SLU Recruit Reed Shines in Showcase

Willie Reed has a new high school and gained some new fans after playing in the Rameybasketball.com Battle 4 The Rankings Showcase on Saturday at Forest Park Community College in St. Louis.

Reed, who committed to Saint Louis University in June, recently switched from Bishop Miege High School in Shawnee Mission, Kan., to Milestone Christian Academy in Kansas City for his senior year.

“The reason I switched was because at Bishop Miege the financing was just too much for me,” Reed said. “Milestone a high school where I can get a good education and its closer to my home than Bishop Miege.”

The 6-foot-11 center has already been at Milestone for two weeks.

“It’s like college — a lot of testing and a lot of work,” Reed said. “You get a lot of individual study. It’s hard, but it should get me ready for Saint Louis.”

Basketball-wise, Reed already looks like he’s ready to put on a Billikens jersey and contribute minutes in the post for coach Rick Majerus.

This was Reed’s first appearance in St. Louis since committing to SLU and he didn’t disappoint the fans and onlookers who were getting a first glimpse at his versatile and athletic game.

Playing on a team with fellow Saint Louis U. recruit Femi John, the long and lanky Reed dominated around the basket on the offensive end, throwing down several dunks off alley-oops, in transition and off feeds from driving teammates. Defensively, Reed blocked and altered many shots with his long arms.

Reed’s squad, which also included strong O’Fallon (Ill.) wing Kenny Leverette, lost John to a turned ankle in the second game of the day, but still managed to win all three games it played. Reed was named the Most Outstanding Player for the Class of 2008 Division.

“He’s very athletic,” said Terrell Ramey, the St. Louis Falcons coach and event organizer. “He’s a good poised kid. Great upside. I think he’ll do well at SLU. I like the way he finishes around the basket. He has good hands.”

St. Louis fans will get another look at Reed in December. Milestone Christian Academy is scheduled to compete in the Midwest Showdown Shootout at University of Missouri-St. Louis on Dec. 8.

The event showcased several of the best players from the St. Louis area. Among the Class of 2008 participants were Southern Illinois commitment Anthony Booker and Western Kentucky commitment Ron Waller and Division I prospects like Jesse Perry, Dezman Hickman and Leverette.

The Most Outstanding Player for the Class of 2009 was Jerome Jones, a 6-6 forward at Miller Career Academy who also participated in the Nike Hoop Jamboree earlier in the summer. Jones has impressive athleticism and attacked the rim repeatedly in his team’s three games.

Two of the top 2009 prospects were 6-8 forward Richard Anderson, who recently transferred from Beaumont High School in St. Louis to Milestone Christian (Reed’s new school) in Kansas City, and 6-10 center Will Clark, who plays at Summit High School in the St. Louis suburbs and is coming into his own as a basketball prospect.

The Most Outstanding Player for the Class of 2010 Division was Wendel Crowder, a 6-1 guard from Cardinal Ritter. The Most Outstanding Player for the Class of 2011 was Jordan Wilson, a 5-10 guard who will be a freshman at Hazelwood Central in suburban St. Louis this season.