Knights target Northwestern transfer Jayden Reid. His playmaking and scoring could fill a crucial backcourt need after a Final Four performance boost.
For UCF, the transfer portal has become a crucial part of the team's success. Last season, after losing 100% of their scoring production, the Knights' staff rebuilt through the portal, building a 20-win team that ended the program's six-year March Madness drought.
Thus far, UCF has seen just one departure this offseason, with Chris Johnson announcing his decision to transfer earlier this week.
But, the Knights are already beginning to reach out to players in the portal, as Roundtable's Demetrius Montero reported on Thursday.
The latest player to catch UCF's attention is former Northwestern guard Jayden Reid.
Reid spent just one year in Evanston, Illinois, averaging 10.1 points and 5.0 assists, adding a steal per game.
Although Reid posted career-lows in field goal percentage (39%) and 3-point percentage (31.7%), he set a career-mark in assists per game while limiting his turnovers (1.9).
However, the junior guard has shown the ability to show up in big games and put on a performance, scoring a season-high 28 points against Illinois, who made it to the Final Four.
Reid made 9-of-15 of his shot attempts from the field, knocking down four 3-pointers and adding two steals in a near-upset victory over the Illini.
Reid, who started his career at USF, is graded as a 3-star transfer by 247 Sports, ranking as the No. 35 point guard in the portal.
At South Florida, Reid was an All-AAC Freshman team performer before averaging a career-best 12.6 points per game in his sophomore campaign.
In high school, Reid was also a three-star prospect, ranking as the No. 6 player in the state of New York and the No. 26 point guard nationally.
Reid led Long Island Lutheran to a state championship in his senior season, in which he averaged 16 points and six assists per game.
Of course, UCF is not the only program interested in Reid, as sources say he has heard from eight other schools, including Auburn, Texas A&M and Utah.
The 5-foot-10, 160 pound point guard would fill a much-needed lead guard role following Themus Fulks departure, filling in as UCF's primary ball handler.
Reid and Arturo Dean, who has been lying in wait on the Knights' roster, would instantly fill the holes left in UCF's backcourt and provide head coach Johnny Dawkins with experience guard play going into next season.
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