The Toughening of J.J. Reed (2018)
The versatile, enigmatic athlete known as J.J. Reed continues to expand the breadth of his skillset.
Despite exceptional intangibles, Reed needed to polish his game, and turn his many decent skills into a few specialties. Last year Reed was good at dribbling…for a tall, young, wing, but not an evasive slasher. He was springy and energetic, but not relentless. Reed obviously had a shooting touch, but he didn’t consistently string together a flurry of outside shots. He rebounded well, but didn’t often crash into opponents desperately clawing for the rock.
The toughening of J.J. Reed is noticeable though. He has taken more ownership on his high school team, committing to defense at numerous points on the floor.
Maybe Reed’s time playing football for Paducah Tilghman helped him embrace physicality.
He is finished through contact.
“That was the main goal going to football in the first place,” said father Jerome Reed Sr. “It was to get that attitude that, ‘I like that contact.’
Reed’s shift is apparent. He regularly leads his team in rebounding.
“The last six games he has lived at the free throw line,” said Reed Sr. “He is going to the hole like he could.”
Kent State reached out. Western Kentucky is always around, hovering. Samford was his first offer and they are still extending that offer. Wright State is involved. A more detailed recruiting update on J.J. was recently published on PHK.
The next step in Reed’s maturation will be speeding up his game in the open floor. According to Reed Sr., J.J. is going to run with Jets-Ramey United for the forthcoming AAU season.
Think Courtney Ramey (PrepHoopsMO #2), Torrence Watson (#3), and Gaven Pinkley (#10). It is a very strong, emerging AAU program with a respected teacher of the game at the helm in Terrell Ramey.
This program will help Reed’s impressive agility convert into an even better open floor player. Both Ramey’s make players better. Courtney has wonderful height to see the floor and he likes involving teammates. Coach Ramey has brought along Pinkley wonderfully as a college PF.
Reed has made many strides. It will be interesting to see the maturation continue.