Reed Sheppard committing Saturday

[Gromcat]

Yes he should have...Cal always likes to say he is borrowing Coach Rupp's chair...it's too bad he did not borrow his philosophies on recruiting. He would have already had a handshake with Reed when he was in 9th grade because he valued the fact of the father or some connection to Kentucky basketball. I heard Coach Hall say one time that they had Mike Casey committed when he was still in diapers because of Harry's connection to his Dad...and it Reed's case his father played at UK...Cal says he gets it when it comes to our program. He doesn't get everything.

exactly. I miss the old guard who got it. We’re too far removed from what we are. That’s why, in reality, I’m glad we hired Cal. I wanted him in 06 and 09. I’m glad we’ve got the NBA rep now which we were lacking. If he can hang another banner on the way out I’m glad it all happened. But I will be ready to get back to Kentucky again, with good home and homes, legacy kids, players playing for Kentucky again. I know it might not ever return to what it once was, but it doesn’t have to be this bad.

The fact that we really didn’t know how Cal would handle Shep is all I need to know.

 

[bthaunert]

Reed should have been offered as a freshman. No way a legacy recruit like Shep shouldn’t have been given the red carpet out the gate.

I would have been all over it. I don’t care when someone else offered. We should have offered at birth as far as I’m concerned.

You and I will adamantly disagree on that. Should we roll out the red carpet for any legacy recruit? We have only had a total of 4 recruited/scholarship legacy players in the entire history of UK basketball. And I'm sure there were a ton more who played HS basketball. Question for you is should all legacy recruits get a scholarship offer when they are born?

 

[clevenger32]

You and I will adamantly disagree on that. Should we roll out the red carpet for any legacy recruit? We have only had a total of 4 recruited/scholarship legacy players in the entire history of UK basketball. And I'm sure there were a ton more who played HS basketball. Question for you is should all legacy recruits get a scholarship offer when they are born?

I think you are generalizing. I think when you have a kid 75
miles from campus who was a 4 star now a 5
And his dad played at UK I think that is an automatic. I think if his dad didn’t play at UK it should be an automatic. This whole discussion is shows the divide between the fan base of Rupp Hall Sutton and Pitino & the Cal
Club.

 

[bthaunert]

I think you are generalizing. I think when you have a kid 75
miles from campus who was a 4 star now a 5
And his dad played at UK I think that is an automatic. I think if his dad didn’t play at UK it should be an automatic. This whole discussion is shows the divide between the fan base of Rupp Hall Sutton and Pitino & the Cal
Club.

By no means am I in the Cal club. Cal offered the day after he saw him in person for the first time before his junior year of high school. Just 3 weeks after he was legally allowed to contact him via NCAA rules. I would totally understand if Cal was still sitting on his hands. But he’s not. He was one of the first schools to offer. I just can’t understand why people are upset with that.

 

[ORCAT]

Fun rant, I haven't actually heard anybody booing Cal.

Still don't think anyone would boo Jeff Sheppard's son. Some of us have respect for the history of the program.

I go to all home games and Cal is still greeted with loud cheers every game he is announced as our coach. We just have a percentage of posters on this board who are loud anti Cal people. I can't say I'm real happy with everything Cal has done but he is our coach and I will support him and hope he wins every game.

 

[Gromcat]

You and I will adamantly disagree on that. Should we roll out the red carpet for any legacy recruit? We have only had a total of 4 recruited/scholarship legacy players in the entire history of UK basketball. And I'm sure there were a ton more who played HS basketball. Question for you is should all legacy recruits get a scholarship offer when they are born?

If the father won two national titles, and the mother as decorated a ball player as she is, yes, it should be understood at birth he has a place at this program.

This is about family. And people not understanding this is why this sport is becoming unwatchable. I think Jeff and Stace contributed enough to UK that a free ride for their kid, whether he sits or not, is the least we can do. We’ve offered scholarships to kids we never intended to play to pull someone they’re connected to, why in the world would we not be all in from day 1 on a kid like Shep?

Had I been Cal I would have told Jeff before the kid was in high school it doesn’t matter how he ends up, we’ll find a spot for him.

If I’m wrong for that I’d rather not be right.

 

[Gromcat]

I go to all home games and Cal is still greeted with loud cheers every game he is announced as our coach. We just have a percentage of posters on this board who are loud anti Cal people. I can't say I'm real happy with everything Cal has done but he is our coach and I will support him and hope he wins every game.

I go to games and travel with groups of fans to away games. I know very few who approve of Cal the way some here do. I hear constant complaining about home and homes, the OAD, and his lack of fixing the system. So I don’t know who you’re talking to, but I’ve had the opposite experience. It always goes like this

“I like Cal, glad we hired him, but……

And the rest is about the shortcomings.

 

[Gromcat]

By no means am I in the Cal club. Cal offered the day after he saw him in person for the first time before his junior year of high school. Just 3 weeks after he was legally allowed to contact him via NCAA rules. I would totally understand if Cal was still sitting on his hands. But he’s not. He was one of the first schools to offer. I just can’t understand why people are upset with that.

For the record, I’m fine with it because it’s working. I just would have done it differently.

Legacy kids like this don’t come around often. And Jeff deserves everything we can give him and more. He bleeds UK, and has since a little kid in Georgia. He was born for this jersey, and I think sports in general need to start taking these family aspects more seriously because fans are losing connections to teams over the attitudes of the elite coaches and players involved today.

 

[Gromcat]

Also, yes, I think Rupp would be absolutely disgusted with the state of the program. I won’t go that far, but he would be. This is not what this is supposed to be about.

And I know coach Hall doesn’t like some of this, but I won’t get into that. Personal conversation that I’ll keep private.

And I’m 35 for the “YO BOOMER” crowd. Jsyk

 

[ganner918]

By no means am I in the Cal club. Cal offered the day after he saw him in person for the first time before his junior year of high school. Just 3 weeks after he was legally allowed to contact him via NCAA rules. I would totally understand if Cal was still sitting on his hands. But he’s not. He was one of the first schools to offer. I just can’t understand why people are upset with that.

Because, for some people, they're all or nothing. All pro, or all con. Excuse literally anything, or make up reasons to be mad about anything. The people bitching about this recruitment are people who are so anti-Cal that they're going to create more reasons to be mad.

 

[SpamburgerHamburger]

I don't care who's kid he is. He's either good enough or not. Now I'm fine for a little wiggle room for a major legacy for sure, but you have to be good enough to play here first and foremost. Are you going to be happy if we have all legacy and Ky connected kids and barely breaking .500? Reed is good enough, so it's easy to say Cal has to get him cause of his dad and blah blah blah.

 

[xRainmanx]

Virginia. My cousin is married to his girlfriends aunt.

 

[ORCAT]

I go to games and travel with groups of fans to away games. I know very few who approve of Cal the way some here do. I hear constant complaining about home and homes, the OAD, and his lack of fixing the system. So I don’t know who you’re talking to, but I’ve had the opposite experience. It always goes like this

“I like Cal, glad we hired him, but……

And the rest is about the shortcomings.

I hear some of those same things and didn't deny it. I just simply said when he is introduced at games it is met with loud cheers so I guess there are people who do like him. I even said I don't always like what he does either so not sure where your statement that I am around so many different people than you. Read my post again, I never suggested that.

 

[Gromcat]

I hear some of those same things and didn't deny it. I just simply said when he is introduced at games it is met with loud cheers so I guess there are people who do like him. I even said I don't always like what he does either so not sure where your statement that I am around so many different people than you. Read my post again, I never suggested that.

Hey, I’d cheer too. I want the guy to be seen as an important figure to everyone else. Here? I call it like it see it. Around other UK fans? I call it like I see it and they do too.

 

[ganner918]

I don't care who's kid he is. He's either good enough or not. Now I'm fine for a little wiggle room for a major legacy for sure, but you have to be good enough to play here first and foremost. Are you going to be happy if we have all legacy and Ky connected kids and barely breaking .500? Reed is good enough, so it's easy to say Cal has to get him cause of his dad and blah blah blah.

IMO we should always be willing to give a couple of roster spots to in state kids/legacies who are at least high D1 prospects (top 150 types). The Willis/Hawkins type players.

 

[clevenger32]

By no means am I in the Cal club. Cal offered the day after he saw him in person for the first time before his junior year of high school. Just 3 weeks after he was legally allowed to contact him via NCAA rules. I would totally understand if Cal was still sitting on his hands. But he’s not. He was one of the first schools to offer. I just can’t understand why people are upset with that.

5 star, top 20 player...it would seem like it would be a no brainer, but do you think if Reed was from out of state and had no family connections to the program that he would offer him? He does not fit the Cal profile...projected OAD, not super athletic. In all the discussion of the 2023 players that Cal has offered, he is from my perspective an afterthought. He is a super fundamentally sound player, great court sense, multi-year projection, I hope he announces for UK. I hope he gets the chance lead them to championships.

 

[clevenger32]

IMO we should always be willing to give a couple of roster spots to in state kids/legacies who are at least high D1 prospects (top 150 types). The Willis/Hawkins type players.

Here are two that based on their college careers that should have been here, that fit your comment...one Tavieon Hollingsworth who Cal wanted to walk-on, and Sean McNeil who is now a senior who could have made a major difference last year and McNeil would be the answer of adding power up front this year...Cal did not even offer him.

 

[yoshukai]

I know for a fact that the Sheppard’s let Cal know early on that Reed did not want a scholarship offer to UK because of who his parents are . Cal was told to not bother recruiting Reed unless he absolutely wanted him and thought he could contribute at UK. I am by no means a Calipari fan , but he did exactly what they asked . He evaluated Reed , evidently thinks he’s good enough, and offered a scholarship. I don’t know for certain if he’s UK bound , but if he’s not it won’t be because of anything Calipari did wrong. And again, I’m not Calipari fan in the least.

 

[Smashcat]

Cal was told to not bother recruiting Reed unless he absolutely wanted him and thought he could contribute at UK.

Good to hear.

 

[sluggercatfan]

If he's good enough, why wouldn't he play? Also, what does it matter how good his dad was? Just because someone's dad was a good player that means his kid should get automatic playing time?

Because I'm asking about his dad and the fact he wasn't a oad, but led the team to a NC and became a legacy player. Doubt very much hof coach would gave recruited Jeff.

 

[sluggercatfan]

I know for a fact that the Sheppard’s let Cal know early on that Reed did not want a scholarship offer to UK because of who his parents are . Cal was told to not bother recruiting Reed unless he absolutely wanted him and thought he could contribute at UK. I am by no means a Calipari fan , but he did exactly what they asked . He evaluated Reed , evidently thinks he’s good enough, and offered a scholarship. I don’t know for certain if he’s UK bound , but if he’s not it won’t be because of anything Calipari did wrong. And again, I’m not Calipari fan in the least.

Pressure from fans because dad and mom are legacy and he's a good player.

 

[KDcats11]

So thankful we have Cal in charge instead of a lot of the idiots in this thread. Our ship would be sunk for several years trying to follow the philosophies suggested in this thread. You can tell who knows UK history and who doesn't. The ones wanting to blindly offer 8th graders clearly must have just started following the program.

Like I said earlier in the thread, it's so bizarre seeing fans mad at Cal for recruiting and playing the most talented players. It's like they'd rather us become IU and never win again. Truly bizarre.

 

[kl40504]

I think you are generalizing. I think when you have a kid 75
miles from campus who was a 4 star now a 5
And his dad played at UK I think that is an automatic. I think if his dad didn’t play at UK it should be an automatic. This whole discussion is shows the divide between the fan base of Rupp Hall Sutton and Pitino & the Cal
Club.

So if Reed ended up playing soccer and not basketball Cal should still offer him as soon as he is born because his dad and mother played basketball at UK. Got it.

 

[bbncal02]

Because I'm asking about his dad and the fact he wasn't a oad, but led the team to a NC and became a legacy player. Doubt very much hof coach would gave recruited Jeff.

I’m not sure you could compare that. Two completely different eras of basketball.

 

[kl40504]

Virginia. My cousin is married to his girlfriends aunt.

You know nothing. My best friends third cousin is friends with his friend that is a cousin of his mothers brother and he says he is going to UK.

 

[bbncal02]

Virginia. My cousin is married to his girlfriends aunt.

Don’t forget Kentucky was Virginia at one point in time.

 

[Son_Of_Saul]

Reed's picking Kentucky. He's been hearing, "You got to go to Kentucky" since he was a toddler. There's only one pick to make.

 

[clevenger32]

So if Reed ended up playing soccer and not basketball Cal should still offer him as soon as he is born because his dad and mother played basketball at UK. Got it.

I did not say that. You are missing the point but you do have great spin.

 

[clevenger32]

I know for a fact that the Sheppard’s let Cal know early on that Reed did not want a scholarship offer to UK because of who his parents are . Cal was told to not bother recruiting Reed unless he absolutely wanted him and thought he could contribute at UK. I am by no means a Calipari fan , but he did exactly what they asked . He evaluated Reed , evidently thinks he’s good enough, and offered a scholarship. I don’t know for certain if he’s UK bound , but if he’s not it won’t be because of anything Calipari did wrong. And again, I’m not Calipari fan in the least.

I trust your statement. It is obvious that you know what is going on. I hope if it is Kentucky that he gets a chance to prove just how good he is. That is my only concern. I was around the program in the transition years between Rupp and Hall. I am still friends to this day with people who played for both. It is a different time and trying to relate to the focus then was on winning championships and recruiting was different. My mindset is not of Cal and today's focus. I need to stop expressing my opinions. Hope Reed gets that chance.

 

[Princecal]

Hope we get him. He could be a part of a special class for us

 

[blackcat714]

Hope we get him. He could be a part of a special class for us

Wait till year after next instead of next year.

 

[Lempface]

Neither did Herro though, he was rated right around there.

 

[turkeywildturkey]

Yes under any other coach who has been at the helm for the last 92 years it would be shocking but not under Calapari.

Why in the world would it not be shocking under Cal? Cal can’t recruit, or kids don’t love playing for him? What the hell are you saying here?

 

[westerncat]

IMO Reed has proven that he can play at UK. Over last summer he impressed a lot of coaches with his play.

Now in my part of the state a lot of UK fans are tired of the O&D . They like it was in the older days where players stayed and they got to know them. But a few O&D are fine but they are tired of mass exodus each year. I think they are happy now that we have some that are going to be around a few years.

 

[Blueblood22]

Now some are mad Cal wasn't there when Reed was pushed out of his mother's vagina so he could hand him a scholarship right there?

Some of y'all need to touch grass.

 

[RunninRichie]

Now some are mad Cal wasn't there when Reed was pushed out of his mother's vagina so he could hand him a scholarship right there?

Some of y'all need to touch grass.

nice try to be hip and cool, grandpa



now go touch some grass.

 

[NC Weasel]

Its funny, folks are acting like this was totally Cal & UKs decision. I'm pretty sure the young man gets a choice!

He has to believe UK is the right place for him. That he can see the floor enough, that he likes and trusts the staff to help him improve, etc. And he has to look at UVA thru those same goggles.

Sounds like his dad asked Cal not to make this a courtesy scholarship offer. Also sounds like Cal did what he was asked. AND the kid stepped up and earned everything he got.

The ball is now in his court, not UK's.

Whatever he decides, I'll be cheering for him either way. Because why not?

 

[kl40504]

IMO Reed has proven that he can play at UK. Over last summer he impressed a lot of coaches with his play.

Now in my part of the state a lot of UK fans are tired of the O&D . They like it was in the older days where players stayed and they got to know them. But a few O&D are fine but they are tired of mass exodus each year. I think they are happy now that we have some that are going to be around a few years.

All those transfers from the portal are going to stay a few years? Really. Times have changed. All schools are experiencing turnover with players entering the transfer portal. UK will never have good players stay several years and neither will other top college programs. You need to quit living in the past. Those years are gone.

 

[yoshukai]

I trust your statement. It is obvious that you know what is going on. I hope if it is Kentucky that he gets a chance to prove just how good he is. That is my only concern. I was around the program in the transition years between Rupp and Hall. I am still friends to this day with people who played for both. It is a different time and trying to relate to the focus then was on winning championships and recruiting was different. My mindset is not of Cal and today's focus. I need to stop expressing my opinions. Hope Reed gets that chance.

Ive thought the same thing. I do know that after scrimmaging with the team , Reed was convinced he belonged at this level. According to Jeff he did very well.

 

[yoshukai]

Pressure from fans because dad and mom are legacy and he's a good player.

I mean , I guess the only one that really knows what’s in Cals head is Cal .