Former LH star Reese getting accustomed to Texas Tech

By RANDY DICKSON

Florida Freedom Newspapers

Slowly but surely former Laurel Hill basketball star Brad Reese is getting used to his new surroundings.

Reese, who starred the past two years for Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, is now deep in the heart of Texas in Lubbock, where he'll continue his career at Texas Tech.

The transition from the Gulf Coast to the heartland of Texas has been somewhat of an adjustment, as has the life at a big-time program.

"It was hard at first, but I'm getting used to the Division I work ethic," Reese said. "You are training your body to play hard every possession. My body is more mature than it was at the high school level so I'll be OK.

"I just need to work on playing hard every possession and going (through workouts) three or four times a day."

Reese decided to enroll at Texas Tech this summer after discussing things with coach Pat Knight, son of legendary coach Bobby Knight.

"I felt it was best for me coming from JUCO," he said. "Coming in both summer session will get me ready for the practice in the fall.

"We worked out (during the summer at Gulf Coast), but it wasn't up-tempo like it is here. It was less work."

It's not as if Reese is experiencing Division I basketball for the first time. He signed with Southeastern Louisiana out of high school, but was redshirted his freshman year, leading to his decision to transfer to Gulf Coast.

But not even his experience at Southeastern could completely prepare him for the transition for life at a Big 12 school.

"Some of the stuff we did at Southeast helped me," Reese said, "but this is even a higher level and they expect a lot more of you."

After a touch of being homesick, Reese is starting to enjoy his life in the big time.

"The way they treat you is great," he said. "Everybody treats you good.

"They have so many trainers to help you with everything. And they have great facilities."

The most important part of the summer routine might be building the chemistry with his new teammates. Reese said they are pretty good guys and everyone is dedicated to helping Tech rebound from a subpar 14-19 season.

As a junior college transfer, Reese feels some added expectations to help turn things around quickly.

"We (JUCO transfers) are brought in to turn the program right away," he said. "There is pressure for me and couple of the other guys to help this program back on track."

Reese plans to get the most out of each new experience at Texas Tech.

"I'm starting to like living in Texas and meeting new people out here and Bobby Knight," he said. "Bobby Knight is a great coach and he knows a lot of people that can help me.

"The football games here are great too. I attended one on my visit. I think they are going to be pretty good again this year."

Reese has played in front of packed houses at Laurel Hill and Gulf Coast, but he knows those crowds that number in the hundreds can't prepare him for his first game in the 15,000 seat United Spirit Arena.

"I have thought about it (playing in the arena), but I don't have anything to compare it to," he said. "I'm going to have to deal with it one day.

"It's going to be different atmosphere and I'm going to have to play through it. It's going to be real fun to play in front of a crowd like that."

And how does he think he'll do against some of the best college players in the country?

"I asked the other players and they said it's different and everybody competes," Reese said. "You might feel like a lottery pick one night and nothing the next. I won't know until I experience it myself.

"I'm just looking forward to finally getting established on and off the court as a Big 12 player."