(January 6th) This week, we’re going to specifically highlight Tarris Reed’s free-throw percentage. Early in his college career, this was a major issue, to the point that hacking strategies were a concern. So far this season, however, Tarris Reed ranks in the 80th percentile. His performance at the line isn’t just not a concern – it’s an outright strength, especially when paired with his ability to draw so much contact inside (87th percentile in FTr). Effectively, Reed has done a fantastic job of picking up all of the easy points. He was already good from two-point range, but now he’s finishing plays when he’s fouled too.
Even moreso than the direct strategic implications, though, it really speaks to Tarris Reed’s work ethic that he can put the focus on something that is under his control, grind at it, and improve immensely. His worth ethic has always been one of his most praised traits, and it very clearly shows up here.
(December 12th) Tarris Reed’s profile shows a player who is, in some ways exactly who we have always known he was. We know he does all the traditional big man stuff excellently. He rebounds the ball (100th percentile) at an elite level, protects the rim (93rd percentile in block rate), and finishes efficiently around the basket when the ball comes to him (99th percentile in two-point percentage, 98th percentile in true shooting percentage). Absolutely any team would be lucky to have a player who did exactly those things at the elite level he does them.
But Reed has shown off even more this season – he’s passing the ball at an above average level (69th percentile) and has also started picking up steals, though three of those came in a single game against Maryland Eastern Shore. There’s still a lot of season left to go, but it’s difficult to imagine someone like Reed who does all of the things that NBA teams will ask of him at an excellent level, and even some things they don’t, slipping through NBA detection.