LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky men’s basketball freshman guard Reed Sheppard was named the Southeastern Conference’s Freshman of the Week for the third time this season, it was announced on Monday.
The 6-foot-3 guard from London, Kentucky, had the game of his life in UK's come-from-behind win at Mississippi State on Feb. 27. The London, Kentucky, native poured in a career-high 32 points and added five boards, seven assists, two blocks and two steals.
Twenty-three of his points came after halftime. Eleven of them came in the final 93 seconds. It was the only game of 30-or more points, seven-plus assists, five-plus rebounds, two-plus blocks and two-plus steals in the NCAA this season and one of only 11 such games going back to 1996-97. It is only the second by an SEC player in that time frame. Furthermore, Sheppard is the first Kentucky player in the last 25 seasons to record multiple games with 25 points, five rebounds and five assists and the first Kentucky player with 30 points, five boards and five dimes in a game since Derek Anderson in November of 1996.
For the week, he averaged 21.0 points on 66.7% shooting, 54.5% from 3-point range and a perfect 1.000% from the line. He added 6.5 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per game. For the season, he has 76 steals which already ranks third on UK’s single-season list.
Kentucky has had a record-breaking five Wildcats win SEC Freshman of the Week this season. Sheppard along with D.J. Wagner have both earned the honor three times, while Aaron Bradshaw, Rob Dillingham and Justin Edwards have all claimed the award once.
UK has dominated the weekly SEC awards with John Calipari at the helm. UK has won more weekly SEC honors (134) than any other school during the Calipari era, including 103 SEC Freshman of the Week awards and 31 SEC Player of the Week honors.
The Cats are back in action on Wednesday as they play host to Vanderbilt for a 9 p.m. ET. tip from Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. The game will air nationally on SEC Network.
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