Prospect's Reed shows power against St. Joseph

Kevin Reed had a surprising chance to make a big freshman impression.

The Prospect varsity basketball team had a need for Reed with nearly half of its players still helping the football team to the 2005 Class 7A state title.

This gave Reed a chance to show his stuff against perennial power St. Joseph. He drove to the left, spun around and put up a hook shot.

But Reed wasn't shooting over another little freshman. He was trying to take it to 6-foot-7 standout Evan Turner.

"I got stuffed," Reed said with a grin of his meeting with the all-stater who is now a sophomore starter at Ohio State. "It freaked me out."

It was also a boost for Reed even though, as expected, he returned to play with guys his own age back on the freshman team.

"It gave me a lot of confidence," Reed said, "to see the coaches felt I could play at that level that early."

Now the 6-foot-7 senior is entering his third full varsity season. The versatile Daily Herald all-area pick as a junior fills a variety of needs as the Knights are looking to accomplish even more after sharing the Mid-Suburban East title last year.

"He's put himself in position to be the type of player he's been," said second-year Prospect coach John Camardella, "but even at a higher level this year."

Reed, who played point guard for his dad until the seventh grade, showcased those skills by averaging 3 assists a game last year. He also averaged 13 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocked shots.

What happens with those numbers this year isn't too important to Reed. What matters is pushing the Knights beyond last season's 63-56 regional final loss to Evanston, which finished third in the state in Class 4A.

"I'm so sick of doing well in the regular season and losing in the playoffs," Reed said of two straight years of early exits in basketball and volleyball. "I have expectations for myself but more for the team."

Prospect has won only two regional titles since its last 20-win season of 1984-85. Achieving those feats may require Reed to think more about himself after averaging a mere 9 shots a game last season.

"We have to push him to be assertive sometimes," Camardella said. "It's him realizing sometimes how good he is because he's such a team player."

But don't expect Reed to be firing wildly out of double- and triple-teams because that's not his style.

Reed has no problem firing a pass to Jason Leblebijian or Joe LaTulip for an open 3-pointer or to junior Nsenzi Salasini for a dunk.

"I don't really care if I get more shots," Reed said. "I like having the ball in my hands because I like creating for people.

"If I take bad shots I feel uncomfortable because everyone will look at me and say, 'What are you doing?'"

Reed has done a lot to have more of an impact after seeing spot duty primarily off the bench as a sophomore. He increased his strength and worked on his low-post game.

Reed's all-around skills are attracting Division III college interest. Camardella thinks Reed, who scored 31 on the ACT and wants to study accounting or business, would be a perfect fit at that level.

"Kevin can go anywhere in the country in Division III," said Camardella, an all-area player at Hersey who had a solid career at Illinois Wesleyan. "I see him playing and being an incredible player at the Division III level."

Reed's main concern right now is lifting Prospect to a higher level.

"We're trying to make a name for ourselves," Reed said. "We have a lot of really good talent and I think we could go pretty far."

Which would be a long way from where Reed started.