The halls of Rupp Arena have witnessed some of the most unforgettable moments in college basketball history. The roar of Big Blue Nation, the crisp swish of net-cutting shots, and the echoes of Kentucky legends past still live in every corner of that historic building. But few debates have sparked as much excitement, nostalgia, and flat-out disbelief as the sudden emergence of a genuine 3-point shootout—an ultimate showdown between two Wildcat icons from different eras: Reed Sheppard and Doron Lamb. And this isn’t just hypothetical barbershop talk anymore. It’s becoming a real conversation in the Bluegrass basketball world: who truly wears the crown as Kentucky’s greatest 3-point marksman?
This is incredible. This is shocking. And this might just be the beginning of something unforgettable.
On one hand, there’s Doron Lamb, a 2012 National Champion and widely respected as one of the smoothest shooters ever to don the Kentucky blue and white. A picture of textbook form and unshakable confidence, Lamb delivered countless daggers from deep during his two years under John Calipari. His career 3-point percentage of 47.5% remains not just elite—it’s historic. He hit big shots in big moments. He never looked rattled. He was, for a long time, the gold standard.
Then, out of seemingly nowhere, came Reed Sheppard—the unassuming freshman with a basketball pedigree, a laser-quick release, and ice in his veins. From the moment Sheppard stepped on the floor in his first season at Kentucky, fans knew something special was brewing. But few expected this kind of rise. Sheppard didn’t just shoot well—he shot historically well. By the midpoint of his freshman year, he was putting up numbers that made even the most seasoned analysts do double-takes. And now, the whispers have turned into chatter: is Sheppard already in the same conversation as Lamb?
This isn’t about one hot season or a streak of lucky games. This is about Sheppard consistently hitting from deep, under pressure, in big games, and doing it with a rhythm and fearlessness that has fans comparing him to Kentucky’s all-time greats. His percentage from long range hovers in the mid-50s—yes, over 50 percent—from three. That alone is enough to put him in the statistical stratosphere. He’s not just knocking down open looks; he’s creating, pulling up, shooting off balance, off the dribble, off the catch—and making it look effortless.
Doron Lamb, watching from afar, seems to welcome the competition. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Lamb recently responded to the buzz on social media with a post that read, “I love Reed’s game! But y’all know what I did in the clutch… let’s set it up .” In true competitive fashion, Lamb isn’t dismissing the young star—he’s calling for a showdown. Fans erupted. Former players chimed in. The idea of a Sheppard vs. Lamb 3-point contest suddenly felt like the kind of dream that Kentucky fans didn’t even know they needed.
Is this really happening? Could it happen? Could the past meet the present in a head-to-head shootout for the ages?
Regardless of whether a formal contest is ever arranged, the debate is alive and thriving. Sheppard’s rise has breathed new life into Kentucky’s offensive identity. He’s not the tallest or flashiest player on the court, but he is one of the most efficient. His shot mechanics are pristine. His release is quick but controlled. And perhaps most impressively, his mental toughness is elite for someone so young. He doesn’t seem to recognize pressure as a concept. He just plays, calmly and confidently.
The son of former Kentucky star Jeff Sheppard and ex-UK women’s standout Stacey Reed, Reed Sheppard is built for this. The bloodlines are real. The name carries weight. But rather than buckle under the pressure, Sheppard has used it as fuel. And while comparisons to past players are inevitable in Lexington, few imagined he’d be challenging the long-standing 3-point royalty of Doron Lamb in his first year.
For those who witnessed Lamb’s brilliance from 2010 to 2012, the bar is high. He wasn’t just a shooter—he was a killer. He thrived in clutch moments, knocked down shots with defenders in his face, and had the unwavering trust of his teammates and coaches. In the 2012 NCAA Tournament, he averaged over 16 points per game and nailed a pair of massive threes in the national title game against Kansas that helped seal Kentucky’s eighth championship. That kind of legacy is hard to top. But Sheppard? He’s making a case.
Statistically, the comparison is fascinating. Lamb hit 144 career 3-pointers on 303 attempts. Sheppard, in his freshman year alone, has already crossed the 50-make mark—and with significantly fewer attempts. If he maintains anything close to this pace, he could break records that have stood for over a decade. And if Kentucky makes a deep postseason run, his legend will only grow.
But this is more than just numbers. This is about style, rhythm, legacy, and impact. Lamb was silky. Sheppard is surgical. Lamb played with calm confidence. Sheppard brings a quiet fire. One floated on the perimeter like a seasoned pro, while the other cuts and slashes, finds pockets of space, and fires away without hesitation. Different eras. Different styles. Same result: buckets.
The other component to this buzz is the reaction from Kentucky fans, who have embraced Sheppard with open arms. He represents more than just a shooter—he’s a Kentucky kid, playing for his home state team, wearing the jersey his parents once wore. That narrative only adds to the emotional weight of his rise. Every three-pointer he makes feels like a homecoming celebration. Every game he dominates brings memories of the past colliding with the hope of the present.
At the same time, Lamb remains a fan favorite, a player whose championship run gave Big Blue Nation one of its most cherished modern memories. His shot wasn’t just efficient—it was dependable. It came through when the team needed it most. And for many, that will always be the gold standard.
Yet here we are, watching a freshman chip away at that throne, not with arrogance or flash, but with humble confidence and unstoppable consistency. And that’s what makes this so shocking. Not that Reed Sheppard is good—but that he might already be one of the best pure shooters Kentucky has ever seen. In a program built on legends, Sheppard is writing his name into history, one swish at a time.
If the stars were ever to align for a head-to-head contest—say, at a Kentucky alumni event, or even a televised exhibition—it would be a basketball fan’s dream. Two generations. One court. Twenty-five threes apiece. The roar of Rupp. The stakes? Bragging rights for all time. Could Sheppard hold his own against Lamb? Could Lamb still light it up like he did over a decade ago? It’s the kind of spectacle that turns debates into memories.
But even without an official contest, this discussion has already done something special: it’s united fans across generations. It’s reminded older fans of Lamb’s brilliance while introducing younger ones to Sheppard’s greatness in real time. It’s sparked conversation, celebration, and admiration for two athletes who define excellence in their own ways.
Ultimately, there may never be a definitive answer to the question of who is Kentucky’s true 3-point king. Perhaps the crown is big enough for both. Lamb earned his place with rings and records. Sheppard is chasing his own destiny, armed with one of the most efficient strokes Rupp has ever seen.
And maybe that’s the beauty of it. That in a program as rich as Kentucky, legends aren’t replaced—they’re joined by new ones. Reed Sheppard and Doron Lamb, different in era but united in greatness, have become two points on the same arc—a deep shot, perfectly released, destined to land in the heart of Big Blue Nation.
