BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
We’re entering August, and school and sports are preparing to begin. I just returned from vacation, and sure enough, I got COVID at the beach. It’s my second time, and neither time has been a good time. I’m ready to get better and take more sports pictures next week.
After the recent flooding, I’m thankful to have returned to a home, even with COVID. Others haven’t been so lucky. My heart goes out to all of the victims.
We’ve had some Martin Countians step up for rescue efforts. Sports rivalries thankfully disappear during tragedy.
It will take years to recover from this event. Some families, after losing loved ones, may never fully recover.
I hope these counties aren’t forgotten after the end of the month when it has trickled out of the news.
Heading in a different direction, Reed Sheppard, the son of Jeff Sheppard, put on a show on ESPN. He was a top story trending on Twitter, and for good reason. With the St. Peters loss in the rearview mirror, UK basketball’s future is looking bright.
Cal has hit the recruiting trail hard and fast. I think he’s felt the heat for the first time in his tenure at Kentucky. Deep down, he knows his job is on the line. So far, he’s pulling out all the stops, and redemption could be in his future.
I don’t believe Sheppard will be a Kentucky boy that sees the floor in the last two minutes of a blow-out. This kid is the real deal. His dad is one of the most liked Wildcats of all time.
My dad recently spoke with Jeff Sheppard and told him that my Papaw said he had the best turnaround jumper he’s ever seen. The Sheppards are humble folk. True blue-bloods.
Current players Daimion Collins and Jacob Toppin are looking to have break-out years. Toppin’s should have been last year if his minutes weren’t given to Keion Brooks. With Wheeler at point and Tshiebwe supposedly hittin’ treys in practice, I’m excited to see our revenge season.
We don’t have to wait long to get a glimpse of our new talent. The Cats will be in the Bahamas with their first game Aug. 10. The last time we were there, Malik Monk blew our minds. We were one shot away from the Final Four at the end of that year.
Hopefully, we ball out and none of the Wildcats catch COVID at the beach.