Could Travis Perry be what many thought Reed would be?

[BGWentworth]

Now hear me out, I’m not saying they are similar players…I’m talking impact. Reed was an amazing player, and Perry won’t ever be at his athletic level. However, we could get Perry for 4 years. He could warm the bench this season, but if he’s better than some think, he may contribute this year. Regardless, he could be a more valuable piece to our program in the long run since he likely will never be drafted. Reed was great, but he was almost too talented. Like many other freshmen, we get to see his best days in the NBA after one year at UK. I’m always excited about great shooters…I just hope Perry has the athletic ability and other skills to be a SEC contributor. He may end up with the career many thought Reed would have when he first came here. Just a random thought on a boring summer day.

 

[Kybluedude]

Not a longshot to think Travis may become a better college player in time. He’s a talent and combining that with his work effort and calm winning bball iq he’s got a high ceiling. He will eventually be a coach on the floor. Great attitude. Humble and willing to learn. Demeanor wise reminds me of Kyle Macy.

 

[catlogic15]

Won’t get taller. Won’t get faster.

 

[zoid1]

I hope Perry has a similar career to a player named Kyle Guy who played HS in Indiana and went to college at Virginia. He was 6-2 175 about the same size 6-1 178 and style of play as Perry. Guy only played about 18 mph and avg about 7 PPG as a frosh. As a Soph he was over 30 mpg doubled his scoring to 14 PPG and Virginia won the ACC reg and conf tourny and got a #1 seed in NCAA T but lost in first round. As a Junior they won the whole thing and he got F4 mop, all NCAA region, ACC t mop
Etc. I think Perry could easily have a career at UK like this and go down as a legend. I think he plays this year but he's just another cog in the machine but as a Soph he explodes in minutes and points and we have a great team.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

He will be a serviceable player and do well here.

 

[BBNinSC]

This time last year, no one was predicting Reed as a lottery pick. It just goes to show that you can never tell about these things

 

[ukfan1622]

Won’t get taller. Won’t get faster.

The height might be a problem for the NBA; for college not so much.
He's plenty quick enough for college and maybe the NBA.

 

[PopesReignOverCardinals]

Let's go with somewhere between Louie Dampier and Steph Curry. Probably closer to Mark Price but 40-years later in an era that shoots 3's like crazy.

 

[Wonky]

We know he’s an elite shooter. I’m interested to see how well he can defend. And if the answer is not so well, how willing/able is he to improve?

 

[blackcat714]

Travis is a winner Reed not so much

 

[Fox2monk]

Not a longshot to think Travis may become a better college player in time. He’s a talent and combining that with his work effort and calm winning bball iq he’s got a high ceiling. He will eventually be a coach on the floor. Great attitude. Humble and willing to learn. Deameanor wise reminds me of Kyle Macy.

I don’t think he will be a better player but he may end up impacting Kentucky more from a winning standpoint over many years. I hope he ends up with a better legacy, like Jeff did vs Reed.

 

[wmarkedwards]

Now hang on just one cotton pickin minute here. We indulged, nay, encouraged the parade of Eastern KY mountain boys.

This kid is from Western KY Region 1 and I’m gonna cheer like hell for him. And if his last name were Macy or Chapman, you would too!

 

[seccats04]

Won’t get taller. Won’t get faster.

We're not playing AAU street ball anymore. We have an actual system that allows less athletic, more skilled, players like Perry to thrive.

 

[Mike-McD]

Travis is a winner Reed not so much

 

[DreadLox]

We're not playing AAU street ball anymore. We have an actual system that allows less athletic, more skilled, players like Perry to thrive.

An important point, I think. Calipari left players like Perry out of the mix because their talent wasn't a ready fit for the pro game. Other coaches find ways to use players like Perry. Like, say, the Oakland coach who had a team full of them. [Perry may be better than any of the Oakland kids.] 2 to 4 years of experience and development and who knows? As Father Divine said, 'you got to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.'

 

[Aike]

Travis is a winner Reed not so much

Dumb.

 

[Aike]

Won’t get taller. Won’t get faster.

Might get taller. Can definitely get faster and quicker. How many 18 year olds do you see running sprints in the Olympics?

 

[Zissou87]

Travis is a winner Reed not so much

Has to be sarcasm.

 

[BBNinSC]

Now hang on just one cotton pickin minute here. We indulged, nay, encouraged the parade of Eastern KY mountain boys.

This kid is from Western KY Region 1 and I’m gonna cheer like hell for him. And if his last name were Macy or Chapman, you would too!

We used to jump off the Kuttawa Cliffs into Lake Barkley back in the day. Great memories were made there

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Perry is going to play more and sooner than people think.

He’s just got that certain something that doesn’t show up in analytics.

He’s going to be the surprise of the team.

 

[rob_47]

Now hang on just one cotton pickin minute here. We indulged, nay, encouraged the parade of Eastern KY mountain boys.

This kid is from Western KY Region 1 and I’m gonna cheer like hell for him. And if his last name were Macy or Chapman, you would too!

Lyon is in the 2nd region

 

[Kybluedude]

Won’t get taller. Won’t get faster.

Ok Cal. Athlete over bball player.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Won’t get taller. Won’t get faster.

Tony Delk was 6'1". He was our greatest shooting guard in UK history.

 

[blackcat714]

Has to be sarcasm.

I must have missed it when Reed won the state tournament seems like Travis did last year

 

[Zissou87]

I must have missed it when Reed won the state tournament seems like Travis did last year

So in order to be a winner, you have to win a state championship in high school? Am I correct?

 

[PhattyJ4UK]

Man a lot of this board would be broken hearted if they heard what Reed Sheppard said to me in person last night in Cleveland.

Let’s just say his love for the program is a figment of a lot of people imagination.

 

[true blue1]

Travis is a winner Reed not so much

🤦‍♂️

 

[westerncat]

He’s better than some think !!

 

[Ron Mehico]

So in order to be a winner, you have to win a state championship in high school? Am I correct?

Maybe he just means win anything at all? Like even one single postseason game in college?

 

[bigbluedon]

Man a lot of this board would be broken hearted if they heard what Reed Sheppard said to me in person last night in Cleveland.

Let’s just say his love for the program is a figment of a lot of people imagination.

Did he say he hated the program because of the way Cal treated him? If u are going to come on here with that kind stuff, you need to just spill the beans. People might believe you more when they see what was said. If u don’t post it, u might as well be making it up. No one will believe you.

 

[Kybluedude]

Man a lot of this board would be broken hearted if they heard what Reed Sheppard said to me in person last night in Cleveland.

Let’s just say his love for the program is a figment of a lot of people imagination.

What a load of BS.

I have heard what Reed said about the program and it’s all been great from day 1. Sure treated he and his family well.

 

[YardCat]

The height might be a problem for the NBA; for college not so much.
He's plenty quick enough for college and maybe the NBA.

If he can shoot, he has a chance

 

[Butters' Dad]

Travis is a winner Reed not so much

If I didn't know any better I would think that some of you people just don't want to be taken seriously. You enjoy the ridicule.

 

[BlueSince92]

Absolutely. It was just dumb luck that Perry set those records that Reed didn’t set. But it’s all smoke and mirrors: Perry will totally fold and be a four-year player when he tries to translate those skills into a game where height and speed and vertical actually matter. Unlike basketball. The game where he personally set all those records.

 

[Butters' Dad]

Absolutely. It was just dumb luck that Perry set those records that Reed didn’t set. But it’s all smoke and mirrors: Perry will totally fold and be a four-year player when he tries to translate those skills into a game where height and speed and vertical actually matter. Unlike basketball. The game where he personally set all those records.

If only another poster had already perfectly illustrated that these stats don't always translate. Alas, we will just have to treat your facetiousness as a serious post.

 

[BlueWhite21]

Dumb.

Yes Amen! Very damn Dumb. That poster should get on his knees and ask for forgiveness for his stupid take to the Rafters moderators.

 

[ORCAT]

I must have missed it when Reed won the state tournament seems like Travis did last year

So leading the nation in 3 point shooting and getting drafted #3 isn't a winner? By your definition, Larry Bird wasn't a winner because he never won a NCAA title, right? Teams win titles, not a single player.

 

[BlueWhite21]

I haven't read every post on here but Perry is not Reed and will not be Reed. I hope TP has a solid career here, but while it's true we didn't see Reed becoming the 3rd pick at the start of last year but Reed was like a Rex and also like his father when it came to his athleticism and just so happened could shoot lights out and he knew how to force a turnover in the slickest way possible by jumping out ithe passing lanes to intercept it and he had those quick hands.

From what I've seen of TP he a shooter and that's what he does well. His HS numbers are misleading because when you've started every game since middle school playing for your dad then your gonna have a real chance to score Alot of points and break records when you have the green light. Also, Perry looked a bit slow and not very athletic in person but only saw him twice. I do hope he kills it and has a good, if not better career at UK than Reed.

Please understand I'm not hating on Perry at all. Would love to see him kill it at UK. This is just my honest assessment on Perry. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[YardCat]

I think we are asking a lot from a kid to be the next Reed Shepherd I just want him to be TP and be his best. We should be fine!

 

[littlecreek]

The height might be a problem for the NBA; for college not so much.
He's plenty quick enough for college and maybe the NBA.

We don’t care what his prospects are for the NBA, it’s what they are for college. Future pros haven’t translated to post season success at Kentucky lately.