Reed Sheppard is a McDonald’s All-American from Kentucky. Just how rare is that?

Cameron Drummond
·6 min read

Reed Sheppard is making significant Kentucky boys’ high school basketball history this week in Houston.

With his selection to this year’s boys’ edition of the McDonald’s All-American Game out of North Laurel High School in London, Sheppard is just the 15th player from the commonwealth to be named a Burger Boy since the game began in 1977.

Furthermore, Sheppard is an ultra-rare McDonald’s All-American from Kentucky who isn’t from a Lexington or Louisville high school.

Sheppard is Kentucky’s first representative in the McDonald’s boys’ All-American Game since 2011, when future Louisville Cardinal Chane Behanan (Bowling Green) received the honor.

In total, only four Kentucky-based players from a non-Lexington or Louisville high school have received the honor of being named a McDonald’s All-American: Sheppard, Behanan, Scotty Hopson (University Heights, 2008) and Rex Chapman (Apollo, 1986).

During Monday’s media day ahead of Tuesday night’s McDonald’s All-American Game, Sheppard spoke about what it meant for him to receive the honor and represent his distinct Kentucky basketball upbringing (Sheppard’s parents are UK basketball greats Jeff Sheppard and Stacey Reed Sheppard).

“It means a lot. I’m from Kentucky, so growing up I’ve always been a little boy that’s wanted to play at the University of Kentucky, and to have that opportunity means a lot,” Sheppard said. “It’s super, super special to me to be able to stay in my hometown and be able to try to put my city on the map and just do it for them, really.”

Sheppard got to share his All-American honor earlier this year on a local level.

In February, a packed gym at North Laurel celebrated Sheppard being named a McDonald’s All-American before a home win over Covington Catholic.

“It was an unbelievable, unbelievable experience. I was actually able to stay at home and watch (the announcement) with my mom and as soon as they announced the teams and we saw my name up on the TV screen, it was kind of a surreal moment,” Sheppard recalled Monday. “I looked over and she had tears in her eyes and she just started talking about how proud she was of me. … It was a really special moment to be able to spend that with my mom.”

Reed Sheppard participates in a practice ahead of the 2023 McDonald’s All-American Game in Houston, Texas.
Reed Sheppard participates in a practice ahead of the 2023 McDonald’s All-American Game in Houston, Texas.

As impressive as the individual honors have been for Sheppard during his senior season — he was named 2023 Kentucky Mr. Basketball and finished his high school career with 3,727 career points — it’s the team success from his high school career that also stands out.

North Laurel won consecutive 13th Region championships during Sheppard’s junior and senior seasons. The Jaguars twice went to Rupp Arena and participated in the Sweet 16.

North Laurel’s only previous Sweet 16 trip came in 2012.

“I think he’s continued to develop his game as you would expect, just from getting stronger. He’s gotten a lot stronger from last year,” Nate Valentine, Sheppard’s high school coach at North Laurel, said prior to this year’s Sweet 16. “I think the biggest thing he’s done is he’s gotten more mentally strong, just being able to to handle it.”

Valentine went on to detail the taxing life that Sheppard’s led following his verbal commitment to Kentucky in November 2021.

“You have no idea what it’s like to walk in Reed Sheppard’s shoes, and 99.9% of people never will,” Valentine said. “We go to a game, whether we win or lose, he plays great or bad, he’s got a line of 50 people. Most of the time it’s the student section that’s yelled at him the whole game and heckled him the whole game, (now) wanting to get his autograph and take a picture with him.”

North Laurel’s Reed Sheppard (3) shoots while pressured by George Rogers Clark’s Tyleik Maxwell during their first-round Sweet 16 game on March 16. Sheppard is only the 15th player from the commonwealth to be named a McDonald’s boys’ All-American.
North Laurel’s Reed Sheppard (3) shoots while pressured by George Rogers Clark’s Tyleik Maxwell during their first-round Sweet 16 game on March 16. Sheppard is only the 15th player from the commonwealth to be named a McDonald’s boys’ All-American.

Sheppard shows out against top opponents as senior

Among the 24 players selected as McDonald’s boys’ All-Americans this year, Sheppard is one of the lowest-ranked players, according to the 247Sports Composite recruit rankings for 2023.

Sheppard (No. 30 in the rankings) is only above Bronny James (No. 33) and Brandon Garrison (No. 43).

This is partially due to the level of competition that Sheppard has played against for the majority of his prep career: While travel ball competition helps during the summer, the vast majority of Sheppard’s games have been against other Kentucky high schools.

But North Laurel took an aggressive approach with its 2022-23 schedule, which included showcase events in Louisville, Florida and Massachusetts against some of the best high school competition in the country.

More often than not, Sheppard graded out well in these high-profile environments, which undoubtedly played a big role in his recognition as a McDonald’s All-American.

“He does a little bit of everything on the floor and he’s shown off a well-rounded game that has caught my eye,” Tony McNiff, a scouting analyst for MADE Hoops who watched Sheppard play at the prestigious City of Palms Classic in Florida, told the Herald-Leader. “Sheppard definitely held his own and helped North Laurel in any way possible.”

“Sheppard thrives at making the correct reads as a creator, facilitator and reliable shooter,” Tyler Glazier, a senior analyst at Pro Insight Basketball, told the Herald-Leader shortly after Sheppard faced fellow UK signee Justin Edwards in December. “He projects as a valuable combo guard who can go get a bucket, off-load creating (and) playmaking responsibilities, do the little things and compliment other stars as needed.”

All-time McDonald’s boys’ All-Americans from Kentucky

As previously mentioned, Sheppard occupies rarefied air when it comes to a Kentucky boys’ high school basketball player.

Sheppard is just the 15th boys’ player from Kentucky to be named a McDonald’s All-American since the game began in 1977.

Additionally, Sheppard is an ultra-rare McDonald’s boys’ All-American from Kentucky who isn’t from a Lexington or Louisville high school.

Sheppard is Kentucky’s first representative in the McDonald’s boys’ All-American Game since 2011.

Here is a complete list of all the McDonald’s boys’ All-American selections from a Kentucky high school:

▪ Reed Sheppard (2023-North Laurel)

▪ Chane Behanan (2011-Bowling Green)

▪ Scotty Hopson (2008-University Heights Academy)

▪ Carlos Hurt (2001-Moore)

▪ Jason Osborne (1993-Male)

▪ Dwayne Morton (1990-Central)

▪ Allan Houston (1989-Ballard)

▪ Rex Chapman (1986-Apollo)

▪ Tony Kimbro (1985-Seneca)

▪ Winston Bennett (1983-Male)

▪ Manuel Forrest (1981-Moore)

▪ Dirk Minniefield (1979-Lafayette)

▪ Jerry Eaves (1978-Ballard)

▪ Vince Taylor (1978-Tates Creek)

▪ Jeff Lamp (1977-Ballard)

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