Former UK basketball star Reed Sheppard returns to KY to help neighbors clean up
One of Laurel County’ s most well-known former residents returned Saturday to help clean up after a devastating series of storms ripped through Laurel and Pulaski counties.
Reed Sheppard, a former North Laurel High School basketball star who now plays for the Houston Rockets, was spotted in Laurel County helping neighbors pick up storm debris.
Joshua Maxey said in a Facebook post Sheppard called him Saturday after he heard a likely tornado had hit southern Kentucky, leveling possibly hundreds of homes and businesses and causing at least 17 deaths in the county.
The total death toll from the storms now stands at 18, including one death in Pulaski County.
“Reed knew the devastation his hometown received and wanted to do something to help. He called me up to ask what he could do, I said ‘just show up man, I’ll pick you up in 20 minutes,’” according to Maxey’s Facebook post.
Sheppard showed up.
And the two men quickly got to work.
“We’ve worked like dogs for the best part of the day and he picked up belongings, toys, roofs, 2x4’s and everything you can imagine,” Maxey said.
Sheppard also met with people, heard their stories and shared in their sorrow and grief, Maxey said.
“He is the epitome of raised right and going above and beyond,” Maxey said in his post that also included several photos of the former Mr. Kentucky Basketball.
Sheppard played for the University of Kentucky during the 2023-2024 season, averaging 12.5 points per game. He was drafted in the first round with the third overall pick by the Houston Rockets in 2024.
Sheppard might not approve of Maxey boasting about his friend’s good deeds, Maxey said.
“He will wanna kill me for taking these pictures but I couldn’t help it, the world needs to knows there’s still good people that don’t forget where they came from,” Maxey wrote.
This story was originally published May 18, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
