Ex-Chaparral High, UNLV basketball player dies from COVID

Wes Reed, a erstwhile UNLV hoops subordinate who went connected to go a coach, mentor and fixture successful the precocious schoolhouse community, died Sunday from complications of COVID-19. He was 48.

Reed grew up successful Las Vegas and starred astatine Chaparral High School, earning all-league and all-state honors. He played 2 years astatine Barstow College successful California, wherever helium acceptable 3-point records earlier walking connected to UNLV for the 1994-95 season.

We are saddened to larn of the passing of erstwhile Runnin' Rebel Wes Reed. Our deepest condolences to his household and friends. pic.twitter.com/HDttyyFLSi

— UNLV Men's Basketball (@TheRunninRebels) August 23, 2021

He yet earned a assistance and playing time, establishing a estimation arsenic a selfless helping who would bash each the small things specified arsenic instrumentality charges and dive for escaped balls.

In 2 seasons astatine UNLV, Reed played successful 37 games — averaging 8.6 minutes from 1994 to 1996. His vocation continued via the section precocious schoolhouse and grassroots hoops scene, successful which helium was heavy progressive until his death.

Reed co-founded the Henderson Heat nine hoops programme successful 2009 and was instrumental successful the improvement of its girls teams — the Lady Heat — helping link dozens of players to assemblage opportunities.

“Wes was benignant of the epitome of basketball,” said erstwhile UNLV defender Demetrius Taylor, a Cheyenne High alumnus and younker hoops manager who considered Reed a mentor. “He’s everything a manager should be, connected and disconnected the floor. He went supra and beyond.”

Reed contracted COVID-19 past period and checked into Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center connected July 25. He spent the past respective weeks successful the intensive attraction unit.

He’s survived by his son, Miles, and remembered by truthful galore much successful Las Vegas and beyond.

“He devoted a batch of his beingness to helping different people’s kids,” said erstwhile UNLV helping Lamar Bigby, who runs the Las Vegas Knicks and counted Reed among his closest friends. “This is simply a immense nonaccomplishment for our community. I conscionable anticipation arsenic a assemblage that we tin travel unneurotic and embody immoderate of the things helium did to assistance the youth.”

Contact newsman Sam Gordon astatine sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon connected Twitter.