University of Connecticut Athletics
Tarris Reed Jr. On Kareem Abdul Jabbar Award Top 10
2/6/2026 1:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – UConn men's basketball big man Tarris Reed Jr. has been named to the Midseason Watch List for the Kareem Abdul Jabbar Center of the Year Award, as announced by the Naismith Hall of Fame on Friday (Feb. 6). The Hall of Fame announced the top 10 lists for each of its 'Starting Five' positional awards this week.
Reed Jr. joins teammates Solo Ball (West Award) and Alex Karaban (Malone Award) to give the Huskies three Midseason Top 10 picks, tied with Arizona for most among any program. UConn's three selections account for all but one of the BIG EAST's honorees.
This season Reed Jr. has been a dominant force down low, averaging 14.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.9 blocks in 25.3 minutes per game across 18 contests. He ranks first in the BIG EAST and 11th nationally in field goal percentage, connecting at a 64.8 percent clip. That mark would stand as the seventh-best single-season percentage in UConn history, three spots behind the 67.0 percent mark recorded by Reed Jr. a season ago.
Reed Jr. has recorded four double-doubles this season, four 20-point games and has scored in double-figures 15 times. Marquee performances include 21 points and eight rebounds on 8-of-10 shooting vs. #7 BYU in Boston (Nov. 15), a 12p-6r-5a-4b all-around performance against Texas (Dec. 12), 20 points with eight rebounds, two blocks and three steals at Providence (Jan. 7), 21 points, nine rebounds and three blocks at No. 25 Seton Hall (Jan. 13) and back-to-back double-doubles at Georgetown (Jan. 17) and versus Villanova (Jan. 24). In his last three outings, Reed Jr. has hit on 19-of-20 from the field.
The 6'11 St. Louis native has anchored the back end of UConn's top-five defense this season, helping overhaul the unit into one of the country's best. Reed Jr. has helped Connecticut hold opponents to 44.6 percent shooting from two-point range, sixth best in the country, and an overall field goal percentage against of 39.1 percent which is top-10 nationally. His presence inside has allowed UConn to post a 15.0 percent block rate that ranks 12th in the NCAA. Reed Jr. earned a spot on the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Midseason list in January.
Ball, Karaban and Reed Jr. will seek to join Kemba Walker (2011), Shabazz Napier (2014) and Tristen Newton (2024), all recipients of the Cousy Award, as Huskies to take home a Naismith 'Starting Five' honor.
