Erik Reynolds II is averaging 20.0 points and shooting 38.6 percent from three-point range in his last five games. (Photo: Saint Joseph's Athletics/Atlantic 10 Conference)
By AARON BRACY
October 30, 2024
SAINT JOSEPH’S 2024-25 Big5Hoops.com Preview Package
-Saint Joseph’s Season Preview Story
-Saint Joseph’s 2024-25 Capsule Preview
-Saint Joseph’s Season Preview Podcast
Player Spotlight: Erik Reynolds II
Class: Senior
Position: Guard
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 190 pounds
Hometown: Temple Hills, Maryland
2023-24 stats: 35 games/35 starts, 17.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.7 apg, .420 FG (193-459), .380 3PT (112-295), .871 FT (108-124)
Outside of basketball: Business major
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Erik Reynolds II is a candidate for Atlantic 10 Player of the Year. He is on the league’s 2024-25 Preseason All-Conference First Team after earning First Team A-10 honors as a junior in 2023-24. College basketball analyst Seth Greenberg called Reynolds one of the best guards in the country at Atlantic 10 media day on October 7. The 6-foot-2 senior guard is drawing interest from NBA scouts for his quick release and ability to score and shoot from long range.
Reynolds is on course to break both the school’s all-time scoring record and three-point mark. With 1,595 career points, he is 499 shy of Jameer Nelson’s all-time mark of 2,094 career points. Additionally, he has made 256 career three-pointers and needs 87 more to tie Langston Galloway’s record of 343 career three-pointers.
The accolades are pouring in for Reynolds. But he has remained humble and focused on improving his game. Up first was hitting the weights.
St. Joe’s coach Billy Lange grabbed Reynolds’ shoulder on the dais at Atlantic 10 media day and pointed out the added muscle on the 190-pound shooting guard.
“He put on crazy weight in the offseason and the right way,” Lange said.
The added weight likely is going to help Reynolds this season after playing through nicks and bumps and bruises last season when he averaged 17.3 points and shot 38 percent from 3-point range. While his offensive numbers are eye-popping, there is a level of consistency that Reynolds needs to reach to take his game to another level. Part of his struggles, at times, last season can be attributed to some nagging injuries. But he also became overly reliant at times on his long-range shot rather than getting to the basket for an easy bucket or a trip to the foul line, where he’s almost guaranteed two points as a career 87.1 percent free throw shooter.
Decisions Inside the Arc
One area of Reynolds’ game where Lange expects to see improvement, in addition to his defense, is decision-making inside the arc. Reynolds always has had the ability to break down defenders and get to the interior of the defense. Now, Lange is banking on his prized senior guard to make superior decisions once there.
“He’s so effective off the dribble because he’s a threat to shoot off the dribble,” Lange said. “Being able to attack off the dribble and get inside the 3-point line and then make the decision; he’s gotten better every year he’s done it. I expect his defense to be better because it has to be better and he knows that. But the next step for him is to stay aggressive and become a consistent decision-maker inside the 3-point line.”
Adding another facet to his game not only will benefit the 2024-25 Hawks, but it also will help Reynolds’ NBA draft stock. As much as he’s been praised, Reynolds knows there is more he can do.
“The number one thing is my defense, getting over screens more efficiently, strength, putting more time in the weight room, getting my shot off quicker, and finishing tall,” Reynolds said at A-10 media day. “Small little details.”
Day by Day
Not only are high expectations on Reynolds this season, but they also are being placed upon the Hawks, who were picked third in the league’s preseason poll behind Dayton and league favorite VCU. St. Joe’s appears to have the talent, led by Reynolds, to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2016. Reynolds is focused only on daily improvement.
“Just trying to take it day by day and handle our business every day,” he said. “Coach tries to tell us to stay in the now.”
That said, there’s no doubt that Reynolds and the Hawks’ hopes are flying high.
“I think we’re trending in the right direction,” he said. “And this season we’re going to turn a lot of heads, and we’re going to make some noise this year. So, I’m pretty excited for that.”
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Aaron Bracy has been covering Philadelphia sports since 1996. His byline regularly appears on Associated Press stories. Follow Bracy on X: @Aaron_Bracy and like his Facebook and Instagram pages. His book on the 2003-04 Saint Joseph’s men’s basketball team is expected to be published on March 1, 2025. Read a summary and preorder it by clicking HERE. Contact him at aaron@big5hoops.com.