Monticello — Note: This article was originally published in The Daily Leader, a
Brookhaven, Mississippi publication, earlier this month. It is reprinted
with permission.
Brookhaven Academy's standout senior forward Jake Reed played for the
South AA-AAA boys in Mississippi Association of Independent School's
All-Star Basketball Game earlier this month.
Reed, a 6'3, 200 pounder, was an impact player for Coach Dale Watts as
the Cougars of Brookhaven Academy marched to an unprecedented sixth
consecutive Class AA state championship. He averaged 16.8 points, 6
rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals per game.
Serving as treasurer for his school's National Honor Society, Reed is
anticipating a college basketball career. He is on Copiah-Lincoln Community
College's protected list of district players. Mississippi College men's
basketball coach Don Lofton has Reed high on his wish list too.
Looking to the future, Reed said he is considering a career in sports
medicine. His favorite high school subject is math.
Winning a sixth straight state title meant a lot to the Cougars. Reed
said, "Winning the state championship was sweet, especially after we lost
South State to Bowling Green."
Bowling Green met the Cougars again in the state title game, and Reed
sparked his team to victory, along with fellow senior Jamison Powell and
underclassmen Sidney Chaffin, Christian Keene and Brock Smith.
The Cougars got off to a slow start as Powell and Keene were late
arrivals from the football team that marched to a perfect 15-0 record and
claimed the state title November 27.
"It took us a while to find our identity but we were starting to play
well by the Christmas tournament," said Reed. "We were an unselfish team."
He said Watts was an exceptional coach. "He has a great knowledge of the
game. He can make adjustments and help us play better."
Watts has coached many exceptional players during his lengthy career and
Reed is in that unique category.
"Jake is one of the best kids that I've coached. He really works hard at
the game. He's probably one of the most versatile players for us. I could
play him at the point or any of the other spots on the floor."
"He knows the fundamentals of the game," Watts continued. "He has a
great attitude and a great work ethic. In the course of the year, he did a
very good job leading us. He did a lot of maturing and growing up early in
the season when we were short-handed," because of the football playoffs.
A Kentucky native, Reed has deep basketball roots and fervently follows
the UK Wildcats, plus the Boston Celtics and UK product Rajon Rondo.
He moved to Franklin County with his parents, Tim and Teresa Reed, from
Monticello, Ky. when he was in the eighth grade. His father is a district
ranger and works in the Homochitto National Forest. Reed said his parents
are moving back to Kentucky after he graduates in May.