A global pandemic is not enough to stop 2020 NBA Draft Prospect Paul Reed. He's training harder than ever.
As the 6-foot-9 forward sat in his home in Orlando, Fla. on May 22, wearing a DePaul Blue Demons shirt, Reed said in a virtual interview, “I want to go through a program that’s going to play me and help me develop my game and help me get better so that I could reach my full potential. That’s my real goal-- to reach my full potential.”
Reed declared for the NBA draft in March. He dominated his third season at DePaul, averaging 15.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
“I just thought it was the right time,” Reed said in response to why he chose to enter the draft and leave DePaul. “I felt like I showed the NBA what I could do, and I didn’t want to wait a whole other year of me getting older… so I just decided to trust myself.”
He hasn’t let anything disrupt his grind. “I’ve been working out three times a day,” said Reed. “I go in the morning, then I go in the afternoon to do strength and conditioning and then I go again at night to get more shots up.”
Reed thanks DePaul for providing him the resources and exposure that he needed. His freshman year taught him a lot. “I wasn’t playing," Reed said. "You know, it just taught me to be a good teammate and support, even when I’m not the one-- like the man. So I had to support my teammates… and be humble.”
“Being in college for three years, I grew a brotherhood with my teammates...I’m going to miss them the most.”
Despite the rough 2019-2020 season for the Blue Demons, Reed was a walking double-double machine with 18 this past season. On the defensive end, he was an exceptional shot-blocker.
“I’ve developed mentally,” said Reed. “I’ve matured more. On the court, I got stronger and more physical. My shot got better.”
His length and defensive impact make him one of the best defensive players in his draft class.
“At the end of the day, I know that I’m going to be with God regardless and he’s going to guide me,” said Reed.
“I want everyone to know that I’m going to represent for DePaul, for my hometown Orlando-- I’m going to put on for the city. And Chicago.”
Additional links from Bella Michaels on DePaul Basketball:
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