On Sunday, former five star and LSU transfer Efton Reid committed to Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Reid joins 12 other former Tigers who entered the transfer portal after LSU parted ways with head coach Will Wade.
During his lone season in Baton Rouge, Reid was hindered by inconsistent guard play and injuries to guard Xavier Pinson. The Richmond, VA native averaged 6.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in just 19.6 minutes per game. Reid was the lone Tiger to start all 34 contests on the season.
The 6-foot-11 big man demonstrated flashes of his five star talent, scoring in double figures in seven contests. Reid began his college career in fashion, scoring what would be a season-high 16 points in the season opener against Louisiana-Monroe.
While Reid’s stats at LSU don’t pop off the page, his dominance at the high school ranks proves his ability to play at the highest level. As a senior, he transferred to IMG Academy where his 16 points and 11 rebounds per game were a catalyst during their 25-0 regular season.
As the future Bulldog heads to Spokane, he succeeds an impressive group of big men under Mark Few. Since 2016, Gonzaga’s big men have created a pipeline to the NBA as Domantas Sabonis, Zach Collins, Rui Hachimura, and Brandon Clarke have established themselves in the Association.
Potential No. 1 overall pick Chet Holmgren will soon join the ranks of Gonzaga big men in the NBA, as he has declared for the draft. However, it is undecided if reigning Second Team All-American selection Drew Timme will remain in the draft or return to Spokane.
If Timme returns for another season as a Bulldog, Reid will have a talented big man to learn from and play next to in a talented Gonzaga frontcourt.
Regardless of Timme’s future, Gonzaga’s system and player development will allow Reid to expand his range on the offensive end and polish his already stellar skills on the defensive end. Expect the rising sophomore to be successful as a post defender and to increase his efficiency on the offensive end with the Bulldogs providing high quality looks for the big man.
