Sondheimer: Freshmen making a big impact in Southland basketball

"Freshman point guard Phillip Reed Jr. of Palisades entered high school ready to sink or swim going against varsity players who were stronger and more experienced. "I wanted to jump into the water head first," he said. His progress is similar to that of other freshmen given opportunities to produce immediately. The early days of adjustment and uncertainty have been left behind. With each game confidence grows and signs of real potential can be seen like the sun rising in the morning. "Pressure is a privilege. That's how I look at it," Reed said. "It's not really pressure. It's a challenge.""

"He's been preparing for this moment since he was 4. He lives in Compton and takes online classes to attend Palisades, using extra time during the day to work out with his father, a former high school football player at Inglewood. His mother also was an athlete at West Virginia Tech. In the early games for Palisades, Reed saw the challenges. "Everybody is pretty much stronger than me, so it was using my IQ," he said. "It's a little more physical.""

"The 6-foot-3 Reed can do everything a point guard is expected to do - dribble, make shots from anywhere on the court, be a distributor when needed. He's averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Southland is filled with promising freshman guards, and they know each other, having played with or against each other for years. "Everybody in this freshman class is pushing each other to be better," Reed said. Some other freshman guards making an immediate impact:"

Phillip Reed Jr., a 6-foot-3 freshman point guard at Palisades, entered high school ready to compete against stronger varsity players. He trained from age four, lives in Compton, and takes online classes to attend Palisades while working out daily with his father; his mother played college athletics. Reed views pressure as a privilege and a challenge, and early games required relying on basketball IQ against physical opponents. He averages 16 points and 10 rebounds and can dribble, shoot from anywhere, and distribute. The Southland features several promising freshman guards who push each other to improve.

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