French Dominance Challenged: American Prospect Reed Sheppard Projected First Pick in 2024 NBA Draft

By Joël Pütz | Sports journalist

While Victor Wembanyama emerged last year as the clear favorite for the first draft pick, it seems a little more contested in 2024 with two French people among the candidates. However, an American site also highlighted a US prospect… who, however, received a very cold reception on the web.

For weeks, it has seemed almost certain that Victor Wembanyama’s successor as first pick in the 2024 draft will also be a Frenchman. Athletes from France have definitely been popular lately, with Zaccharie Risacher and Alexandre Sarr occupying the first two places in most rankings in the United States. Not to mention Tidjane Salaün, expected in the Top 10.

However, not all American sites necessarily see this in the same way and The Ringer has notably decided to offer an alternative solution to its readers. According to its experts, it would be an American prospect who would become the No. 1 of his vintage next June, in this case Reed Sheppard who plays at the University of Kentucky:

A potential first draft pick smashed on the canvas

NEW: Reed Sheppard is now the Ringer’s projected No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, joining the Spurs & Victor Wembanyama👀

(via @KevinOConnorNBA) pic.twitter.com/fg3ohS05XL

— On3 (@On3sports) March 11, 2024

Reed Sheppard is now The Ringer’s prediction for the first pick in the 2024 draft and would join Victor Wembanyama at the Spurs.

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A guard measuring 1m90 and 84 kilos, Sheppard is currently averaging nearly 13 points per game accompanied by more than 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2.5 steals for his first campaign with the Wildcats. What makes it a No. 1 pick? Not necessarily, he who only has a 24% success rate behind the arc. The analysis of his profile by fans was merciless:

Austin Reaves if he was fat

— BronnyMuse (@BronnyMuse06) March 11, 2024

It’s Austin Reaves if he was big and fat

Taking a Austin Reaves clone at 1 is wild💀

— Kenny (@Kennyduhballern) March 11, 2024

It’s crazy to put an Austin Reaves clone in #1 💀

Reed Sheppard could therefore compete with the French Alexandre Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher for the first choice in the 2024 draft, if we trust the predictions of The Ringer. The latter even see him joining Victor Wembanyama at Spurs… A prospect which, however, seems far from convincing the supporters.

2024-03-13 01:23:22
#Controversy #surrounding #pick #Austin #Reaves #fat