2024 NBA Draft: Antonio Reeves Making Draft Noise
The Kentucky Wildcats are off to a great start to the season. They are currently ranked eighth in the country as they have ten wins and two losses on the season. With a new wrinkle to their offense, they have looked like one of the most exciting teams in the entire country. This Wildcats team plays at an extremely fast pace which allows the team to put up extremely high scoring games.
Kentucky has multiple projected first-round picks in guys like Rob Dillingham, Reed Sheppard and DJ Wagner. Even with second-round projected picks in Justin Edwards and Aaron Bradshaw, the Wildcats are projected to have five freshmen drafted this year. A prospect that could lead them to six draft picks in a single draft is wing prospect Antonio Reeves who’s a fifth-year senior.
Reeves is in his second year at Kentucky after playing three years at Illinois State before electing to transfer for better exposure and due to a coaching change. He was a 20-point scorer in his junior year and led his conference in scoring. He showcased his elite shot-making ability, shifty handle and creation skills. Last season Reeves played for Kentucky but it felt as if he wasn’t able to consistently show his full arsenal but this season the Wildcats have changed their style of play which has really opened up a ton for Reeves.
The fifth-year senior is currently averaging 19 points per game and in his last two games specifically, he’s averaging 28.5 points, as he has been on an absolute burner. The 6-foot-6 wing is shooting 52.3% from the field and 45.9% from behind the arc. Reeves is an elite shooter off the catch as he can really allow his teammates more space to operate with and has great shot preparation.
Reeves can create off the dribble as he has a smooth handle which allows him to get him into his step-back jumper or get to the rim where he excels with the floater in the lane. He arguably has the best touch in the entire draft but it’s not talked about enough due to him being so much older than the vast majority of other prospects. If Reeves is able to keep this play up for the rest of the season then there’s no reason that he shouldn’t be in at least a little first-round consideration.
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