***They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I guess that means that there is not much beauty in the eyes of scouts for a 6’5 225 pounder that played at a mid major and spent the majority of his minutes playing inside at power forward. But let me ask you this question can you look a little deeper than that? Maybe go beyond just the surface.

For four years Drake Reed has started every single basketball game for Austin Peay State University.  And on most nights it seemed as though he played every single minute.  As a sophomore in the Ohio Valley Conference Drake led Austin Peay to the regular season title while earning conference player of the year. Losing in the conference tournament title game on a buzzer beater he took his team to the NIT.  The following year he led his team to both regular season and tournament titles and the NCAA. The last two years his efforts have been overshadowed by the tremendous scoring outbursts of UT-Martins Lester Hudson. Even though Drake and Austin Peay have a 5-1 record against Martin during that time. Their only loss coming in a classic overtime game on ESPN2 where Drake had 35 points and 18 rebounds.

See Drake Reed’s story is simple. There was no horrible upbringing. He didn’t have to walk over dead bodies to get to school. He didn’t come from a broken home. He didn’t do two extra years of prep school cause he needed 6 A’s in 3 months. There was no street agent that needed to be paid off, no runners or entourages. He just played at the local public school Northeast High. Because they had a helluva high school coach Al Cooper (a Don Meyer product) who taught him how to play the game properly. You know those fundamentals all you guys say are lacking in most players. He has all that.  From there he chose the local school and legendary coach Dave Loos at Austin Peay.  And turned in one of the all time great careers surpassing former Governors and NBA players Bubba Wells and Trenton Hassell in most every statistical category. But the most important statistic is he did what his coach told him was best for the team every night. Did what it took to win every night. Guard the best player, play inside, come outside, get rebounds, get buckets whatever it took.  When his coach asked him to switch positions cause it was best for the team. He didn’t pout and say it would hurt his stock. He moved, they won, and they went dancing.

Drake was one of the top scorers in the country ranking in the top 15 in Division 1 basketball. A popular “draft guru” refuses to put his stats on his site because he “evaluated” him as an undersized power forward. He has a right to his opinion. Maybe he is an undersized power forward. Or maybe he can play on the wing. But he does deserve an opportunity to show he can do that in a workout. In one of the weakest drafts in the history of the NBA you mean to tell me he cant get a chance in a workout? That’s ridiculous. Anybody who they played in college he got the job done. He clocked in every night. He didn’t skip class (graduated in 3 ½ years), he didn’t smoke dope, beat up his girlfriend, or get so much as a speeding ticket. All he did everyday was work on his game and go to class. While doing what his coach instructed him to do. There has to be room for a guy like that to get an opportunity. Don’t believe his work ethic or his toughness call his coach, or any opposing coach in his league. That’s not enough call an out of conference opponent. If you don’t like that call his mentor Xavier McDaniel.

You can’t measure his heart, toughness, or skill level with a ruler. He is one of the toughest players in the country also one of the most fundamentally sound. I would bet you a steak dinner that if you put him in a UFC cage with any college player this year he would win in the first round on strikes. He is a warrior and you can’t measure that on paper. I’m not saying he is the next NBA All Star, or that he is a lotto pick. But what I am saying is that he deserves a chance, a workout, an opportunity to play in the summer league. And if you give him that shot. I’ll bet on Drake. Thanks for your time.

Signed- Carl Reed

Until next time, remember. It’s not my report, it’s Washington's Report-Sent by Carl.

Thanks Carl -this is an open page: Let me get your take on the situation. Does Drake Reed deserve a chance? Holla at me. kutwashington@yahoo.com

Philippians 4:13 (NIV) – “ I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”