Laurel Hill's Reese getting acclimated to Texas Tech

LAUREL HILL — Before heading back to Texas Tech, Brad Reese was in town for a few days visiting family and friends, fishing, and, yes, working at keeping his basketball game sharp in the Laurel Hill gym.

Reese, a 2006 Laurel Hill grad who is preparing for his first season at Texas Tech in Lubbock, spent the summer on his new campus adjusting to life in the big time after playing for Gulf Coast Community College the last two seasons. He redshirted as a true freshman at Southeastern Louisiana before moving closer to home.

“It feels good coming back knowing I’m doing something with my life and this is where it all started,” Reese said. “It’s fun memories because you know you had a great time in your career here with all the games against Paxton, Crestview, Walton and Fort Walton.

“But all you can do now is reminisce about those times, but I had a great career and I wouldn’t take it back for nothing.”

Reese hasn’t had much time to look back since he arrived on the Texas Tech campus in June. He’s been too busy adjusting to the learning curve that goes with playing in the powerful Big 12 Conference.

“Everybody is about the same talent (at Tech), but you have to work hard to get better,” he said.  “It’s about building character and toughness after coming out of JUCO and high school.

“This summer was basically learning about my teammates and what they like and what I like. It was about coming together as a family so when the season starts we will be on the same page and everything. So it was a good experience for me. “

Reese expects to play shooting guard or small forward and is excited about playing on the perimeter.

“I love it because that’s my natural (area),” he said. “I played down low (at center) in high school because we were (Class) 1A. And in JUCO I played the three (small forward).

“I can play (power forward) sometimes, but at the next level I have to play outside because (the inside players) are 6-foot-8, 6-foot-10. I’m long and athletic and I can use my athletic ability against smaller twos and threes. Hopefully that will help me out for my future plans and stuff.”

After getting over what he admits was a pretty strong case of being homesick, Reese has steadied himself and now embraces his new life in Texas.

“You have to value the position you are in,” he said.  “Right now I’m at Texas Tech and I’ve got a full ride (scholarship). Every day I come in and I take the mindset of a professional. I come in and I work.

“They teach me how to work like a professional. I come in and I work and get it done. You have to hold yourself a certain way. You have to come in, work hard and take care of your business, and it’s helped me become a man.”

Basketball practice starts the first of October and Reese is already focusing on the upcoming season.

“I think we have a shot to be pretty good,” he said. “I’ve never won the big championship so that pushes me a lot. I’ve won district, but the real big championship, I never won it.

“Some people strive to be a champion, and that’s what I want to be is a champion. So I have to keep working so I’ll have a shot to do it again and this time win it.”