New star in basketball heaven: Eric Reed signs with the Towers!

New star in basketball heaven: Eric Reed signs with the Towers!

The Veolia Towers in Hamburg have another promising newcomer: Eric Reed Jr., a 25-year-old American guard, will strengthen the basketball team in the 2025/26 season. With a contract until 2026, Reed could be just the player to take the team to the next level. Last season he showed off his scoring skills with the Kortrijk Spurs in the Belgian BNXT League, where he became his team's top scorer with 15.1 points per game and made it to the semi-finals. This is reported by the Hamburg Towers.

Head coach Benka Barloschky described Reed as a “two-way player,” which highlights his abilities on offense and defense. That versatility could prove crucial, especially in a league that places the highest demands on its players, like this easyCredit Basketball Bundesliga.

Reed's impressive career

Reed began his athletic career at Howard College in Texas, where he recorded a remarkable 15.5 points, 5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. This was just the beginning; At Southeast Missouri State University, he cemented his place in the Division I basketball scene. In his first season he stood out with a three-point percentage of 45.9%. As a sophomore, he broke the 20-point mark eleven times and scored a career-high 35 points, which earned him a nomination to the All-Conference First Team. He also came to the attention of Mississippi State University, where he played in the prestigious Southeastern Conference (SEC).

His first step into a European professional career took him to Etha Engomis in Cyprus in the summer of 2023, where he attracted attention with 20.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. This was followed by stints at Aris Thessaloniki in Greece and most recently at Kortrijk Spurs, where he had an impressive three-point percentage of 42.4% in 41 games. Marvin Willoughby, Managing Director Sport at Veolia Towers, shows full confidence in Reed's development and sees great opportunities for the coming season.

The importance of basketball in Germany

Baskteball enjoys widespread popularity in Germany. Around 68 million people are familiar with the sport, although interest has stagnated in recent years. Nevertheless, the German Basketball Association is recording increasing membership numbers, particularly with a record number at the beginning of 2024. This underlines the continuous development of the sport in Germany, especially after the world championship triumph of the German men's national team in 2023.

The easyCredit BBL has established itself as the most important competition since its founding in 2003/2004 and currently includes 16 teams. Legends like Dirk Nowitzki have shaped basketball in Germany and continue to generate interest and support for the sport.

The coming season promises to be exciting, especially with new talents like Eric Reed Jr., who undoubtedly have the potential to further advance basketball in Germany.