Spring 2025
Basketball

UConn center Tarris Reed Jr. credits late-season emergence to 'locking in' with the Lord

By Joshua Doering Mar 4, 2025
UConn center Tarris Reed against St. John's, Feb. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

UConn center Tarris Reed Jr. averaged 6.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in 17.7 minutes of playing time over a 13-game stretch between Dec. 21 and Feb. 15. He hadn’t scored 20 points in regulation all season. There was no indication he was about to become one of the most dominant big men in the country, but that is precisely what has happened in the Huskies’ last four games.

Reed’s averages in those contests: 18.0 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks on 74.4% shooting in 26.5 minutes of action. He posted a 20-point double-double in Wednesday’s 93-79 victory over Georgetown, and followed that up with a 24-point, 18-rebound, six-block performance against Providence on Saturday, a 75-63 UConn win. All were career highs.

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The Michigan transfer’s explanation for his sudden emergence is fairly simple: He started focusing more on his relationship with God.

“It’s been a tough couple month [stretch],” he said Saturday on the court after the game. “The coaches have been on me hard, so as soon as I locked in, reading the Word, locking in with Him, spending more time with the Lord … my confidence is higher, and I just go out and play freely, play as hard as I can and put on for my team.”

Brought in to help fill the void left by lottery pick Donovan Clingan, Reed went from starting 31 games for the Wolverines last season to making just one start for the Huskies. Even though he splits time with Samson Johnson, Reed is in the top five in the Big East in both rebounds (7.4) and blocks (1.8).

While he grew up in a Christian home, Reed told CT Insider that he has not always made his faith a priority. As a freshman at Michigan, he was asked by strength coach Jon Sanderson if he was a Christian. He said yes. Sanderson asked him if he read the Bible. He said no.

So Sanderson suggested Reed start with the first four books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, also known as the Gospels.

“It changed my life,” Reed said of the experience. “The way I walk, talk, act, speak. Jesus has literally changed me from the inside out. I love talking about the Lord and what He’s done for my life, so I can go out and help others.”

Reed now regularly shares about his faith on social media and begins press conferences by giving thanks to God. He did so again on both Wednesday and Saturday.

“First, I have to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for putting me in this position, being able to play in front of thousands of people,” he said after the Georgetown game. “It’s honestly a blessing.”

Playing for a demanding coach like Dan Hurley on a team trying to win a third straight national championship is not always easy. In those challenging moments, Reed has learned to lean on the Lord.

“I got back to speaking to the Lord,” he said last week. “I’ve been stronger ever since. I read my Bible every morning. It was tough sometimes early on this season, my confidence was low. I had to be reminded that I get my confidence from Him, being strong in my faith.”

UConn (20-9 overall, 12-6 in conference play) hosts No. 20 Marquette (Wednesday) and Seton Hall (Saturday) in its final two regular-season games. The Huskies could finish as high as second in the Big East if they win out.

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