At 6 feet, 6 inches, Jeffrey Reynolds would likely end up playing on the wing at the collegiate level, and that’s where he spends the majority of his time during his summers on the AAU circuit.
When Reynolds puts on a Greenwood uniform in the winter, though, he’s the tallest player on the roster. In a starting lineup already loaded with guards, playing outside is not really an option for the junior.
“We need him around the rim,” Woodmen coach Bruce Hensley said.
Fortunately, Reynolds has been able to adjust, and he’s been a force in the paint at both ends of the floor for Greenwood.
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Through seven games, the agile big man ranks second for the Woodmen in scoring at 15.4 points per game, and he’s far and away the team’s top rebounder at 10.1 a night. He’s delivered three double-doubles, including a 20-point, 16-board effort against Greenwood Christian last month.
While the offensive output has been a big plus for Greenwood, Hensley says that Reynolds makes an even bigger impact at the other end, where he’s averaging more than two and a half blocked shots.
“He’s got size, but more importantly, he’s got length, and he’s athletic enough that he has the ability to use that length to his advantage,” Hensley said. “I think the thing he gives us the most is just his defensive presence inside. He has the ability to block shots and stay off of people, which is not as easy as it sounds.”
Reynolds enjoys the lift he can provide the Woodmen with a big rejection, and he relishes his role as a rim protector.
“We definitely need that play to get us going,” he said.
His place at the next level is more than likely on the wing, but the ability to handle himself inside should help make Reynolds a more intriguing prospect. He’s already drawing interest from a number of Division I programs in the Midwest, including Evansville, Illinois State, IUPUI, Loyola of Chicago and Valparaiso.
In order to grow his appeal to college coaches — and maximize his impact on the floor for the Woodmen — Reynolds knows that much of the work he still needs to do will be in the weight room. Hensley pointed out that his post standout still gets pushed around at times on the block.
Reynolds says he’s made some progress in that area, but “probably not as much as I should. I need to get stronger.”
His continued development should help a Greenwood club that has struggled at times during a 3-4 start. Its three victories have come by an average of more than 22 points, but its four defeats have been by a combined 23 points, including consecutive two-point setbacks against Martinsville and Franklin.
For the Woodmen to get over the hump and contend for county and sectional crowns, Reynolds will need to continue providing major contributions in the paint.
Even if that’s not necessarily his comfort zone, genetics have dictated that it’s where his team needs him.
“I just grew,” Reynolds said with a smile. “I didn’t really have control over that.”
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Game-by-game stats for Jeffrey Reynolds this season:
Opponent;Points;Rebounds;Blocks
New Castle;18;10;4
GCA;20;16;1
Martinsville;10;8;3
Franklin;17;11;4
Indianapolis Herron;14;9;2
Triton Central;15;9;2
Beech Grove;14;8;2
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