Reed Sheppard‘s time as a Kentucky Wildcat has come to a close, the 2024 Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Year officially taking his talents to the NBA.

Considered a consensus top-10 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, Sheppard is turning down the opportunity to be the face of a new era of Kentucky basketball under first-year head coach Mark Pope — his father Jeff’s college roommate and fellow 1996 national champion.

Pope acknowledged Sheppard needed to follow his heart when deciding his future plans, understanding the opportunity to be a lottery pick is a once-in-a-lifetime situation.

“That is not something to be taken lightly. It’s really extraordinary,” Pope said Monday. “So Reed, the way he’s going to be successful in his future is if he really searches inside himself and finds out where his heart is pulling him. In all honesty, Jeff, Stacey and Reed are very spiritual people. It’s where God is calling him and that’s just the truth.”

That doesn’t mean he wasn’t praying things went a certain way for Sheppard.

“I told Jeff, I’m spending a lot of time praying that God will call him back to Kentucky,” he said. “We’ll see how that goes.”

After thinking things over, Sheppard decided it’s his time to follow his dreams as a pro and enter the draft, forgoing his remaining eligibility and leaving college basketball behind for good.

“I will be entering my name into the NBA Draft today,” Sheppard said Thursday. “BBN, you have been with me from day one, faithful and passionate. I’m asking you to go with me on this journey, I’m looking forward to taking you with me. I’ll represent you with all of the characteristics that make us Kentuckians: passion, humility, perseverance, sacrifice and joy. And one day, I’ll return to family, to friends, to Kentucky, my home. I love you, BBN. Thank you.”