Antonio Reeves

After a prep career at Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix and Simeon Career Academy in his hometown Chicago, Reeves committed to Illinois State over offers from several other mid-major programs.

Reeves was a key contributor for his first two seasons, earning a spot on the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) all-bench team as a sophomore. He declared for the 2021 NBA draft but ultimately chose to return to the Redbirds for his junior season. In the 2021–22 season, Reeves averaged a career-high 20.1 points per game And was named second-team All-MVC, however, the team was not successful and coach Dan Muller was fired. With the coaching change, Reeves decided to transfer to a winning program.{{cite web|first=Isaac|last=Bourne|title=Antonio Reeves: From mid-major star to Kentucky Wildcat standout|url=https://www.midmajormadness.com/2023/12/22/24008018/antonio-reeves-from-mid-major-star-to-kentucky-standout|website=MidMajorMadness.com|publisher=SB Nation|date=December 22, 2023|access-date=January 18, 2024}}

Reeves ultimately chose Kentucky and coach John Calipari.{{cite web|first1=Jeff|last1=Borzello|first2=Paul|last2=Biancardi|title=Antonio Reeves transfers from Illinois State to play basketball for Kentucky Wildcats|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/33815244/antonio-reeves-transfers-illinois-state-play-basketball-kentucky-wildcats|website=ESPN.com|publisher=ESPN|date=April 27, 2022|access-date=January 18, 2024}}{{cite web|first=Jon|last=Hale|title=What to know about Kentucky basketball's newest incoming transfer Antonio Reeves|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/kentucky/2022/04/27/antonio-reeves-kentucky-basketball-transfer-brings-scoring-ability/7354419001/|website=Courier-Journal.com|publisher=Courier Journal|date=April 27, 2022|access-date=January 18, 2024}} As a senior, he mostly came off the bench for the Wildcats and ranked second on the team in scoring behind All-American Oscar Tshiebwe at 14.4 points per game. At the close of the season, Reeves was named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) co-Sixth Man of the Year.{{cite web|title=Antonio Reeves Named Co-Sixth Man of the Year to Lead Wildcat League Honorees|url=https://ukathletics.com/news/2023/03/06/antonio-reeves-named-co-sixth-man-of-the-year-to-lead-wildcat-league-honorees/|website=UKAthletics.com|publisher=Kentucky Wildcats|date=March 6, 2023|access-date=January 18, 2024}} He again tested the NBA draft waters and considered another transfer, but ultimately chose to return to Kentucky for a fifth year granted to players whose eligibility was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|first=Cameron|last=Salerno|title=Kentucky: Senior guard expected to rejoin team after rollercoaster offseason|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/antonio-reeves-returns-to-kentucky-senior-guard-expected-to-rejoin-team-after-rollercoaster-offseason/|website=CBSSports.com|publisher=CBS Sports|date=June 21, 2023|access-date=January 18, 2024}}

Entering his fifth year, Reeves was named preseason second-team All-SEC.{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Fisher|title=Pair of Wildcats named Coaches Preseason All-SEC|url=https://247sports.com/college/kentucky/Article/antonio-reeves-justin-edwards-kentucky-basketball-coaches-preseason-all-sec-219381691/|website=247sports.com|publisher=247Sports|date=November 2, 2023|access-date=January 18, 2024}} As the season wore in, Reeves emerged as a key player for the Wildcats and senior presence for their talented recruiting class. In January 2024, he was named to the 25-man Wooden Award midseason watch list in recognition of his performance, along with teammate Reed Sheppard.{{cite web|first=Armando|last=Barry|title=Reeves & Sheppard listed on Midseason Wooden Award watch list|url=https://www.wymt.com/2024/01/12/reeves-sheppard-listed-midseason-wooden-award-watch-list/|website=WYMT.com|publisher=WYMT|date=January 11, 2024|access-date=January 18, 2024}}

On June 27, 2024, Reeves was selected with the 47th overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2024 NBA draft, however, immediately on draft night, he was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for two second-round pick swaps in 2030 and 2031.{{cite web|first=Terry|last=Kimble|title=Pelicans Jump Back Into Second-Round; Draft Kentucky Guard Antonio Reeves|url=https://www.si.com/nba/pelicans/pelicans-jump-back-into-second-round-draft-kentucky-guard-antonio-reeves-01j18gz0w88x|website=SI.com|date=June 27, 2024|access-date=June 28, 2024}} On July 23, he signed with the Pelicans.{{cite web|title=New Orleans Pelicans sign Antonio Reeves|url=https://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/antonio-reeves-guard-new-orleans-pelicans-roster-signed-072324|website=NBA.com|date=July 23, 2024|access-date=August 2, 2024}} Throughout his rookie season, he has been assigned several times to the Birmingham Squadron.{{cite web|title=2024-2025 Birmingham Squadron Transaction History|url=https://basketball.realgm.com/gleague/teams/Birmingham-Squadron/59/Transaction_History/2025|website=RealGM.com|access-date=January 12, 2025}}

Reeves made his NBA debut on October 23, 2024, in a 123-111 win over the Chicago Bulls.{{cite web|title=Chicago Bulls at New Orleans Pelicans Box Score, October 23, 2024|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202410230NOP.html|website=BasketballRef|date=November 1, 2024|access-date=November 1, 2024}} On November 20, Reeves put up a career-high 34 points in a 128–100 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.{{cite web|url=https://clutchpoints.com/pelicans-news-rookie-antonio-reeves-34-points-birthday-remember-cavaliers|title=Pelicans rookie has 34-point birthday to remember vs. Cavaliers|website=ClutchPoints|last=Dodson|first=Chris|date=November 20, 2024|access-date=November 20, 2024}}

{{NBA player statistics legend}}

{{NBA player statistics start}}

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20

| style="text-align:left;"| Illinois State

| 31 || 3 || 22.4 || .384 || .314 || .659 || 2.5 || .7 || .6 || .1 || 7.2

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21

| style="text-align:left;"| Illinois State

| 25 || 24 || 29.9 || .425 || .306 || .763 || 3.3 || 1.4 || .4 || .2 || 12.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22

| style="text-align:left;"| Illinois State

| 33 || 33 || 34.9 || .469 || .390 || .818 || 3.5 || 1.8 || 1.1 || .5 || 20.1

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2022–23

| style="text-align:left;"| Kentucky

| 34 || 14 || 27.9 || .416 || .398 || .783 || 2.1 || 1.1 || .4 || .2 || 14.4

|-

| style="text-align:left;"| 2023–24

| style="text-align:left;"| Kentucky

| 33 || 33 || 31.4 || .512 || .447 || .863 || 4.2 || 1.6 || .7 || .2 || 20.2

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 156 || 107 || 29.3 || .452 || .384 || .801 || 3.1 || 1.3 || .6 || .2 || 15.1

{{S-end}}

{{Reflist}}

{{basketball stats}}

• [https://ukathletics.com/sports/mbball/roster/player/antonio-reeves/ Kentucky Wildcats bio]
• [https://goredbirds.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/antonio-reeves/9612 Illinois State Redbirds bio]

{{New Orleans Pelicans current roster}}

{{2024 NBA draft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reeves, Antonio}}

Category:2000 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:All-American college men's basketball players

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Basketball players from Chicago

Category:Birmingham Squadron players

Category:Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball players

Category:Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball players

Category:New Orleans Pelicans players

Category:Orlando Magic draft picks

Category:Shooting guards