The Southeast Missouri State basketball coaches promised C.J. Reese nothing except a scholarship if he decided to become a Redhawk. So on Wednesday, he took the scholarship — and now the rest is up to him.
The McCallie point guard inked scholarship papers Wednesday with the NCAA Division I program. The 6-foot-2 Reese averaged 14.8 points, 4.8 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 steals for the Blue Tornado last season, helping them to a 19-8 record and their first Division II-AA state tournament final.
Reese also had offers from Florida Atlantic, Western Kentucky and Lipscomb and was on the radar of Ole Miss, Clemson and Georgia at some point.
“I know I can go in and play right away, but it’s going to be up to me to go in and do the work,” Reese said. “The coach and I had a great relationship. He’s the type of coach that will be your friend off the court, yet still your head coach on the court.”
Southeast Missouri is under probation until 2013 for violations. The Redhawks, who participate in the Ohio Valley Conference, went 10-22 a season ago. They were picked sixth in preseason polls and will have five seniors this season.
“I love the facilities,” Reese said. “I think we are going to be able to turn things around.”
Said McCallie coach Dan Wadley: “C.J. has continually improved since he got here. He narrowed his list down to two schools, but Southeast continued to pursue him. I told him to go where you can play, and I think he’ll have the opportunity to step in and play immediately.
“As far as the probation, I hope that they’ll get out in one or two years, but the important thing is that he can play ball and get a good education.”