One easy way to know if the stock of a rookie prospect is good is to observe how many teams would be a good fit. The more teams make sense, the more that player has a chance of succeeding at the next level. That’s the case for Reed Sheppard, one of the latest Kentucky basketball standouts who is slated to be picked early in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Sheppard may not be the absolute top name in this draft class — taller, more athletic players like Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher are getting more buzz for the top picks — but he's widely seen as a player that would instantly benefit whatever team picks him. As the draft approaches, his name is only picking up more and more buzz.

At the CAA pro day, which was held at the Los Angeles Lakers' practice facility, Sheppard showcased his deep-range shooting off the catch and scoring off the dribble. His smooth, consistent jumper gives him a skill that will instantly make him a useful rotation player. Any growth he makes as a shot creator will be a huge bonus.

Workouts like these are nice — as is the NBA Draft Combine, where Sheppard once again impressed — but much less important than how a player looks on the court. Still, the soon-to-be-20-year-old guard has an exceptional collegiate tape.

Reed Sheppard projected to go in the top five of 2024 NBA Draft

Sheppard stands at 6-foot-3 with a similarly sized wingspan. He isn’t a ridiculously explosive or fast athlete. The fact that he is seen as one of the best prospects in this class is partly because this class has no surefire, slam-dunk prospects and otherwise because he’s simply a very good, smart basketball player who knows how to impact the game on both ends of the court.

In his lone season at Kentucky, Sheppard had one of the best three-point shooting seasons a player can have, converting 52.1 percent of his 4.4 three-point attempts per game. Over half of his shot attempts came from deep and he eviscerated nets all season long, winning the SEC Rookie of the Year award while averaging 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game.

Whereas the Atlanta Hawks seemingly want to take a big upside swing with the top pick (should they not trade it) and the Washington Wizards are rumored to want to do the same as they just get their rebuild started, other teams would be wise to draft Sheppard.

Teams like the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, who could compete for the playoffs next season, have young stars in place that could use a supporting piece like Sheppard. Even teams like the Detroit Pistons or Portland Trail Blazers, who don’t seem ready to be competitive next season, could use a steadier building block in their young cores. He's not someone that should take a lot of convincing to draft.

The NBA Draft will be held at Barclays Center on June 26 and 27. Sheppard is bound to hear his name called somewhere in the top 10, if not top five, of the first round.