Advertisement

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Reed signs with Kansas

By Gary Bedore

Advertisement

Calling it a "dream come true," Burlington High senior guard Tyrel Reed on Wednesday afternoon signed a national basketball letter of intent with Kansas University.

Reed, who said "KU is the place I always wanted to be; I always dreamed of running out that tunnel (at Allen Fieldhouse)," indicated he received a phone call from KU coach Bill Self at about 8 p.m. Tuesday, a day before today's conclusion of the fall signing period.

"He told me it was a go, if I wanted to be a Jayhawk, I could," said Reed, who gobbled up the offer.

Reed, who started attending KU's summer basketball camp when he was 6-years-old, chose the Jayhawks over Missouri, Oklahoma, Missouri State, Stanford and others.

"We're very excited about signing Tyrel," Self said. "He is a 6-3 combo guard that can play both on the ball and off the ball because he is an excellent shooter. We've been recruiting Tyrel for the past three years, and because of our limited scholarship situation had been encouraging him to sign in the spring. We felt there would be a scholarship available then. Since we did not sign a wing in the fall, we did everything we could to try and convince Tyrel to sign now. This is a great signing for us, an exciting day for Tyrel, his family and everyone that supports Kansas basketball."

Reed said KU's Self had "emphasized" there would be an offer awaiting him in the spring if he elected to wait that long.

"I trusted him it'd work out. It's nice to get it done before the season, just go out and play," Reed said.

As a junior, Reed led the Wildcats to a perfect 23-0 regular season and sub-state record, along with helping his team earn the top seed at the Class 3A state tournament. Burlington was upset in the first round by Rossville, but it didn't overshadow Reed's stellar junior season, in which he averaged 22.6 points, 6.1 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 steals per game. He then played extensively throughout the offseason with the Kansas City Pump-N-Run, teaming up with other top area recruits such as Travis Releford (Roeland Park Miege) and George Goode (Raytown (Mo.) South, committed to Louisville).

Reed ranks as the No. 99 recruit in the class of 2007 by rivals.com, and is also tapped as the No. 14 point guard prospect in the class.

"Tyrel has only lost two games in his (high school) basketball career," Self said. "He lost in the state tournament last year at Burlington and I know his goal is to win a state championship this year. Stacy, his father, has done a great job coaching him and preparing him for the next level. We are excited to get another coach's son in the program."

For more on this story, read tomorrow's Lawrence Journal-Word.

More like this

Comments

kc_wildfire (anonymous) says...

Good deal!

Does anyone know where we stand on Releford?

November 15, 2006 at 3:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rgreene (Ryan Greene) says...

From what I've heard through the grapevine, he's still pretty wide open, being just a junior.

November 15, 2006 at 3:57 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kcmostwanted (anonymous) says...

Good deal...Nice to know that Reed is a Jayhawk now!!.. I have a feeling He's always going to be compared to Hinrich though...but it's still nice to see more talent added to a very talented Jayhawk team

November 15, 2006 at 3:59 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

CasperCorps (anonymous) says...

How tall is this new kid? And how does Burlington basketball compare to other programs in the country?.. Could they hang with 3A schools in other states?

November 15, 2006 at 4:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rgreene (Ryan Greene) says...

Burlington's a pretty consistent small-class basketball school. They won state in 2003, and last year alongside Reed had an all-stater in Geoff Reeves, who now plays in the Ivy League at Cornell...And Tyrel is 6-foot-3.

November 15, 2006 at 4:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

DSommersby (anonymous) says...

Congrats and welcome to Tyrell Reed. I love the fact he grew up dreaming of being a Jayhawk and now he gets to live the dream.

November 15, 2006 at 4:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

klineisanazi (anonymous) says...

Rivals lists Reed (6'3") as a four-star player, and in its top-100 (#99) in next year's class. Missouri, Oklahoma, Stanford and Missouri St. also offered him a scholarship.

November 15, 2006 at 6:03 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

actorman (anonymous) says...

You can never go wrong having someone who's from the state, has dreamed of being a Jayhawk his whole life, and is a coach's son. Somehow I can't quite picture a "C.J. situation" occurring with Reed.

November 15, 2006 at 6:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

mitch (anonymous) says...

Talent, strong work ethic, the dual purpose guard that makes the 'Hawks tough to defend, a coach's son with the court smarts that enhance his athletic prowess, and a Kansan who started in summer camps at age 6. When he runs out of the Fieldhouse tunnel for the first time, he won't be the only one filled with excitement.

November 15, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

tippy (anonymous) says...

"From what I've heard through the grapevine, he's still pretty wide open, being just a junior."

He's a senior this year.

November 15, 2006 at 6:45 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Cornfed (anonymous) says...

LOL Congrats to Reed.......I heard he went on his KSUck visit wearing a Hinrich jersey........also do know Roy was in Burlington to watch him last year.

Also makes the whole town love KU and you have to love that;)

November 15, 2006 at 6:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Fighter6580 (anonymous) says...

all I have is one thing to say....Does anyone remember John Crider?

November 15, 2006 at 6:58 p.m. ( | suggest removal )