Arkansas guard Austin Reaves commits to Wichita State

The statistics might scream that Austin Reaves is a small-town shooter.

That is not a complete description of Reaves’ game, his coaches say. At heart, he is a point guard, one who started as a freshman and sophomore on Arkansas Class 2A championship teams.

“He’s a pure point guard,” Cedar Ridge High coach Isaac Middlebrooks said. “Scoring is not the thing he really likes to do. He has to do it for us.”

On Wednesday, Reaves gave Wichita State a non-binding commitment to finish a fast-moving process that featured WSU coach Gregg Marshall watching him play last week and a visit by Reaves last weekend. WSU assistant coach Kyle Lindsted watched a Cedar Ridge practice earlier this season, leading to Marshall’s trip last week.

Reaves, with a friend, watched WSU’s game against Indiana State on Sunday and that experience sold him.

“We got to walk out behind the players (for introductions) and when you walked out you could just feel the atmosphere,” he said. “I knew as soon as we got there and saw the atmosphere that it was going to be a good fit.”

Reaves wanted to discuss the decision with his parents before committing. He said he had offers from South Dakota State and Arkansas State and considerable interest from Gonzaga. After news of Wichita State’s scholarship offer got out on Saturday, he said schools such as Indiana, Purdue and Vanderbilt called.

“(My parents) loved everything I told them,” he said.

Reaves (6-foot-5, 170 pounds) averages around 32 points, 11 rebounds and 7.5 assists, Middlebrooks said. He is shooting around 54 percent from the field, 37 percent from three-point range and 88 percent from the foul line.

“His greatest quality is as a teammate,” said Matt Hall, his coach with the Arkansas Wings summer team. “He makes everybody around him better. He would have games for us in the summer where he would score six or eight points and have eight rebounds and seven assists. He understands what needs to happen.”

Scoring, without a doubt, is something he does well. He scored 73 points in a win 117-115 triple-overtime win over Forrest City in December. Earlier this month, he set a Northeast Arkansas Tournament record with 191 points in four games, including 56 in a triple-overtime championship game.

“He is really a sneaky athlete,” Hall said. “He can get to the rim. He’s a high-level shooter. If you pressure him, he handles it well enough to go by you.”

Reaves didn’t play summer basketball before 2015, which Hall said helps explain why his recruitment unfolded slowly. Interest picked up after strong performances in the summer with schools such as Gonzaga and Arkansas interested. His 73-point outburst and tournament performances added to the buzz and Middlebrooks said his phone rang regularly over the past month.

Texas assistant coach Darrin Horn watched a recent game. Middlebrooks said Gonzaga, Iowa State, Arkansas and Florida State also called.

“It’s really gotten busy,” Middlebrooks said. “I’m glad he chose Wichita State. I think it’s a good fit.”

Reaves’ commitment is non-binding and WSU coaches cannot comment on him until he signs. The signing period begins April 13.

In November, WSU signed forward Darral Willis (6-9, 215) from Pearl River (Miss.) Community, guard C.J. Keyser (6-4, 180), of Brewster (N.H.) Academy and Tallahassee (Fla.) Community College guard Daishon Smith (6-1, 170).

This story was originally published January 20, 2016 at 1:08 PM with the headline "Arkansas guard Austin Reaves commits to Wichita State."