San Antonio Spurs rookie Tarris Reed Jr. will begin his NBA career with a new jersey number after previously wearing a couple of others throughout his basketball journey.
Reed, born in St. Louis, wore No. 32 in high school at Chaminade College Prep and at the Link Year Prep Academy in Missouri. He also kept it for his first two years in college at Michigan, before switching to No. 5 for his last two years at UConn.
The 26th overall pick was forced to change from No. 5 upon joining the Spurs, with it occupied by former Husky Stephon Castle. Reed decided to honor the former Rookie of the Year and use him as inspiration to pick a new number.
"I wore No. 5 at UConn, and everyone knows Steph Castle wears No. 5, so 5 plus 5 and 5 times 2 is 10," Reed said last month, via the NBA on YouTube. "That's how I got the No. 10."
Reed was a first-team All-Big East selection last season at UConn, averaging 14.7 points, nine rebounds, 2.3 assists and two blocks while shooting 60.7% from the field. He ranked seventh in the country in box plus-minus (plus-12.9) and 17th in 2-point field goals.
The 23-year-old logged five appearances with the Spurs in summer league, averaging nine points, nine rebounds 1.6 assists. He registered two double-doubles, including a 14-point, 12-rebound performance on July 9 in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
Reed was highly touted out of college for his scoring, rebounding and physical playing style. The organization valued his addition as a player who can affect games at a high level in the frontcourt and is eager to see him take the court next season.
Throughout August, Rookie Wire is looking at every first-round pick and why each player selected their respective jersey number as they make the jump to the NBA
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This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Spurs' Tarris Reed Jr. salutes Stephon Castle with jersey number
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