Rockets draft Kentucky G Reed Sheppard with No. 3 pick in 2024 NBA Draft

The Houston Rockets selected Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard with the third overall selection in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The pick was announced Wednesday evening. Sheppard was the first American-born player to come off the board, after French players Zaccharie Risacher and Alexandre Sarr were taken with the first two selections.

The Atlanta Hawks took Risacher, and the Washington Wizards drafted Sarr.

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Sheppard played 33 games in his lone season at Kentucky, averaging 12.5 points, 4.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. He was one of the most prolific sharpshooters in college basketball, shooting an impressive 53.6% from the field and 52.1% from 3-point range last year.

The Rockets were big winners at the NBA Draft Lottery back in May, earning a top selection despite boasting a 41-41 record last season. The pick originally belonged to the Brooklyn Nets, but it was sent to Houston as part of the James Harden trade.

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