While Jonathan Reed may be new to returning players as the new Enid Plainsmen boys basketball coach this year, he is certainly no stranger to the game or the Enid community.
An all-conference player at El Reno High School, Reed went on to Cedar Valley Junior College in Texas where his team won the NJCAA national championship. From there he transferred to Arkansas State University and then embarked on a 10-year pro basketball career in Europe. He played in China, Switzerland, Estonia, and Ireland and was twice named Player of the Year. He returned to the states and opened OnPoint Academy and got his introduction to Enid when he started the Enid Outlaws basketball team in 2020.
“The Outlaws are in the TBL (The Basketball League) which is a step below the NBA’s G league. Last year, we had the best record in league history with a 30-3 mark and won the league championship,” Reed said. “While I was commuting between Enid and El Reno I got to know and like the Enid community and when the opportunity to become the high school boys coach came along, I jumped at it.”
Reed inherits a program that has not seen much success in recent years and a team this year that is short on experience though he brings with him a couple of players that might help change all of that.
“We’ve got a couple of players in junior Ayden Iverson and sophomore James Pugh who saw some playing time last year,” Reed said. “I have two sophomore sons that I think will have an impact this year. Tre Davis is 6-foot-6 and can score inside and step out with some range on the outside and Jonathan Reed who had a breakout game earlier this season against Choctaw.”
Reed and his wife, Meagan, also have two other children who will be adding their talents to the Enid Schools this year in seventh grader Jacob, who plays basketball, and eighth grader Michaela, who plays basketball and volleyball and may be the best athlete of the group according to dad.
While there will be mistakes this season with a bunch of young players, Reed is optimistic about the long-term goals.
“The kids are playing hard while making mistakes and giving me all they’ve got and that’s what I really love about these guys most of whom will be with us for a while,” said the new head coach.
