Last month, word broke that Reed Sheppard will wear No. 15 at Kentucky, the same jersey number his father Jeff wore during his career as a Wildcat 30 years ago. Today, the freshman guard told reporters the change was part necessity — sophomore Adou Thiero already wears the No. 3, Sheppard’s high school number — and part tribute.
“Adou was wearing No. 3, so I figured after that I’d just have to go with Pops’ old number and rock the No. 15,” Reed said.
Sheppard admitted that the seeds behind the number change were planted long before he arrived in Lexington, but he wanted to keep it a surprise from his father.