Five-star prospects are becoming the norm for Will Wade's LSU basketball program.
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The Tigers' head coach has reeled in at least one five-star since 2018, including Naz Reid, Emmitt Williams, Trendon Watford, and Cameron Thomas.
Add five-star center Efton Reid to the list.
The Richmond, Virginia native is bringing a traditional down low game to Baton Rouge.
Efton Reid Highlights
Top 25 2021 prospect Efton Reid averaged 16.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG & 4.5 BPG this weekend and put on an absolute clinic on the block today. Impressive footwork and array of moves. Great vocal leader and hard to convert on inside.@efton15 @COACHMYERS5 @BobGallager #RHMilitaryCircuit pic.twitter.com/n8rSwE2NDD
— Trent Markwith (@TMarkwith14) January 31, 2021
Sporting a 6-foot-11 and 225-pound frame, Reid lives in the paint. He excels at establishing position and capitalizing off mismatches. Once he has the ball, he has an arsenal of post moves that's accentuated by a go-to baby hook.
Reid's footwork separates him from other big-man prospects. He loves setting up the drop step and emphatically finishing with a dunk. He uses his bread-and-butter moves to set up counters including an opposite shoulder hook and a close bank shot. He's patient, decisive, and protects the ball.
Efton Reid, draft eligible in 2021 NBA Draft, has always intrigued me. Big time move right here against a giant of a young man in UCF bound Jalen Hayes. Watch how Reid just moves the 250+ lbs out of his way. Wow. @IMGABasketball @DraftExpress pic.twitter.com/YWkxMdfjgG
— Justin Young (@JustinDYoung) February 23, 2021
The newest LSU Tiger has the potential to stretch the floor with a nice looking shot from beyond the arc. This skill can be further developed to open up more scoring opportunities.
He's not a defensive force, but he can hold his own.
Efton Reid Commits to LSU
Before all else I wanna thank God for everything that he has done for me and all that he is going to do for me.I want to thank my Circle for giving me the support and guidance during this journey. All I got to say is I’m Ready to get to Work ‼️‼️‼️#bootup 🐯 pic.twitter.com/M5yzs0eTxf
— Efton (@efton15) May 9, 2021
RELATED: America's No. 1 HS Basketball Recruit Commits to College Powerhouse
Reid is the 24th-ranked player in the 2021 college basketball recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He's the third-ranked center.
Before making his college decision, he had offers from Louisville, Virginia, Drake, Florida State, Georgetown, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, NC State, Ohio State, Old Dominion, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, VCU, and Virginia Tech. North Carolina and Kentucky showed interest but never offered.
He took official visits to Louisville and Virginia prior to signing with the Tigers. The Buckeyes were also pursuing hard to get him to Columbus.
Reid started his high school career at The Steward School in Richmond, Virginia, and finished at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
The center is the fourth member of LSU's seventh-ranked recruiting class. He joins four-stars Jerrell Colbert and Brandon Murray along with three-star Bradley Ezewiro. The Tigers also added four players from the NCAA Transfer Portal.
The fresh crop should make an immediate impact and help the team compete for an SEC title.
Traditional big men have slowly dwindled out of the modern game. Reid has the skill set to develop into a hybrid of the old school and new school. He should take a lesson out of Naz Reid's playbook — a similarly skilled player who's developed a consistent three-point shot in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves. If Efton Reid polishes his shot and works on his athleticism, he'll have a good chance of hearing his name called at the NBA Draft.
A layup is always welcome, and Efton Reid's repertoire gives plenty of clean looks at the easiest shot in the game.
