Senior Antonio Reeves and freshman Reed Sheppard are two players among the 25 selected for the Wooden Award midseason watch list on Wednesday.
The players on the list are considered strong candidates for the 2024 John R. Wooden Award Men’s Player of the Year. Players not chosen to the preseason or midseason list are still eligible for the Wooden Award National Ballot. The National Ballot consists of 15 top players who have proven to their universities that they meet or exceed the qualifications of the Wooden Award.
Reeves was tabbed the 2023 Southeastern Conference Co-Sixth Man of the Year and leads the Cats in scoring at 18.6 points per game in 2023-24. Reeves has logged double-digit scoring in 13 of the team’s 14 games and topped 20 points or more in six outings, including scoring 30 at Louisville on Dec. 21. It was the most points scored in the series by a UK player since Tony Delk had 30 on Dec. 23, 1995.
Sheppard is one of just two freshmen recognized on the midseason list. He’s averaging 11.9 points per game, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game. He scored 25 points twice and had a double-double against Louisville with 11 points and 11 assists. The 11 assists were the most for any UK player in the series’ history. He’s also a two-time SEC Freshman of the Week selection.
UK has had two players win the Wooden Award in its history in Anthony Davis (2012) and Oscar Tshiebwe (2022).
