Not many charts are pegging Reed Sheppard as the top pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but one shouldn’t tell that to Ryen Russillo. Without a clear top prospect in the event, Russillo thinks there is a chance for Sheppard to be the top overall pick.
The Atlanta Hawks hold the top spot, and admittedly, his fit there doesn’t appear on paper to be as good of a fit as the San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, or Washington Wizards, especially with the presence of Trae Young.
However, the intangibles are there. Russillo didn’t outright make the prediction of Sheppard to be the top pick, but he is asking the question.
“I’m afraid because of the Jokic, Luka, Caitlin Clark, Chet Hanks White Boy Summer, is the world ready for Reed Sheppard to go No. 1 as a 6-foot-1.5 guard from Kentucky? I just don’t know if people are ready for this,” said Russillo on The Bill Simmons Podcast.
Sheppard’s efficiency is what should really draw the eyes. He’s athletic and can shoot the lights out of the gym.
Now, he isn’t a LeBron James or Victor Wembanyama-like prospect, but that player isn’t in this draft. Sheppard’s ceiling is very high, given the efficiency he put on clear display time and time again at Kentucky, shooting over 50% from the field and from deep.
He made the smart decision almost every time, and that basketball IQ is what should be the driver in his draft stock. Russillo, who is notorious for watching hours of film, likely saw the same thing.
“I’m just telling you, he’s probably one of the best shooting prospects I’ve seen in 20 years of doing the draft,” said Russillo.
Sheppard’s shot is pure and was clearly the best in the combine and at the amateur level. That could certainly be of use to the Hawks, who would then need to move on from Young for this to make sense.
Sheppard at No. 1 wouldn’t be outrageous by any means, but it still isn’t likely, according to the vast majority of NBA mock draft projections. Look for him to go somewhere in the top five.
