LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – It doesn’t take long for news to spread amongst UK fans.

“Kentucky is home, it’s always been home. There is another part of my dream. To play basketball in the NBA,” said Reed Sheppard during his social media announcement.

Mere minutes after Reed Sheppard made his announcement to declare for the NBA draft, those on campus already had plenty to say about the decision.

“For me personally, being from Kentucky, it’s great to see a Kentucky native to enter hte portal and be able to succeed and represent Kentucky overall. It’s just amazing,” said Student Jacob Hampton.

Some said Sheppard’s absence will be felt next season.

“He had good fundamentals. He was overall a good basketball player. He had ups and downs during the game, but overall a good basketball player. And a good guard,” said UK Student Luke Hord.

Others are just ready for a new start, and a new team.

“We had better players before and we’ll have better players after. We’ll just see how this goes,” said another student Nathan Ntoia.

But at the end of the day, these Cats fans all have one message for the team ahead of next season.

“I got hopes for Pope for sure. I think he’s going to do alright. I think it’s going to take him a few years under control,” said Junior Bryce Towle.

“Like what Mark Pope said. We’ve got to get banners. So we’re going to get banners no matter what,” Hampton said.

“I hope we’re just able to recruit new players actually willing to stay four years and train,” continued Ntoia.

“I mean obviously hopefully a championship, but just a team that can go far. Make it past the first round, second round,” Hord echoed.

You can read more about Sheppard and his career at UK at the link here.

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