Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 14, 1994 TAG: 9401140144
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RINER LENGTH: Medium
Generations of farm boys have quaked in dread of such disciplinary excursions, but for a Reed, such trips involve a seminar and not a hickory switch.
Reed is enjoying a highly-successful turn on the Auburn High varsity for reasons in equal measure of talent, commendable work ethic, and advice from dear old Dad.
Basil, himself an Auburn player years ago, got young Jon out shooting hoops at the barn when he was no more than 5 or 6 years old. Through the years, Jon has persisted playing with the elder Reed and his pals.
"He tells me that basketball is 90 percent thinking and 10 percent physical ability," said Jon Reed, a 6-foot junior guard for the Eagles. "He's always telling me not to force the ball so much. He's like a coach at home."
Instructional visits to the barn must be growing more infrequent these days. The younger Reed completed a week when he scored 42 points in victories over Fort Chiswell and Grayson County.
In the 85-80 victory over upset-minded Fort Chiswell, Reed scored 25 points, hit all 12 of his free throws, grabbed six rebounds, and had three steals and three assists. As the Eagles were beating Grayson County 65-57, he sank seven of 10 field goal attempts, both of his free throws, snagged six rebounds, produced four steals, and dished out three assists.
Reed is the leading scorer on the team with a 19.3 per game average is shooting 52.7 percent from the floor - including 47.4 percent from 3-point range - and a sizzling 93.8 percent from the foul line.
"Jon is not the guy you want to foul at the end of the game," Auburn coach Kevin Harris said.
Reed attributed his accuracy to a fundamental motivation.
"The more shots I miss, the fewer points I score," he said. "And I hate that."
Of course, none of this happened by accident. Reed has used his time well, especially during the summer.
"All I do is play ball and lay around," he said.
How he can manage such a leisurely life while living on a farm is for others to ponder. Even though he may be a relative stranger to a hay baler and pitchfork, Reed buckles down when he's working on his game.
"Every day during the summer, I'll take 100 jump shots from all over the place and 50 foul shots," he said. "I'll have to hit at least 80 percent of my jump shots and 45 of the foul shots or I'll stop and do it all over again. One day I got in a slump and it almost killed me, but I stayed with it."
Such diligence has paid dividends.
"Jon's a pretty good shooter," Harris said. "He's also a good scorer. I've seen him fabricate some pretty amazing shots in an attempt to get the almighty two points."
Keep in mind, that such shots are only amazing when the shots go in. A lot of Reed's have.
by CNB