"Neither was a starter": College hoop fans react to Kentucky having two guards in the top 10 for first time ever in Wildcats history

The Kentucky Wildcats achieved a major milestone during the first night of the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday. For the first time in their college history, two guards made it into the top 10 picks.

The Houston Rockets chose Reed Sheppard, a 6-foot-3 guard, with the third overall pick. Alongside Sheppard, another Kentucky guard, Rob Dillingham, was selected as the eighth overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs.

SEC Network shared a tweet, following their selections.

"Sheppard & Dillingham. The first time Kentucky has had multiple guards selected in the top-10 in the same draft!"

Kentucky fans certainly enjoyed the draft as two of their players were taken in the lottery. However, the selection of Sheppard and Dillingham within the top 10 picks, despite being bench players at Kentucky, has stirred some discontent.

"Wow! Neither was a starter. Crazy," one X user commented.

Some fans took a dig at former head coach John Calipari for not starting Sheppard or Dillingham. Sheppard started in 5 games while Dillingham was in the starting lineup for only one game in 2023-24.

"If I was Calipari I’d be embarrassed to be there. You know, since he started neither of them. But of course he was there since he wants the spot light on him," one fan wrote.

"BENCH PLAYERS! Cal is a good coach!!!" another fan commented.

"Wasted talent! Coach Cal made recruiting promises and started those players over the two best players on the team! That’s why it was time for a change. Good luck Arkansas! This is one we will be scratching our heads over for years to come! Couldn’t make it past the first round," one fan wrote.

"He didn’t want DJ or Justin to feel bad. What a joke of a coach," another replied.

"Guided to a Round of 64 loss courtesy of washed Calipari. Glad he’s hit the road," one fan commented.

Reed Sheppard becomes the highest player drafted from Kentucky in NBA Draft

Reed Sheppard, a native of London, Kentucky, became the Wildcats' highest-selected Kentuckian in the draft.

Houston picked Sheppard as the third overall pick, marking him as the first collegiate player taken in the 2024 NBA draft. He averaged 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game in just five starts last season.

Sheppard, who now heads to Houston to start his NBA career, joins a notable group of KY natives who have been drafted in the first round of the NBA. Some of the big names are Frank Selvy, Charlie Tyra, Wes Unseld, Darrell Griffith and D’Angelo Russell.