Ranked as one of the Top-100 players in the country early on in the 2022 class, Tarris Reed Jr. certainly has earned and deserved the early attention with what he has shown on the court. A 6’8 prospect that is expanding his game on the court has the attention already of several high-major programs and more could be coming, as he is looking to get a better understanding of what he is looking for in a school down the road.
A look back at the season; Transitioning to a new position
Chaminade finished with a strong 24-6 overall record and Reed Jr. was a huge part of it, averaging 15 points and eight rebounds per game. Only a sophomore, Reed really was able to show that he can be a dynamic player both inside and out, giving a glimpse of what he could be in the future.
“The season went well,” Reed said. “I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone from my freshman season to my sophomore year. I transitioned from a 5 to a 4 over the summer. I was able to dominate inside and outside, shooting and being able to attack off the dribble.”
Moving from a true big man to a 4-man was a big deal for Reed’s game. It allowed him to put pressure on the defense, not knowing how to guard him as a 6’8 prospect. The transition allowed him to showcase his ability to still dominate down low but also step back and knock down shots or attack off the dribble.
But as he continues to transition his game and expand his role, there are still areas that he is continuing to work on overall in his game.
“I’m working on expanding my ball handling and my jump shot,” Reed told Phenom Hoops. “Working on becoming a consistent shooter from the post, mid-range, and from three. I need to be capable of doing more on the perimeter; creating my own shot as well as creating shots for my teammates.”
Reed’s discusses offers, interests, and past visits
Right now, several Midwest schools have made Reed a priority early on in his recruitment, as he already has offers from Kansas State, St. Louis, Missouri, Nebraska, and UMKC. With the continuing expansion of his game, programs have enjoyed what they have seen with his game, knowing that he can do and provide a lot more on the court and that he is continuing to work on getting better in those same areas. It is also why his recruitment could just be starting.
So far, Reed has been able to make three visits to different schools; Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas. We dove into what each visit was like and what stood out from each.
“I went to Missouri last September on the 21st. It was honestly a great experience. I got a chance to watch the team practice. Coach Martin is strict as a coach and that is what I’m looking for. The visit was a fun experience.
I also went to Nebraska in September. I went up for Late Night and it was a great time. Coach Hoiberg introduce himself and made a great impression. He told us a lot about him, playing in the NBA. After, we went around to the different facilities and had a great time.
For Kansas, I went up on October 4th I believe. I went up for Late Night and the atmosphere was electric. It was a fun experience and we got a chance to talk to Coach Self and toured the campus.”
With a visit to Kansas already under his belt and getting a first glance of what they have to offer, the Jayhawks are just one of a few schools that have expressed interest in Reed so far, as well as Purdue, Iowa, and Oklahoma. He also would like to take visits to Kansas State, UMKC, and a full visit to St. Louis down the road.
When Reed goes on these visits, he continues to get a better look at the school’s environment, the facilities, the academics, and the coaching style that he would be playing under; he wants to build a great relationship and trust with a coach.