While it might be too early for you, dear reader, to be thinking about what the Chicago Bulls ought to do with their first round draft pick for the 2024 NBA draft, for analysts who specialize in the draft, this is right in the thick of the NCAA, G League, and overseas action.
And for ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo, the Bulls ought to turn their eyes to the backcourt of the University of Kentucky in their latest mock draft for this summer’s big event. The player they think Chicago ought to target with their No. 12 projected lottery pick (based on their recent record) is combo guard Reed Sheppard.
The 6-foot-3 native of London (Kentucky) can shoot the rock well from beyond the arc, connecting at a bonkers 51.4% with the Blue Devils so far this season.
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He’s also a defensive menace who has logged 2.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game with Kentucky in 2023-24 and is a solid rebounder at 4.4 per game.
He doesn’t score enough for a player with his talents and he could grab a few more offensive boards, but there’s not that much to critique in a 19-year-old player with plenty of room to grow into a high-level starter with star potential. If Sheppard is still on the board, the Bulls had better pounce.