THE LATE REGINALD REEVES WAS AND IS A LIBERIAN LEGEND! I have just read about the passing of Reginald Reeves, a legend of Liberian Basketball and sports. Reginald was a superstar of every team that he played for. He had a killer jump shot, was a top rebounder, and was a terrific shooting guard, and power forward. He was just an all-around basketball player. Reginald Reeves did not only bring his skills to the game, he was also a teacher, motivator, and leader. I can vividly remember when I started to play basketball. We played at the back of Reginalds family home on Camp Johnson Road in Monrovia. At the rear of his home was where their uncle, Thomas Bernard, once had his Fullentunger busses before he established his Yes taxi company further down Camp Johnson Road. Our backboard was a plywood board and we place the rim on the lower part of it. It was attached to the wall at the back of their house. The court was dirt ground and gravels. I remember that some of the toughest basketball games took place back there. Guys would come from all around the city and neighborhood to play there during the week. Then there was the Monrovia Y.M.C.A. Reginald Reeves was a Y.M.C.A. pekin! That was a place that really made us community men. Besides the strict instructional discipline we got as kids, we were exposed to learning a variety of sports (i.e. badminton, horse shoe, table tennis, trampoline, rope climbing, etc.). Also, we learned how to fight or get beaten up too. I can recall how each time we were at the Y playing ball and a fight broke out involving one of us from our neighborhood, Reginald would always step in and say, I got his place - meaning that he was going to fight for that person. He protected many of us from the would-be bullies on Crown Hill, Clay Street, Camp Johnson Road, Warren Street, Benson Street, etc. And just as he protected us from them he would punch us himself without thinking if we crossed him. While in high school at Monrovia College (MC) on Camp Johnson Road, Reginald played along side a Liberian legendary basketball player, Jimmy McCritty. At that time, Jimmy was considered the best basketball player in the entire country. With he and Reginald on the same team, MC was undefeated. Until Reginald graduated from MC, it was the high school to worry about when it came to basketball. Reginald Reeves was an exceptional man. While growing up he had a love for his country, that was unmatched, and all other people. He was a law-abiding, civic oriented man who respected others and their rights. He was discipline on the court as he was off it. Reginald Reeves was a role model to many Liberian youth. Whenever Reginald was in a game all eyes and concerns of the outcome of the game were on him. Whoever watched him play cannot forget his fantastic jump shot? The way he would jump so high and shoot the ball so high in the air it seem as though the ball would not hit its goal. But time and time again, Reginald would sink that shot. He was a menace to any opposing team. Reginald Reeves played for the Lone Star Basketball Team. As far back as I can remember, Reginald traveled to several countries to play for and represent Liberia. He traveled to the United States to play with the Lone Star here. Like all of us who grew up in Monrovia, we had a choice between Invincible Eleven or Barrolle as our national sports club. All of us from my group from the Camp Johnson Road and Clay Street areas were die-heart Barrolle fans, so we played for Barrolle. As we got older, and with young Liberians aspiring to play for Barrolle too, we had to either play with less prominent teams, establish, coach, and play for our own teams, or become officials of the basketball federation. It was during this time that Reginald found the need to devote his time to training and playing with other teams. The team that he was instrumental in forming, training and coaching - Great Ball Players - went on to become a prominent team in the basketball federation. Reginald Reeves will always be missed and remembered for his significant contributions to sports in Liberia. Although basketball was the sport he love the most, Reginald was a Y.M.C.A. peking. So, he was capable of playing a variety of other sports. He was indeed a teacher, coach, and friend to me. Reginald Reeves is a Liberian Legend! Farewell Bro.! Make sure to keep a good spot for me too, OK?
Posted on: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 22:31:10 +0000
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