NBA scouts aren't sure about the accuracy of Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard's height ahead of the 2024 NBA draft.
Although he's listed at 6'3" on the school's official website, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic reported that "scouts are skeptical he's that tall" during his latest mock draft.
Vecenie also noted that questions remain with Sheppard, as his struggles during the Wildcats' surprising March Madness loss "left a bad final impression" on talent evaluators.
The 19-year-old turned heads during his freshman campaign at Kentucky due to his excellent long-range shooting. Sheppard finished the year by averaging 12.5 points and 4.5 assists per game, shooting 53.6 percent from the field to go along with an impressive 52.1 three-point percentage.
Kentucky Men's Basketball @KentuckyMBBBack-to-back 3's from <a href="">@reed_sheppard</a> 🔥🔥 <a href="">
However, his poor performance during a first-round loss to Oakland in the NCAA Tournament has likely stayed on the minds of scouts. Sheppard recorded just three points in 26 minutes, shooting 1-5 on field goals and committing two turnovers.
Still, his exceptional shooting from behind the arc could entice a team to select him with a top pick despite the questions surrounding his height. Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman ranked Sheppard as the No. 2 overall player in the 2024 class on his latest big board, comparing the guard to Donte DiVincenzo and Kirk Hinrich in his scouting report.
There should be some more clarity involving Sheppard's draft range once his measurements are revealed at the combine, which is taking place through May 19.
