The former Kentucky guard was selected with the 47th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Former Kentucky guard Antonio Reeves and the New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to a 3-year deal worth $5.41 million, according to Hoops Hype Senior NBA Insider Michael Scotto.
The deal includes a team option on the third year of the contract.
Reeves was selected with the 47th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic before being dealt to the Pelicans on draft night.
Over five games with the Pelicans at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Reeves averaged 11.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.0 steals in 22.2 minutes per game while shooting 41.2% from the floor and 32% from 3-point range as New Orleans finished 0-5.
In two seasons at Kentucky, Reeves averaged 17.2 points per game, connecting on 164 3-pointers and making them at a 42.2% clip, which ranks sixth all-time in school history.
Reeves was the Wildcats’ leading scorer in 2023-24, averaging 20.2 points per game, the highest scoring average per game by any player in the John Calipari era, while shooting 51.2% from the floor, 44.7% from 3-point range and 86.3% from the free-throw line, all career bests. He was the only Power 5 player in college basketball this season to average at least 1.5 made 3-pointers while shooting at least 49% from the field, 43.5% from 3-point range and 86.5 from the free throw line during the regular season.
The 57th All-American in school history, Reeves scored in double figures in all but one game this season with 20 games of 20 points or more. He became just the second UK player under Calipari to record 20 or more career 20-point games, joining former national player of the year and two-time All-American Oscar Tshiebwe. Twelve of Reeves’ 29 career 20-point games came on the road.
The Chicago native scored 20 or more in seven straight games, including 27 in an upset win against No. 4 Tennessee on March 9, which was the longest streak of 20-point games by a Wildcat since Jamal Murray did so in 12 straight games during the 2015-16 season.
In 10 true road games last season, Reeves averaged 22.9 points per game, shot 48.5% from the field, 50.8% from beyond the arc with 3.3 made 3s per game and 82.9% from the free throw line.
Against Georgia, he eclipsed 2,000 career points combining his time at Illinois State and at Kentucky. As a Wildcat, he became the 62nd player in program history to amass 1,000 career points with 25 at LSU. He was one of three active players and 10 all-time to tally 1,000 career points at two different programs.
In two seasons at UK, Reeves scored 1,155 points which is the second-most in a two-year span ever in the history of the program behind only the 1,213 points scored by Bill Spivey from 1949-51.
In 67 career games with the Wildcats, Reeves recorded 61 games with a made 3, 57 double-digit scoring games, 44 games with multiple made 3s, 30 20-point games, 29 games with 3+ made 3s, 18 games with 4+ made 3s, nine games with 5+ made 3s, and two 30-point games.
The former Kentucky guard averaged 20.0 points, 5.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 1.3 blocks over four games.
Former Kentucky guard and Houston Rockets rookie Reed Sheppard has been named to the NBA 2K25 All-Summer League First Team, it was announced by the league on Monday.
Joining Sheppard on the First Team were GG Jackson (Memphis Grizzlies), Jordan Miller (Los Angeles Clippers), Scotty Pippen Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), and Kel’el Ware (Miami Heat).
In four games for the Rockets, Sheppard did a little bit of everything, averaging 20.0 points, 5.3 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 50% from the floor. Sheppard did not play in Houston’s final game as the Rockets finished 2-3.
He is currently at 7-1 odds to win NBA Rookie of the. Year.
“From the start of summer league, Reed Sheppard looked the part,” wrote ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. “I was high on Sheppard’s potential during the draft process, and he showed with his play in Las Vegas why the Rockets should be very excited about his future in Houston — where he could be a perfect fit alongside Amen Thompson as a long-term backcourt tandem. If it weren’t for the crowded Houston roster and rotation, he would be my clear pick for Rookie of the Year.”
Sheppard was selected by Houston with the No. 3 overall pick in last month’s 2024 NBA Draft, Kentucky’s highest draft pick since Karl-Anthony Towns went No. 1 overall in 2015.
Since 2010, no school has produced more No. 1 overall picks (3), top-10 picks (17), lottery picks (25), first round picks (37) and total NBA Draft picks (49) than Kentucky. Since the NBA went to a two-round draft in 1989, the Wildcats now have the most players drafted overall with 65, 48 of which have come in the first round.
Last season, Sheppard joined John Wall (2010) and Anthony Davis (2012) as the third USBWA National Freshman of the Year at Kentucky after averaging 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 steals in 28.9 minutes per game while shooting 53.6% from the floor, 52.1% from 3 and 83.1% from the free throw line off the bench.
He was also named National Freshman of the Year by the NABC, CBS Sports, ESPN, and Dick Vitale in addition to being voted SEC Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-SEC by both the Associated Press and league coaches.
Sheppard, who posted seven 20-point games, finished the season ranked in the top 10 all-time at Kentucky among freshmen in five statistical categories: first in 3-point field goal percentage (52.1), second in steals (82), fifth in made 3s (75), eighth in assists (148), and ninth in free throw percentage (83.1). He was also the first player in school history with three games of 25+ points, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ assists in a single-season.
Per KenPom.com, Sheppard led the nation in 3-point field goal percentage, ranked sixth in true-shooting percentage (69.9%) and eighth in effective field-goal percentage (67.9%). He was the only player in the country with at least 145 assists, 80 steals and 70 made 3s through March 24.
Coming out of North Laurel High School in London, Ky., Sheppard was named a McDonald’s All-American and was ranked No. 43 overall in the 2023 class by the industry average 247Sports Composite.
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