LSU-Bound Naz Reid Flashes Skills, Impresses NBA Scouts At McDonald's Games

LSU-Bound Naz Reid Flashes Skills, Impresses NBA Scouts At McDonald's Games

Future LSU Tiger Naz Reid may be headed to Louisiana next year, but he's already impressing NBA scouts.

Mar 26, 2018
LSU-Bound Naz Reid Flashes Skills, Impresses NBA Scouts At McDonald's Games

Naz Reid has had quite the busy schedule lately, and the postseason whirlwind is not slowing down for the McDonald's All-American this week in Atlanta.

On March 18, the 6-foot-11 Reid went for 22 points and five rebounds to help lead top-seeded Roselle Catholic to a 61-54 win over No. 2 Don Bosco Prep in the prestigious New Jersey Tournament of Champions final in Trenton, NJ.

That gave Reid two TOC titles in his four years at the New Jersey prep powerhouse.

"It's definitely exciting to win the TOC," said the Flo40 No. 13 prospect, who has signed with LSU and is projected as a potential one-and-done player. "It's something I wanted to do every year of high school, but I did freshman year and I went out with a bang. So I came in with one and went out with one, so excited about that."

This week the Asbury Park, NJ, native finds himself competing in the McDonald's All-American Game. Ahead of Wednesday's game, more than 50 NBA personnel watched Reid dribble, drive, and dunk all over opponents Monday during practice at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex, located just north of Atlanta in Brookhaven, GA.

"I think I did pretty good the first two practices," Reid said. "Obviously, you can improve in every way, shape or form."

Even though he's listed at 6-11, 250 pounds, Reid is not your prototypical bruising big man. He has good handles and at times ran the point at Roselle Catholic, which also won the Union County championship this season over rival The Patrick School. He can step out on the perimeter and shoot the 3. He can run the floor like a guard. And of course, he can also dominate and dunk in the paint.

"He plays hard and has solid ball skills when he keeps it simple," one NBA scout in attendance said. "His body has really developed over the years."

A second scout added: "Naz Reid is an interesting prospect because of his size, energy, and athleticism."

Though there was a small army of NBA personnel watching, Reid said he didn't feel any nerves.

"It's pressure but I don't feel like it's too much pressure because I just feel like you're playing in front of another group of people really," he said. "Just try to keep your composure."

Reid is also enjoying the buildup to Wednesday's All-American game with two of his oldest friends and AAU teammates from New Jersey, Villanova-bound point guard Jahvon Quinerly and Oregon-bound wing Louis King—both from Hudson Catholic. King is injured and not playing in the game but is still supporting his friends.

"I mean, it's pretty tough for him," Reid said. "He's still sticking with it. He's still rooting us on. He's a great teammate, period."

He added: "It's fun just being with everyone, period. Being with Jahvon and Louis, it's just the same, it's like the vibe was never off."

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Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who runs ZAGSBLOG.com and contributes to The New York Times. Follow Adam on Twitter.