LEXINGTON - Big Blue Nation got its wish.

Class of 2023 star recruit Reed Sheppard, the son of former Kentucky stars Jeff Sheppard and Stacey Reed Sheppard, committed to UK Saturday in a ceremony at North Laurel High School. The prolific scorer had garnered much attention from Kentucky fans since his breakout sophomore season and strong showing on the Adidas grassroots circuit last spring.

The 247Sports Composite ranks Sheppard as the No. 22 prospect and No. 5 combo guard in the high school class of 2023. Louisville, Indiana, Virginia, Ohio State and Texas A&M were among the other high-major programs that had offered Sheppard a scholarship, but Kentucky was seen as the heavy favorite to land his commitment as soon as UK coach John Calipari extended an offer in July.

Sheppard is Kentucky's first commitment in the 2023 class. Here is a look at what the commitment means for the Wildcats.

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More than a PR win for Kentucky basketball

Yes, Sheppard received an inordinate amount of attention from Kentucky fans for a prospect who was not even mentioned in national rankings a year ago thanks to his famous parents, but Calipari has made it clear over the years he will not offer Kentucky high school stars unless he thinks they can contribute.

Sheppard scored more points than any player in the state last season, averaging 30.1 points per game in 28 games as a sophomore for North Laurel. He followed his stellar high school season with a strong showing on the Adidas circuit.

Perhaps most impressively, Sheppard proved he was more than a shooter, taking over the game Calipari watched him play at an Adidas event in Birmingham in July despite struggling from 3-point range.

That showing earned Sheppard a five-star rating the 247Sports Composite, which averages the ratings of the major recruiting services.

"Is a lights out shooter with perfect technique and a quick release," 247Sports director of basketball scouting Jerry Meyer wrote of Sheppard. "Can score at all three levels. Capable of attacking left or right and finishing with strength. Doesn't have overwhelming speed but is strong with the basketball, crafty, and gets separation."

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Reed Sheppard could be better than his parents

Now that he has committed to Kentucky, Sheppard's last name will bring additional pressure instead of simple attention.

Jeff Sheppard won two national championships at Kentucky and was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player in 1998. Stacey Reed Sheppard still ranks in the top 10 in Kentucky women's basketball history in games started (110), field-goal attempts (1,318), made 3s (175), 3-point attempts (548), assists (442) and steals (309).

"He’s not better than his mom, that’s for sure," Jeff told The Courier Journal in February. "She’s definitely the best in the family. I will say this: I think Reed is ahead of me. Now, Reed is a different type player than I was. A lot of people are trying to draw analogies to us, but he plays more like Stacy in that he’s very aggressive with his hands. He loves to kind of gamble and try to steal the ball.

"He can pass the ball better than I could pass the ball. He definitely can dribble better. I like to say I was just a little bit meaner, but I don’t know that I was as a sophomore in high school. I can’t remember exactly if I was able to make the play that he was. I kind of remember things and the intensity level at the end of my college career and the end of my pro career because that’s kind of my last taste of basketball. I know he’s played more games than me. He’s been in bigger moments at this age. He has a better overall skillset than me. I think he’s ahead, but the race isn’t over."

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What's next for Kentucky basketball recruiting

It appears Calipari and his staff are already finished recruiting high school prospects in the class of 2022. Kentucky will likely need to add at least one frontcourt transfer to next season's roster and could pursue high schoolers who reclassify from 2023 to 2022 in the spring, but for now the recruiting focus can be primarily directed at the 2023 class.

Kentucky has already extended scholarship offers to 10 players in the class.

The top target is five-star guard DJ Wagner, the No-1 ranked prospect in the class. Wagner is the son of former Calipari-coached Memphis star DaJuan Wagner and grandson of Louisville legend Milt Wagner. Kentucky is seen as the heavy favorite in his recruitment if Wagner elects to play college basketball rather than jump directly to the professional ranks either in the NBA's G League or overseas.

Five-star point guard Robert Dillingham could be the next player to join UK's 2023 recruiting class. Kentucky currently holds all of the analyst predictions for his commitment in the 247Sports Crystal Ball.

Email Jon Hale at jahale@courier-journal.com; Follow him on Twitter at @JonHale_CJ.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Reed Sheppard: Legacy recruit commits to UK basketball 2023 class