Jackson's Reynolds gives Yale verbal commitment

Although they're among the elite educational universities in the country, the Ivy League schools are beginning to take over on the basketball court as well.

A local product is expected to join that charge as Jackson senior Blake Reynolds verbally committed Thursday to continuing his basketball career with the Yale Bulldogs.

"I'm pumped," Reynolds said. "I've been doing this process for a while now, and for me to finally have come to a decision is great. For it to be a place like Yale, I'm just really excited about the opportunity and getting to play at that level that I've always dreamed of playing at."

At 6-foot-7, Reynolds was a driving force for the Indians last season. He averaged 14 points and 7.9 rebounds per game as a junior, and Jackson finished the season with a 22-5 mark.

"Each year, he expands his game," Jackson boys basketball coach Darrin Scott said. "Last year he rebounded for us and scored around the basket. Kind of at the end of the year, he stepped out a little bit and played at the perimeter a little more. Since the season's already ended, he's worked on being able to step out and shoot it. That's something that all the college coaches are really excited about."

Scott believes Reynolds' ability to continue to progress and become better is his greatest value to college coaches.

"I think he's going to keep improving mentally, physically and skill-wise. That's been the biggest thing. When we've got the gym open, he's been coming in and working on his game," Scott said. "He's done a good job in the weight room for us, too. He's getting stronger. All that stuff together, I think that's what college coaches are really excited about."

The final decision for Reynolds came down to Southern Illinois and Yale, while Air Force Academy, Ball State and Southeast Missouri State also expressed interest.

The opportunity to wear the prestige of a Yale jersey was the overriding factor in Reynolds' decision. A visit to the campus in New Haven, Connecticut, was all he needed as confirmation.

"I just came to the decision that there wasn't going to be a school that I liked better," Reynolds said. "I decided that was going to be the place for me."

Reynolds' role at Yale could be as a stretch four, a power forward that plays close to the basket on defense but is able to shoot and handle the ball well on offense. Several notable stretch fours at the NBA level include Kevin Durant, Kevin Love and Chris Bosh.

"He's a very mature person. He handles his business well, so I think he'll step in and do well," Scott said. "Yale's got everybody back from last year for this year. They finished second in the [Ivy] League, and I know they've got quite a few players that will still be back. I think he's going into a good situation, but I think he's got a chance to contribute early for them."

Yale finished last season with a 19-14 record, while Harvard went on to claim the league title and secure a spot in the NCAA tournament. As a No. 12 seed, Harvard upset fifth-seeded Cincinnati 61-57, becoming the first Ivy League team to win an NCAA tournament game in consecutive years since Princeton in 1983 and 1984.

"When I was looking through all those schools, I was looking at how their past seasons have gone," Reynolds said. "That's a huge part. I feel like Yale's program is really building up to this point, and I feel like I can really add to that.

"The ultimate goal for me is to play in the NCAA tournament. That's been kind of a dream of mine, so I'm really excited about getting the chance to do that."