Sheppard, who signed with the Wildcats in 1993, was a regional champion high jumper in Georgia and the son of two-time UK national champion Jeff Sheppard. Sheppard’s 42-inch vertical equaled with three other players for the top result of the day.

Sheppard also produced an outstanding perimeter shooting performance while moving and standing motionless.

In his most recent mock draft, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony has Sheppard going to the Washington Wizards at No. 3 overall after Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery.

Sheppard would be the Wildcats’ highest NBA Draft selection at No. 3 overall, surpassing Karl-Anthony Towns’ No. 1 selection to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2015. Since De’Aaron Fox in 2017, the UK has not had a pick in the top five.

After Sheppard gave up his remaining eligibility on April 18 to enter the NBA Draft, he became the third USBWA National Freshman of the Year at Kentucky, following in the footsteps of John Wall (2010) and Anthony Davis (2012). Sheppard averaged 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 steals in 28.9 minutes per game while shooting 53.6% from the field, 52.1% from beyond the 3-point arc, and 83.1% from the free throw line when coming off the bench. Along with being selected Second Team All-SEC and SEC Freshman of the Year by the league coaches and the Associated Press, he was also named National Freshman of the Year by the NABC, CBS Sports, ESPN, and Dick Vitale.

Sheppard finished the season ranked in the top 10 all-time at Kentucky among freshmen in five statistical categories: first in 3-point field goal percentage (52.1), second in steals (82), fifth in made 3s (75), eighth in assists (148), and ninth in free throw percentage (83.1). He was also the first player in school history with three games of 25+ points, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ assists in a single-season.

Per KenPom.com, Sheppard led the nation in 3-point field goal percentage, ranked sixth in true-shooting percentage (69.9%) and eighth in effective field-goal percentage (67.9%). He was the only player in the country with at least 145 assists, 80 steals and 70 made 3s through March 24.

On the season, Sheppard, who posted seven 20-point games, could become the highest native Kentuckian to play for UK taken in the NBA Draft since Rex Chapman went No. 8 overall to the Charlotte Hornets in 1988.

Coming out of North Laurel High School in London, Ky., Sheppard was named a McDonald’s All-American and was ranked No. 43 overall in the 2023 class by the industry average 247Sports Composite.

The Barclays Center in Brooklyn will host the 2024 NBA Draft on June 26 and 27, 2024.

Kentucky has produced more first-round selections (35), lottery selections (23), No. 1 overall picks (3), top-10 picks (15), and total NBA Draft picks (47) than any other university since 2010. The Wildcats now hold the record for most players picked overall (63), with 46 coming in the first round, since the NBA switched to a two-round selection in 1989. In addition, UK holds the longest ongoing streak of any school with at least one player selected in 16 straight drafts, and the greatest streak in the common era with 14 straight first-round selections. In 14 straight drafts, the Cats have generated multiple draft selections.