The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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60 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2021 COMMITMENT PROFILE BY CHRIS BALAS B asketball recruiting is not for the faint of heart — for fans, but especially coaches. What's true one day might not be true the next, and there are usually twists and turns that make for anxious moments. A few years ago, John Beilein's Michigan team was on the verge of landing four-star D.J. Carton before the guard added a last-minute visit to Ohio State. He shocked everyone and pledged to the Buckeyes shortly thereafter. A few years later, Michigan head coach Juwan Howard got one back for the program when he stole 2022 four-star big man Tarris Reed in much the same way. "The week before, I went to [visit] Ohio State, and initially that's where I wanted to go," Reed said. "But my family and other people talked me into taking a visit to Michigan, so that's what I did. … I went up to Michigan and fell in love." Certain to rise in the updated Ri- vals.com rankings from his current spot at No. 90, the 6-8, 220-pound Reed, a standout at Branson (Mo.) Link Year Academy, joins four-star point guard Dug McDaniel of Fairfax (Va.) Paul VI in the class. The Wolver- ines figure to take one or two more in 2022. Reed was essentially down to four schools until the recent Nike Peach Jam AAU event, where he lit it up for 13.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game with an array of jumpers, post moves and offensive rebounds. He helped lead Mokan Elite AAU to a 5-2 record that week and played with a high motor on both ends. Jamie Shaw of Rivals listed him as one of five breakout performers at the event. "Reed showcased a diverse offen- sive game that was filled with face-up jumpers, rip throughs and finishes, and back-to-the-basket footwork and touch," Shaw reported. "He was the most consistent player for his Mokan 17u team in the bubble." The All-Metro Player of the Year in St. Louis, Reed averaged 21.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. He would have elicited even greater interest had more coaches been able to watch him in person, Mokan program director Matt Suther said, but just about everyone was interested this summer. Reed proved more versatile offen- sively than some expected and was one of the best rebounders on the Nike EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League) circuit, per ProInsight.com's Andrew Slater. "He played very well at Peach Jam," Slater said. "He really kind of distinguished himself. To a degree, people maybe were underestimating him on a national level. His perfor- mance, his team's performance … it just showed he is definitely worthy of that Michigan offer, that high-cal- iber interest. He belongs at a top-tier program. "He is one of the best offensive re- bounders in the class. That probably distinguishes him, and he just fit into a team role … just executed at a high level in overall team ball, and they were winning." Shaw watched him plenty this summer and saw a much more ver- satile offensive player than many ex- pected. "He's really boosted his stock this summer, especially with the offensive presence he has," Shaw said. "He has great hands, a big, strong frame. … He's got all that. He's very skilled with the ball, can shoot it. I saw him mak- ing pick-and-pop threes, trail [on the break] threes and that type of stuff." He can also put it on the floor for a dribble or two, Shaw added, but he and Slater both observed him at his best in the low post. "He can go over both shoulders, but he's really good over the left shoulder," Shaw continued. "He's a good 'area' rebounder." "It was hard to tell how good a shooter he is," Slater added, not- ing he didn't see Reed take as many jumpers as Shaw did. "They re- ally play him mostly in the post. He didn't shoot great from the free throw line. "But he's strong, able to produce and very efficient down low. I don't know if he'll be able to stretch de- fenses, but he's going to rebound the ball and has a blue-collar mentality. He's smart with the ball and didn't turn the ball over maybe as much as he had in the past." Both Slater and Shaw estimate Reed is closer to 6-9 than his re- ported 6-8 or 6-10, but both believe it's a moot point. He can play, each said, and will get a huge bump in the rankings. "He's got to get his weight in check, and his conditioning, but he's not soft by any means," Shaw said. "He's a good overall player who had a very consistent summer. I think he exceeded expectations — that might be best way to say it." ❏ Four-Star Big Man Tarris Reed Commits To Michigan Reed is ranked as the nation's No. 90 overall prospect and No. 15 center by Rivals.com, but is sure to rise even higher when the listings are updated. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM