4. Reed Sheppard
Nobody expected Sheppard to be a one-and-done prospect at Kentucky. He ranked 33rd in his high school class and was slated to come off the bench for the Wildcats. The 6’3 guard is not a prototypical NBA player, but his production has him drawing buzz as a top-ten pick on draft night.
Sheppard’s role continues to expand. He is playing so well that head coach John Calipari cannot take him off the floor. The 19-year-old averages 12.8 points, 4.5 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.5 steals in 29.0 minutes per game. He is shooting 54.3 percent from the field and 52.5 percent on his 141 3-point attempts as a freshman. Those are unbelievable percentages, but Sheppard just has not missed.
The Blazers are set at guard but have to consider Reed Sheppard if they lack belief in any of their current options. Scoot Henderson has struggled as a rookie, but that is not uncommon for rookie point guards. Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons have missed games. Could Portland add a hyper-productive guard to that mix? Do not rule it out.
Sheppard and Rob Dillingham both come off the bench for Kentucky and could be selected in the top ten on June 26. The Blazers need shooting and defense, which Sheppard offers. It is just about finding a fit with their current core.