the second round will take place at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in New York.