As the radio color analyst for the Saint Louis University men’s basketball team, I have been able to watch the emergence of sophomore center Willie Reed as a force in college basketball. The wiry 6’9” Reed showed up at SLU last year as a thin bundle of energy and athleticism.
Now, as a sophomore with a year of experience and about 20 more pounds, Willie is blossoming into quite a collegiate player before our very eyes.
Through the first nine games of the season, Reed is averaging 14.2 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks while shooting 56 percent from the field, leading the 6-3 Billikens in all of those categories. He is also the team leader in dunks as he loves to play way above the rim. Reed is also developing his low-post moves around the basket as well as some nifty moves off the dribble for a big man.
Reed has also become a model of consistency in his efforts and production. He has recorded five “double-doubles” this season, including 14 points and 13 rebounds against Iowa State and it’s All-Big XII forward Craig Brackins, and 20 points and 15 rebounds against Notre Dame and its All-American center Luke Harangody.
As much fun as it’s been to watch Willie blossom like this, it’s going to be even more enjoyable to watch this energetic young man continue to develop as he is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential.
5 of 6 for Stars
McCluer North High’s boys basketball team had a busy week in winning five consecutive games in six days. The Stars won the Troy/People’s Bank Invitational last week with a 78-67 victory over Columbia Rock Bridge, the No. 1 ranked team in Missouri Class 5. In between their three games at Troy, the Stars also defeated Oakville 68-55. In beating Oakville and Rock Bridge, North defeated two Final Four participants from the 2009 state tournament. On Saturday, the Stars finished their busy week with a 50-44 victory over Marion (Ill.) in the Marion Invitational Shootout. Senior point guard Ollie Roundtree was huge all week for the Stars, including a masterpiece performance against Rock Bridge with 20 points, six rebounds and 10 assists.
Hunt’s Hornets
A shout-out goes to former SLU Billiken player Phillip Hunt, who is doing a nice job as the first-year coach at Harris-Stowe State University. Hunt has the Hornets rolling at 7-4 with a four-game winning streak. Hunt and assistant coach Justin Mosley have done an excellent job of creating some excitement around the men’s basketball program at HSSU. Phillip was always one of my favorites.
(You can follow Earl Austin Jr. on his basketball blog at stlouisbasketball.com. You can also follow him on Facebook and twitter.com/earlaustinjr. His book, You Might Need a Jacket: Hilarious Stories of Wacky Sports Parents” is available at various St. Louis locations).
