Reed Sheppard was as peaceful and tranquil as he had been throughout his life. That demeanor was on full display as he absorbed the entire NYC experience.
While Sheppard is used to performing in front of thousands of people, he usually does so with basketball, not baseball. That changed on Tuesday night, when he threw out the first pitch at Citi Field before the NY Yankees vs. NY Mets game.
His mother, Stacey Reed Sheppard, was behind the plate and caught his first pitch.
Sheppard is expected to be a top-5 pick in the NBA Draft on Wednesday, becoming the first Kentucky player to reach that level since 2017.
“I’m going to be excited wherever I end up, wherever I go,” Sheppard told Paul Finebaum. “It’ll be an unforgettable experience that my family and I can share. I’m definitely looking forward to it, and I’m delighted to be here in New York for the draft this year.”
Right now, Sheppard is ranked third in the final ESPN mock draft.
“Should the Rockets stand pat, Sheppard has been the favorite here since draft lottery night,” said ESPN Insider Jonathan Givony. “Houston’s ownership group traveled to meet with him in Los Angeles fairly early in the process, and he visited the Rockets’ facility to make his case as the best shooter in the draft.”
