IU basketball recruiting: 2022 forward Tarris Reed talks Indiana offer and recruitment

There is no doubt that the front court is a point of emphasis for Indiana’s class of 2022 recruiting class.

Focused on a more modern approach, the IU coaching staff seems to have a prototype when it comes to big men.

Meet versatile St. Louis, Mo. based forward Tarris Reed.

The 6-foot-9 Chaminade High School product can beat you from the block out to the three-point line, but he still knows where to go first to take over games.

“I would say my biggest strength is the post and the midrange area,” Reed said on an episode of The Hoosier Experience podcast sponsored by The Daily Hoosier.  “That’s where I like to work.  I see myself as a 4 to 5 man that can dominate down low and stretch out if I have to.”

Reed averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds per game as a sophomore while shooting 60 percent from the field overall including 47 percent from three-point range.

It is that last figure that really propels Reed into the high major discussion and no doubt helped to catch the eye of Indiana.

Reed heard from the Hoosier coaching staff for the first time just a few weeks ago.

“A week before Coach (Mike) Roberts said they were interested, and then Coach (Archie) Miller called and offered a scholarship,” Reed said.  “I was happy and grateful.  It is just something that pushes me to keep on working.”

Indiana’s early message to Reed has been to watch how its big men thrive in their offense.

With a sophomore forward getting mentioned in the All-American conversation, that’s a pretty easy conversation to have, and Reed has been taking notes.

“I watched some film of Trayce Jackson-Davis and I watched the offense,” Reed said.  “I like how Coach Miller gives his bigs freedom on the court to attack and show their skills.

“They are telling me that I would be able to attack off the dribble and attack from down low.”

Jackson-Davis isn’t the only IU forward that Reed has watched.

A product of the Missouri based MOKAN Elite AAU team, Reed is familiar with another player that came up through that organization — former IU star and current member of the Utah Jazz, Juwan Morgan.

“One of the other players that I looked at coming from the MOKAN organizaiton was Juwan Morgan, and he was fortunate enough to develop and make it to the league (NBA),” Reed said on the podcast.

Reed hasn’t spoken to Morgan yet about Indiana, but he likes that he can conduct some due diligence with someone who recently played in Bloomington.

“That’s something that I will be looking forward to,” Reed said about talking to Morgan.  “That will be something to ask him questions about Indiana and get to know a little bit more about the school.”

According to the 247Sports Composite, Reed is a four-star prospect and the No. 93 overall player in the class of 2022. Based on that same service, Reed is the No. 16 power forward and the No. 1 player in Missouri.

Indiana joins several high major programs that have offered Reed including Creighton, Florida, Iowa, Kansas State, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio State and Xavier.

He will obviously have several strong options to choose from when it comes time to pick a school probably some time in 2021.

What factors will ultimately drive Reed’s college decision?

“A school that has strong academics of course, a school with a great coaching style that’s comfortable for me,” Reed said.  “And I want a school that’s a safe environment, great facilities, that’s comfortable for me and my parents.”

But don’t misread those comments.  Reed’s idea of comfort is a little unconventional.

“I want a coaching staff that is very strict and very hard on me,” he added.  “I want to be uncomfortable.  I want coaches that will push me to the next level, the NBA, and I want the coaches to push me constantly.”

Where does Archie Miller fit in that conversation?

“I like his coaching style and I look forward to building a closer relationship,” Reed said.

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