BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb added a major piece to its incoming recruiting class on Monday, continuing its recent pipeline into talent-rich New York City by signing highly-regarded forward Kareem Reid.

The long, 6-foot-9, 205-pound forward joins guard Mick Lynott (St. Thomas More), post player Sammy Itodo (Hamilton Heights Christian) and three-star guard Lance Terry (The Heritage School) to form a strong incoming class. 

A four-star prospect according to 247Sports.com, Reid (Queens, N.Y. / Putnam Science Academy) is the highest-rated high school recruit to sign with Gardner-Webb during the recruiting service era (since 2001). 

He was rated as high as the No. 72 prospect nationally during his time at Putnam Science.

"Kareem is a very gifted young man, and we are very fortunate to add a prospect of his caliber to our roster," said head coach Tim Craft. "He has exceptional size and length, but is also a skilled player who can play a number of positions. He has learned from outstanding coaching staffs at the high school and prep levels, as well as on the travel circuit, and is accustomed to high level basketball.

"Our Associate Head Coach, Jeremy Luther, has worked extremely hard recruiting the Northeast over the last five years and we are thrilled to welcome another standout from that region. Our staff has done a tremendous job working to put together this 2019 recruiting class and we are very excited about the future of this group."

Reid played the past two seasons at Putnam Science (Conn.) Academy, the same powerhouse that supplied Gardner-Webb starters and fellow New Yorkers Jaheam Cornwall and Jose Perez. 

Reid was a teammate of Perez at Putnam in 2017-2018 and played youth basketball with Cornwall for several years in Queens.

A noted shot blocker with a lengthy 7-foot-3 wingspan, Reid reclassified from the Class of 2020 to the current class in early April and was rated as the nation's No. 18 power forward prospect before that move. 

Reid averaged 11.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game for a loaded Putnam Science this past season – helping Coach Tom Espinosa's squad to a 38-2 record. As a junior, Reid was a key reserve for the Mustangs' 2018 National Championship team that posted a 38-4 mark – and was part of a 48-game win streak that spanned his two seasons in Connecticut.

Prior to joining Putnam Science, Reid played at a high level for John Bowne High in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens, N.Y., averaging 9.5 points, 12.8 rebounds and an eye-popping 6.3 blocked shots per game as a sophomore in 2016-2017. He recorded three triple-doubles that season, including 16 points, 11 rebounds and 11 blocks vs. Springfield Gardens High and helped his squad to the PSAL Queens Borough Championship that season. He was rated as the No. 11 rising junior in New York City.

Reid also played at a high level during the summer, running with the New York Rens on the Nike EYBL circuit alongside some of the nation's elite prospects, regardless of class. He also spent time with the New York Jayhawks travel team.

A heavily-recruited prospect throughout his prep career, Reid garnered offers from several power conference teams – UConn, Rutgers and West Virginia – as well as recent interest from Missouri, Georgia and South Florida. Reid collected 15 total Division I offers during his high school career and eventually chose Gardner-Webb over St. Bonaventure, San Diego and New Mexico, among others.

Gardner-Webb welcomes back three starters – wing Jose Perez (15.1 ppg), guard Nate Johnson (9.7 ppg) and point guard Jaheam Cornwall (6.2 ppg) – and eight letterwinners from last season's Big South Championship and NCAA Tournament squad. GWU has a total of six men returning with starting experience, including veterans Eric Jamison, Jr. (7.0 ppg) and Christian Turner (98 assists).


BIO

Kareem Reid * 6-9 * 205 * F * Queens, N.Y. / Putnam Science (Conn.) Academy
Played final two high school seasons at powerhouse Putnam Science (Conn.) Academy under Coach Tom Espinosa … Rated as a four-star recruit by 274Sports.com … Shot blocker blessed with a 7-foot-3 wingspan … Rated as the No. 18 power forward prospect in the Class of 2020 nationally before reclassifying, and as the No. 3 overall prospect in Connecticut … Was rated a top-80 player nationally as a junior (No. 72) …  Averaged 11.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game for Putnam Science in 2018-2019 … Helped team to a 38-2 record as a senior … A key reserve on the 2017-2018 squad that won the prep school National Championship, where he teamed with current Gardner-Webb standout Jose Perez … Played sophomore season at John Bowne (N.Y.) High in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens … Averaged 9.5 points, 12.8 rebounds and an eye-popping 6.3 blocked shots per game as a sophomore … Helped Wildcats to a 23-7 record and a PSAL Queens Borough championship that season … Posted three triple-doubles (points, rebounds, blocks) … Had 16 points, 11 rebounds and 11 blocks vs. Springfield Gardens High … Posted 14 points, 10 rebounds and 11 blocks vs. Campus Magnet High … Had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks vs. Kennedy High … Had 13 points, 21 rebounds and six blocks vs. Beach Channel … Shot 53 percent from the floor on the season … Ran with the N.Y. Rens on the Nike EYBL summer circuit in 2018 … Ranked second on the team in blocked shots through 15 games played … Shot 58.7 percent from the floor for the summer … Helped NY Rens advance to the prestigious EYBL Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C. … Also played for the N.Y. Jayhawks summer program earlier in his career … Garnered 15 Division I scholarship offers … Chose Gardner-Webb over St. Bonaventure, New Mexico and San Diego … Also drew late interest from Georgia, Missouri and South Florida … Collected offers from Rutgers, UConn, West Virginia, Houston, UMass, VCU, Rhode Island, Dayton and several others during junior season.