Former Gators signee Jalen Reed commits to LSU after reconsidering UF
Jalen Reed will still be playing in the SEC, but it won’t be with the Gators.
The former Florida signee announced his commitment to LSU on Thursday. The top-50 overall recruit from Castaic (Calif.) Southern California Academy selected the Tigers over Kentucky, Louisville, Memphis, Texas Tech and, most notably, UF.
Despite telling On3’s Joe Tipton on April 18 that received his release from Florida, Reed indicated he was still considering the Gators.
“2022 has brought many changes and after much consideration, I have decided to reopen my recruitment,” Jalen Reed tweeted. “I am open to the many possibilities while still considering The University of Florida as my college home.”
More than 15 programs pursued Reed over the past 10 days, but the Tigers and first-coach Matt McMahon landed the four-star power forward. The 6-foot-10, 222-pound Reed is the nation’s No. 43 overall recruit in the On3 rankings.
With Reed officially off the board for the Gators, guard Denzel Aberdeen is now the lone high school signee in their 2022 class. However, first-year coach Todd Golden has signed trio of incoming transfers in guards Trey Bonham and Will Richard and forward Alex Fudge.
Golden and his assistants are still looking to land two more roster additions, targeting Morehead State transfer Johni Broome, the No. 1 center transfer by On3’s Jamie Shaw, and former Mississippi State commit Riley Kugel.
Florida has hosted both Broome and Kugel, a top-50 overall recruit and four-star shooting guard. Kugel is high school teammates with Aberdeen and was recruited by former Mississippi State assistant coach Korey McCray, who is now on Golden’s staff.
When Aberdeen arrives in the summer, the Gators will have 11 players on their roster with guards Kowacie Reeves, Myreon Jones, Elijah Kennedy, Niels Lane, Bonham and Richard, forwards Colin Castleton, CJ Felder and Fudge and center Jason Jitoboh.
