Prospect Spotlight: Reed Wilkinson (2017)
A 6’3 forward, St. James 2017 Reed Wilkinson says his game is a little slower than others as he uses patience to see the court and create space for his shot and to drive to the basket.
Playing on one of the state’s most talented teams alongside Zach Thornhill, Will McKee, Keenan Fitzmorris, and others, Wilkinson and St. James Academy are already off to a 3-0 start and have high expectations for the season.
“This season we have a lot of great talent returning, I know that if we all play hard, smart and unselfish this season will be one for the history books,” Wilkinson said. “We all have good chemistry which is a major factor, and this helps us to be able to trust each other more and to share the ball easier to make plays happen to help us win, I’m very excited about this upcoming season for our team.”
Wilikinson said he is excited to be playing alongside Nebraska Omaha commit Zach Thornhill, a talented 6’4 guard.
“He’s a great guy who has a great jump shot and can jump out of the gym, he’s fun to watch and to also play with so I’m happy to have this opportunity to play with him,” Wilkinson said.
This summer, Wilkinson gained a lot of muscle weight, going from 165 to 205 from June to September, and has improved his leaping ability and jumper shot. He spent the summer playing his grassroots basketball first with the Kansas City Keys and later with Pursuit Academy.
Wilkinson said he currently does not have any offers, but says improvements in his ability to dribble, shoot and finish with contact better has drawn some interest from smaller schools, including Mid-America Nazarene.
Wilkinson says the biggest influence in his game has been his trainer and friend Jonathan Anaekwe.
“He really taught me these last few years how to fight through adversity and to never take any days off with anything, and because of this I’ve been able to get bigger, faster, stronger, and better at my basketball skills from an all around standpoint,” Wilkinson said.
On the court, Wilkinson says he enjoys watching the Kansas Jayhawks and Devonte Graham, “Mostly because he’s able to see the court unlike anyone else and is able to make plays happen by seeing what he is up against, also has a really nice shot,” Wilkinson said.