Reed Sheppard, North Laurel stun top-ranked HS out of South Carolina
The differences between a mid-level four-star recruit and a borderline five-star were never more apparent than they were on Monday night in Louisville. Reed Sheppard brought his North Laurel squad into the King of the Bluegrass semifinals to face off against Dorman, the top-ranked high school basketball team from the state of South Carolina. Dorman entered with a perfect 11-0 record, boasting one of South Carolina’s top talents in Noah Clowney.
Sheppard, a Kentucky commit, is considered a top 25 prospect from the class of 2023, per On3’s Consensus rating. Clowney, a 6-foot-9 Alabama commit, is a four-star the same way Sheppard is, but he’s ranked in the 90s and is a whole year older in the class of 2022. Even still, that ~70-spot separation was put into clear perspective once these two went head-to-head.
North Laurel shocks Dorman
Led by Sheppard, No. 6 North Laurel pulled off the improbable upset, 74-66. The win gifts the Jaguars its first-ever championship appearance at King of the Bluegrass, and there was a packed house at Fairdale High School to watch it all go down. So how did the game’s two stars perform against each other? Let’s just say Sheppard had the last laugh.
Sheppard followed up his 45-point Sunday night outing with a smooth 34 points on Monday, connecting on 11-21 shooting that included a 4-10 clip from beyond the arc. The 6-foot-3 guard also added six assists, two blocks, and nine steals as he completely took control on both ends of the floor down the stretch.
Clowney, on the other hand, struggled against a much smaller North Laurel frontline. He went just 1-9 overall from the field, finishing with four points and eight rebounds. Plenty of credit is due to the Jaguar bigs though, who battled all night long despite the clear mismatches. Not only did Dorman feature the 6-foot-9 Clowney, but the team also started 6-foot-6 Jordyn Surratt, who is committed to play Divison I basketball next season.
The impact that Sheppard was able to make on his team compared to Clowney was night and day. It was on both ends of the floor, too. Even at 6-foot-3, Sheppard played as if he were able to stare Clowney directly in the eyes. Every made shot in the second half was met with fiery stares and a fist-pump or two. There wasn’t a person in the gym who wanted to win more than Sheppard and it showed on the hardwood, in the box score, and, most importantly, in the win column.
What should excite Kentucky fans the most about Sheppard’s play was his determination. He doesn’t take plays off and sprints just as hard on defense as he does when he spies a scoring opportunity. There were multiple instances in the third quarter where he could have sat back and allowed Dorman to take control. The Cavaliers were even ahead by four points in the second half as the rebounding advantage began to tick in their favor as North Laurel cooled off from distance.
But Sheppard wasn’t having it. He dropped 23 of his 34 points in the second half with an all-out attacking mindset. If he needed his teammates to hit a big three, he trusted them every single time. Sheppard finished with six assists but could have very well had a dozen. Even as the rebounding dramatically shifted into Dorman’s favor, especially in the third frame, Sheppard and North Laurel continued to fight.
Ultimately, that’s what the outcome came down to; one team fought harder than the other. Simple as that. As a result, North Laurel moves onto the championship game. And who will they play Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.?
No. 3 Covington Catholic takes down Kaleb Glenn, No. 16 Male
The Kentucky fan’s dream of a Kaleb Glenn-Reed Sheppard matchup in the title game took a hit in the first of the two semifinals on Monday. Glenn, a 6-foot-6 class of 2023 four-star who is committed to Louisville, brought his Male Bulldogs over to Fairdale for a showdown against one of the state’s top teams in Covington Catholic.
Powered by a combined 30 points from its pair of star players, Mitchell Rylee and Evan Ipsaro, Cov Cath was able to cruise by a final score of 68-56. Male made a terrific effort to keep the game within striking distance, but couldn’t make enough shots down the stretch. Glenn finished with 12 points on 4-7 shooting in addition to seven rebounds and three assists before eventually fouling out.
Covington Catholic, like North Laurel, will make its first KOB championship game appearance on Tuesday night. Once again, that game will tip at 7:30 p.m. EST at Fairdale High School. The price of admission is $12, which is a steal if you’re wanting to catch a glimpse of the Kentucky Men’s Basketball future in Mr. Reed Sheppard.
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