The Reaves Brothers

Austin and Spencer Reaves grew up in the small community of Newark in rural Arkansas playing a variety of sports from a young age. Spencer noted that basketball has been a big part of their family from the very beginning, “We were brought up by D1 basketball playing parents who loved sports in general.” If you are unfamiliar with the term, D1 basketball is the highest level of college basketball in the United States. The term “D1” refers to the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Spencer recalls, “We grew up always being in the gym. I’d say it was around the age of 6 that I started playing some team and organized basketball.” Austin admits that basketball was not his first passion, “Baseball was my first love. But when I became burned out on baseball, basketball was the next sport that I fell in love with.” He remembers being around 12 when he started to take the sport, “more serious.”

The duo won two state championships while playing high school ball at Cedar Ridge. When asked about stand out moments, Spencer recalled the win during his junior year, “Austin and I got to play together. Our team was an underdog story against Malik Monk and East Poinsett County. I had a really great game and was named MVP.” It is worthy to note here that Malik is now a shooting guard in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings. Spencer commented that he was very under recruited. He attended North Greenville University and won freshman of the year in his conference before transferring back closer to home. “I was able to play really well my last 3 years at University of Central Missouri. I was then without a job for 8 months, I finally got the opportunity in 3rd division Spain.” Spencer has now worked his way up to the German Basketball League, “one of the top leagues in Europe.”

When I inquired of Austin’s stand out moment he reflected upon a more recent one, “The 31 point triple double was definitely one. Hearing the names that I had joined as rookie Lakers to have a 30 point triple double was great. Then realizing I was the first ever undrafted rookie to have a 30 point triple double was surreal.” Some of you may be asking what a “triple-double” is; this is achieved when a player has double-digit stats, at least 10, in any three of the following major statistical categories: Points, Assists, Rebounds, Steals and Blocks.

On their journey from their childhood courts to the NBA and European Leagues the two have had many pivotal moments. One such moment was shared between the brothers. Austin recalls, “I was going into my senior year at Oklahoma University and wondering what was ahead from me. Spencer and I had a serious conversation on how far I wanted to take basketball. What all I needed to do to take the next step and how much more I needed to work to make it to the NBA.” Spencer shared a moment of uncertainty with a former coach, “I had a coach named Jimmie Williams that was an assistant for me my one year at North Greenville. I had to tell him I was transferring and not going to be playing for him the next season. He handled it incredibly well and told me he loved me as a person and would support me no matter what. It just showed me that some people cared about me more than basketball games.”

As these two young men continue their journeys in the professional basketball arena one thing they haven’t forgotten is home. They both recently took time from their professional schedules to come home and host a summer basketball camp for local youth. This was their second year for the Reaves Brothers Basketball Camp. Camps were held in July at the Becknell Gymnasium on the campus of Lyon College. Players enrolled from 3rd up to 12th grade attended grade appropriate sessions.

When asked about advice for young players and their parents Spencer offered the following, “I’d just tell them they need to work hard. Players that work hard are usually rewarded in the long run. If they think that showing up to practice only is enough, they are wrong. To the parents, let the kids be kids as well. They don’t need to be in the gym 5 hours per day and traveling to play every single weekend. Let them find their love for basketball or any sport if they want to. You can’t force them or they will end up hating it.” Austin’s words of wisdom, “Work, the cream rises to the top at some point. Don’t ever give up. To the parents I’d say coach them but let them be kids at the same time.”

When looking ahead it is true that no one can see the future but we all have our dreams. Spencer shared, “I hope to have a family with my wife and doing something with basketball. Not sure if that will be coaching, agent work, or skills trainer.” Austin expressed with enthusiasm, “Still in the NBA playing for the greatest organization in all of sports.”

As these two young men are always on the go I had reached out to their father for contact. During our correspondence Brian shared, “I am extremely proud of both boys for achieving their dream of playing basketball professionally. I love the way the community has supported both boys, wherever we go people are always asking about the boys. We are truly blessed.”

As a writer I am always excited to share such wonderful success stories of the youth from our region. It excites me even more when I see those young people giving back to their home communities in such meaningful ways, by encouraging the adults of tomorrow through their kindness, talent and love of home. N