Best Virginia advances, James Reese quickly making a WVU connection in TBT run
That's changed over his last three days inside the Charleston Coliseum, where he dropped 21, 20 and 24 points over three games that led Best Virginia to the West Virginia Regional championship and a trip to the TBT national quarterfinals following a 79-68 victory against top-seeded Elite Nation on Tuesday.
TBT is a $1 million winner-take-all tournament.
'Back in my college days, WVU was always one of those teams I loved to watch,' said Reese, who nailed the game-ending 14-foot shot against Elite Nation that gave him 24 points to go along with six assists and four rebounds. 'They were always that tough and gritty team that played hard defense and never backed down. That's sort of my basketball DNA, too.'
Best Virginia, the WVU alumni team competing in its sixth TBT all-time, is in the final eight for the first time since 2022. Best Virginia will remain in the state, as Charleston will host the quarterfinal round. Best Virginia will play Shell Shock – an alumni team from the University of Maryland – at 6 p.m. Monday for the right to advance to the semifinals. Shell Shock won the James Madison Regional with a 68-62 victory against NXT ERA Elite on Tuesday.
Some of Reese's college days were spent at North Texas, where he played for then-assistant coach Ross Hodge, now the WVU head coach.
That's Reese's distant connection to the Mountaineers. He was also a former roommate at South Carolina with former WVU player Erik Stevenson.
'Actually, when Erik was called up to the Miami Heat for (NBA) Summer League, it opened up the spot here,' Reese said. 'He was the one who called me and told me about the opening. That was how I got connected.'
For added measure, there was also a sort of mutual respect between Best Virginia head coach Jarrod West and Reese. When West's son – also named Jarrod – played at Marshall, the two would bang against each other often in Conference USA matchups.
'Him and Lil Jarrod went at each other a few times,' coach West said. 'I knew his game from afar. Getting to know him more now, James is about doing the right things. He does the things that I've tried to instill into my own kids.
'Having him join our team was a no-brainer. He's a winner, it's in his DNA.'
That became clear when it appeared Best Virginia was headed for defeat midway through the third quarter. Trailing 54-42, Reese nearly went on a one-man scoring spree.
There was a driving lay-up, a free throw and then a wide-open 3-pointer. After former WVU standout Kedrian Johnson nailed two free throws, Best Virginia had cut the lead to 59-58.
'I never would have dreamed of having three games like this,' Reese said. 'Being with these guys at Best Virginia, they get all the credit. We've got a great coaching staff and great teammates. It all just kind of came together for me, but this has been a real blessing.'
That fourth quarter belonged to Best Virginia, to Reese and to teammate J.D. Weatherspoon, who came up with five big points and some even bigger rebounds in the fourth quarter for Best Virginia.
Reese added a 3-pointer that gave Best Virginia a 64-62 lead with 8:01 remaining. By the time the Elan Ending was set, Best Virginia's lead had grown to 70-63. That set the target score at 78.
During the Elam Ending, Reese hit two free throws for a 74-63 lead. Moments later, he hauled in a pass from Toby Okani and drove in from the right side. His game-ender came a step inside the foul line.
'I thought we executed well in the Elam Ending,' West said. 'I think we took only one bad shot. I don't think they took any good shots.'
Reese's final connection with the WVU program, well, that came with the firing of the Mountaineers' musket.
'The only reason it didn't scare me was because I was paying attention,' Reese said. 'Man, that thing goes off loud, though. That is something else.'
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