Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham projected as lottery picks in 2024 NBA mock draft
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Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham are both currently projected to be selected in the lottery of the 2024 NBA Draft, according to the latest mock from The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie.
Both Sheppard and Dillingham have shown off their shot-making prowess this season and have helped Kentucky to a 18-7 record overall.
Sheppard is the first Kentucky player off the board in this mock, going No. 11 overall to the Chicago Bulls. Given his slight frame, Sheppard figures to be a polarizing NBA prospect but his production this season has been undeniable. He’s shooting 51.4% from beyond the arc while averaging more than 4 assists per game off the bench.
Here’s an excerpt of Vecenie’s analysis on Sheppard:
Sheppard presents a fascinating argument. Do you believe in his remarkable feel for the game and high skill level, or do you worry too much about his physical deficiencies? Given the success of other supposed “skill-first” guys across the league, such as Jalen Brunson, Brandin Podziemski, Desmond Bane and others, I buy into Sheppard’s positives more than I fret about his negatives.
Dillingham also landed in the lottery at No. 14 to the New Orleans Pelicans in this mock. Dillingham hasn’t been quite as efficient or helpful defensively as Sheppard, but he does posses the kind of high-upside shot-making off the dribble that scouts typically covet.
DJ Wagner, another Kentucky freshman, is projected at No. 32 overall in this mock — just outside of the first round. Justin Edwards is also a projected second-round pick at No. 57 overall.
Kentucky will face LSU on the road on Wednesday. If you’re interested in betting on that game, here’s info on all the top Kentucky sports books on the market.
Sports betting will be live in North Carolina soon! Make sure you’re up-to-date on everything you need to know about FanDuel North Carolina before they officially launch on March 11.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
