Hammond power forward Darrell Reed (2021) has committed to Alabama State. Reed was offered by the SWAC school in late July and decided to commit before his senior season began. 

Reed might have been a player held back by the pandemic. He was offered by the previous UIC staff, and Detroit offered him in the spring, but Reed could have been a player that added more D1 offers during an evaluation period. Those in-person games did not happen this summer. Alabama State still saw enough to offer him in July. Indiana Basketball Source expected more schools to offer Reed, but that did not materialize. It paid off for the SWAC school.

In most D1 conferences, Reed would be an undersized power forward. He could make up for it with incredible wingspan and leaping ability. In the SWAC, he will fit in well. The conference plays smaller in the frontcourt than other conferences. Reed will need to adjust to the tougher competition, but he won't need to change the way he produces. He's going to be able to rebound, block shots, score at the basket, and hit the occasional face-up jumper. Those options should be available for Reed from the day he steps on campus. 

Indiana natives Cameron Alford and Jalen Johnson had good freshmen seasons in the SWAC for Alabama A&M last year. Alford was A&M's best player despite being a freshman. He transferred to junior college John A. Logan. Johnson returned to A&M for his sophomore season. He's poised for a big year.

Reed will lead Hammond as one of the top 3A teams once again this high school season. He will be joined by Harold Woods, Reggie Abram, and Jordan Woods. That's a solid group that went 20-4 last year.