The 2015 CC MVP -- WNY's POY: Canisius' LaTerrance Reed

(Photo by Elliott Jerge)

 

Last season, Howard Washington and Stafford Trueheart represented Canisius on the All-Centercourt team as a pair of sophomore sensations that each made Second Team.  Despite the Crusaders having suffered an upset loss in the Manhattan Cup semifinals to eventual champ Nichols, the future had never looked so bright on Delaware Avenue.  But then in the summer months, the whispers of Washington's eminent departure for bigger things began, and it wasn't long before they were confirmed.  Washington transferred to defending High School National Champion Montverde Academy, leaving Canisius without a floor general and creating doubts about its chances for success, despite still being quite talented.  They would still have Trueheart back in the fold, along with an All-Centercourt Honorable Mention that was surely on the fast track to cracking the top 25, before his team was bounced early from the postseason.  His name was LaTerrance Reed.

 

I remember the first time I met LaTerrance.  It was at the start of last season and I was making my way towards my table set up at center court at the Bernard J. Kennedy Field House at Canisius High School.  The Crusaders were all gathered in the middle behind the table waiting to take the court for warm-ups as the first game of the Tom Keenan Memorial Tournament finished up.  As I stood behind LaTerrance, I said "now how am I supposed to see anything over that flat top", referring to LT's trademark style.  He turned around, flashed  his infectious smile, offered a fistbump, and asked "hey, how you doing"?   My takeaway from that moment was "there's a kid who loves life".  Every encounter I've had with LaTerrance since then over the past two seasons only reaffirmed my first impression.

 

I received a text message from a friend during last season's opener for the Crusaders, a game I was not at.  He was getting his first look at Canisius and of Reed, at the time a junior.  The message asked "who is this LaTerrance Reed"?  "He's tearing it up".  

 

Reed did have a heck of a junior year - a consistent scoring option for Canisius that brought a lot of energy and got after it on the defensive end.  But what he did for an encore - the way he improved his game, the way he improved his team, the way he helped fill the void left by Washington's departure, and the way he became the leader for the eventual NYS Class A Federation Champions - it far exceeded anyone's expectations.  

 

"He tries to be vocal, but the thing that stands out the most is his passion for the game", Canisius coach Kyle Husband said.

 

Reed's passion was on full display all year, as he ended up playing the type of senior season at Canisius that was so epic in so many regards that once it was all over, the list of accomplishments was staggering.  Add one more honor to the long list of them he piled up over the last few months - Reed is your 2015 CC MVP for being the Player of the Year in WNY.

 

"LT was our leader this year", Husband said.  "When practice started, he was the hardest working guy - everyday".

 

Reed scored 21 points combined in his first two games of the season, a pair of wins in the Tom Keenan Memorial Tournament.  What stood out to me about Reed immediately in those two games, was how much he had improved as a facilitator.  I left thinking the scorer I watched last season would have to change his style to keep the Crusaders in the win column.  As it turned out, it was more of an adaption that rapidly turned into the evolution of LT.  He became that player for the Crusaders that simply delivered on whatever they needed --- passing, scoring, defense, a big bucket in crunch time, or the steady leadership of a senior.

 

When Canisius faced Jamestown in the AdPro Challenge, the game featured the top two large schools facing off.  It also pitted Reed against the 2014 CC MVP, Zack Panebianco.  Each took team-high scoring honors in the contest, with Panebianco netting 26 points to Reed's 22 points, but it was the Crusaders who came away with the nine-point victory to lock down WNY's top ranking, a prize that was ultimately the only thing either player was concerned with.

 

In the Crusaders' first rematch with Nichols, the team that had unexpectedly ended their year the season prior, it was Reed who made the biggest statement on behalf of his team.  In a jaw-dropping display of desire and sharp-shooting, Reed piled up 23 first half points in leading his team to a 47-20 halftime advantage that led to a resounding 38-point win.  His first half output included a three-point play and five 3-pointers, one of which he converted for a four-point play.  

 

At the MLK Classic at the mid point of the season, Canisius squared off against the #3 ranked large school in WNY, McKinley.  The game ended up being one the most thrilling affairs of the season played locally.  After trailing nearly the entire contest, Canisius pulled out the victory in the closing seconds.  Reed was 4/4 from the charity stripe in the final minute and finished with a team-high 22 points in the win.

 

When the Crusaders faced St. Joe's in their rivalry game that draws so many fans, the venue has been moved to the Canisius College Koessler Center, the upset-minded Marauders were within a point at halftime and seemed to have the perfect recipe going to knock off Canisius.  But Reed came out of the locker room and caught fire in a way that breaks down defenses and game plans, and leaves you shaking your head in amazement.  Reed scored 14 of his 22 second half points in the third quarter and connected on five treys to once again spark momentum seizing run and take game-high scoring honors.

 

As the regular season came to a close, Canisius had one game left on its schedule - the highly anticipated showdown against Park, featuring the large and small school teams ranked at the top of the polls.  The Pioneers turned out to be every bit as good as they were advertised all season, eventually capturing the NYS Class B Federation Championship.  But once again, it was Canisius and LT who even better.  Trailing by three points at halftime, the Crusaders got 21 second half points out of Reed, who finished with a game-high 28 on the evening and led the Crusaders to the victory, connecting on the game winner as the game reached the final minute.

 

After leading Canisius to an undefeated regular season in the Monsignor Martin and the top seed in the Manhattan Cup playoffs, Reed was rewarded with league Player of the Year honors.  

 

Canisius advanced to the Manhattan Cup Final, and fittingly found Nichols waiting there.  After scoring 14 of his game-high 20 points in the second half of the championship game, the game was still tied at 54-54 in the closing seconds.  On the final possession for Canisius, they put the ball in the hands of Reed.  As the clock ticked under seven seconds, he dribbled into the lane from the left wing and nearly had the ball stolen.  Then, with Chris Miner making a play for the ball, Reed zipped a left-handed pass over Miner's right shoulder, threading a pass between Cam Lewis and Tanner Schmit, to a cutting Justin Jones, who finished with the reverse layup with 2.4 seconds left.  Canisius and Reed were Manhattan Cup Champions.

 

"LT brought it every single day, and that's tough to do"  Husband said.  "It's a long season".

 

Thanks in large part to Reed, that season was about to go longer than any Canisius season ever had.  Ten days later, the Crusaders were back in action against Chaminade, who they defeated to advance to the CHSAA State Championship game.  Canisius had never won a state title in Class A, and would now have to travel to Fordham and beat a one-loss Kennedy Catholic team in order to do so.  Reed was up for the challenge.  

 

"Against Kennedy Catholic, it was the best game I've seen anyone play this year", Husband said. "He was just so efficient and so good".

 

In taking just 15 shots, LT once again logged game-high scoring honors, finishing with 28 points that included knocking down six of eight attempts from 3-point land.  Canisius won its first ever Class A CHSAA State Championship and Reed earned MVP honors.

 

"Kennedy Catholic was really, really good - maybe the best team we faced in the postseason.  Everytime they went on a run, he banged a three", said Husband.  "It was an amazing performance in an amazing game".

 

After its first Class A state title, Canisius arrived in Albany two weeks later for the Federation Tournament of Champions.  While there are no easy games remaining once you reach the postseason, the Crusaders found themselves staring down Scotia in the semifinal, the defending Federation champs that happened to own the longest winning streak in the state at 53 games.  Less than eight minutes into the game, Reed picked his third personal foul and was forced to the bench for the entire second quarter.  All the Crusaders could do was hold on and hope for a spark from LT when he returned to the action in the third quarter.  Once again, Reed had their backs.

 

Reed returned to score 10 points in the third quarter, spark a run, and help Canisius take the lead.  When he was charged with a fourth foul, he was forced back to the bench for the end of the third quarter and the first three minutes of the fourth.  With their season on the line, Reed returned to play the last five minutes of the game.  He never picked up his fifth foul - instead, he picked up his teammates, and together they denied Scotia a 54th consecutive win by pulling out a historic victory in the game's final minute.

 

"Everytime he came back in, we made a run.  He scored 10 points in the third quarter and seven of those came in about a minute" said Husband.

 

The Federation Championship game against Albany Academy was hard fought, but much less dramatic.  Canisius never trailed, and it was Reed who combined with Josh Huffman to drain back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the final stanza to give the Crusaders their largest lead, a 12-point advantage.  From there, Canisius held on to complete the improbable and take its place among the all-time great teams in WNY history - a place they never get to without their leader.

 

"All season, when we were in crunch time of an important game and we needed a play, he made the play", said Husband.   

 

Reed followed up his league Player of the Year honor and CHSAA State Championship MVP award by being selected as the Class A Federation Tournament MVP.  During the Crusaders' postseason run, Reed shot an astounding 60% from beyond the arc.

 

"He may be the most passionate player I've ever coached. He loves basketball, he loves his teammates, and he loves his school".

 

That passion has yielded big returns from the game he loves.  As for his teammates and his school, I would have to believe they are honored to be associated with the player who calls himself "The King" on Twitter.  Amidst the greatest athletic season in school history, Canisius now adds Federation Champions to its credentials and boasts the WNY Player of the Year as well, the 2015 CC MVP - LaTerrance Reed.

 

 -centercourt

Comments

[Bobcat]

LT has done an exceptional job at CHS! What is his recruiting looking like? Any offers on the table?

[fullcourt]

DOM WELCH gets the MVP at the GYMRAT in the 16 Division while G.DOLAN takes the 15 MVP. Where would the ALBANY City Rocks be without BUFFALO???........