Why Jayden Reid fits the Tigers’ roster

Why Jayden Reid fits the Tigers’ roster:

Memphis added a point guard on Monday with the addition of Northwestern transfer Jayden Reid. The point guard started his career at South Florida before spending his junior campaign in Chicago with the Wildcats.

Reid averaged 10.1 points, five assists and 1.4 rebounds last season, and he scored 19 points and recorded nine assists in his final game against Purdue.

Before joining Northwestern, he averaged 29.1 minutes during his sophomore season with the Bulls. He averaged 12.6 points, 3.6 assists and 2.6 rebounds. 

While he averaged less assists as a sophomore, he shot the ball better on more attempts in the American. Reid shot 39.2 percent from the field on 10.2 attempts per game and 36.8 percent from three-point range on 5.1 attempts per game.

The guard has experience in the American and in the Big Ten, and it appears that he’s polished his game with a year in the Big Ten. While the shot might not have been falling as often, he averaged 2.4 more assists during his junior campaign.

The Tigers could be getting the best version of Reid for his senior season. He will be an experienced guard who has thrived as a scorer and as a playmaking option, and he’s shown that he doesn’t have to be a scorer to make an impact.

More importantly, his playing style meshes with the rest of the roster and potential pieces that could be added. Reid works extremely well as a facilitator in screening situations, ranking in the 83rd percentile as a pick-and-roll passer, and the Tigers already added a pair of forwards who can thrive in the pick-and-pop.

Rihards Vavers was the first player to commit to Memphis, and he shot 42.6 percent from deep over the last two seasons. Jerry Deng is another option as a forward who could thrive in the pick-and-pop, but he operates more from the wing.

While both players can be effective in the pick-and-pop, the Tigers have yet to add a big who can make an impact in the pick-and-roll. Reid flashes a ton of highlights connecting with bigs in the pick-and-roll, and North Alabama big man Corneilous Williams could be the perfect piece to pair with Reid. 

At 6-foot-9 and 215 pounds, Williams isn’t necessarily a center, but he plays bigger than his listed size. The North Alabama big man plays above the rim and would make a great lob threat off the pick-and-rolls. 

Williams visited Memphis last week, and the Tigers are still waiting for him to make a decision.

It’ll be interesting to see if Hardaway targets any more bigs who thrive in the pick-and-roll to pair with the new point guard.

Reid's experience in this conference combined with his playmaking abilities he showed in the Big Ten should allow him to thrive with the Tigers.