Kentucky fans experienced an emotional roller coaster on Thursday.
Reed Sheppard has officially declared for the 2024 NBA Draft on social media. Sheppard was the Wildcats’ third-best scorer last season, averaging 12.5 points per game.
This could be a huge hurdle for Mark Pope’s efforts at Kentucky. The former player and current head coach will have to go elsewhere for consistent scoring. Kentucky will be without two of its top three scorers from last season, as Robb Dillingham has also declared for the draft.
Antonio Reeves, the team’s leading scorer, has yet to declare but is expected to enter the draft as well. Reeves led the club in scoring, averaging 20.2 points per game.
Reed Sheppard entering NBA Draft.
All Kentuckians should be proud that a player who played in the Kentucky Boys Sweet 16 in 2023 is expected to be a NBA Draft lottery pick in 2024 https://t.co/VPaGxCd9ZI
— Mark Story (@markcstory) April 18, 2024
One Kentucky fan underlined the need of allowing Pope time.
“People, please relax,” they implored. “Mark Pope is in his fourth day here at Kentucky. Some of the finest players are yet to enter the gateway. “Give him some time.”
Matt Jones, a Kentucky sports radio personality, said that Pope was on a recruiting trip just before the announcement. A Kentucky fan questioned the purpose of the visit.
“Matt, what good is this doing?” He asked. “It’s going to be rough this season, and seeing Cal getting whatever he wants is so frustrating, but hopefully, in the long term, we will prosper.”
Sheppard’s last game against Kentucky clearly left a nasty taste in supporters’ mouths. Sheppard scored three points in Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament elimination game against Oakland.
“All of his accomplishments are due to the fact that he is a Kentucky native. He accomplished nothing worthwhile. Zero victories in SECT and NCAAT This silliness about overhyping Failure because he was born here, and Mark Pope’s emotional hire, will come back to haunt Kentucky.”
After hearing the news, fans questioned whether Lexington still had anything left in the tanks.
“There isn’t anything in the tank in Lexington,” one fan commented. “They’ll be lucky to make the NIT unless Mark Pope can beat off far more stable teams and coaches for hella transfers. Reed Shepard’s top priority is Reed Shepard.”
Some fans are handling things better than others.
“The only positive aspect of this is that we will enter the new year with all of Mark Pope’s recruits. There are no grounds for saying ‘they weren’t my players.'”
“Between the Reed Sheppard and Aly Khalifa news I’m really hoping Mark Pope’s recruiting trips this week are fruitful” said one person.
Mark Pope, a superfan, says the decision was the worst Sheppard could have made.
“Reed made the wrongest right decision for his collegiate and professional career,” that’s what he said. “It’s an absolute travesty that he has zero post-season wins in a Kentucky jersey.”
“…either someone isn’t leaking news or Mark Pope is just chilling in his new office with his feet up, which I highly doubt since he’s been on a plane all day. “We need players!!!”
Zyavier Ricks hopes Big Blue Nation will give Pope more time.
“BBN, please be patient,” Ricks urged. “Mark Pope was hired six days ago.” The recruits will arrive. The assistants will arrive. Many of the events take place behind the scenes and are not visible to the public.”
The relocation may have been planned for some time, but that won’t make it any easier for Kentucky.
“It felt like it was inevitable but that doesn’t make it sting any less,” Parker added. “Reed Sheppard will leave Kentucky after one season to join the NBA.” “A major potential piece of Mark Pope’s first roster has left.”
Pope will need to act quickly to keep fans satisfied. Things are not going well in Lexington with the new head coach.
