Tarris Reed Jr. is a rising UConn basketball star making a name for himself on the national stage while carrying strong support from his family. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Tarris Reed Jr.’s Parents Encouraged His Love of Sports
Tarris Reed Jr. grew up in St. Louis as the eldest son of Darlene Reed and Tarris Reed Sr. His parents introduced him to multiple sports at a young age, though basketball eventually became his focus.
Darlene explained how her son approached athletics early on.
“He just wanted to put his mind to each sport, to be able to master something in that sport, and when he got to basketball, that’s what he fell in love with,” she told The Michigan Daily in 2023.
She added, “I watched him grow from a kid that really didn’t think he could play [basketball] … for him to say ‘You know what, this is what I really want to do. I want to play basketball,’ and for him to grow in the game, [it] has been mind-blowing.”
2. Reed Jr. Initially Focused on Track Before Basketball
Reed Jr. did not immediately commit to basketball. His mother, a former track athlete, encouraged him to compete in track and field.
By age 11, Reed Jr. was running in the Junior Olympics. However, he later admitted the sport was not his passion.
“I hated every second of it,” Reed Jr. told CT Insider in April 2026.
Still, Darlene pushed him to stay committed.
“If you start something, you’ve got to finish it,” she taught him, a lesson he carried into his athletic career.
After breaking his wrist in seventh grade, Reed Jr. shifted his focus fully to basketball.
3. Tarris Reed Jr.’s Family Is Full of Athletes
Athletics run throughout the Reed family. Reed Jr. is one of three brothers, all of whom play basketball.
Trevor Reed plays as a Division III forward at Denison University, while Tristan Reed committed to Mississippi State University in 2025.
Their father has remained closely involved in supporting their development. He believes Reed Jr. still has room to grow at the next level.
“There’s a lot more to his game that the next level can allow him to expand on,” Tarris Sr. told CT Insider. “If you listen and believe in the process and you’re willing to buy in … I think he’s bought in.”
4. Tarris Reed Jr.’s Parents Built Strong Academic Foundations
Reed Jr.’s parents also emphasized education alongside athletics. Tarris Sr. built a career as an engineer, earning a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University and a master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Darlene works in finance, creating a household focused on both discipline and achievement.
Their approach helped shape Reed Jr.’s path, as he balanced academics and athletics before transferring to UConn in 2024 after two seasons at Michigan.
5. The UConn Star Still Plays Saxophone Today
Music also played a role in Reed Jr.’s upbringing. His mother required each child to learn an instrument.
“It was a requirement in the family to play an instrument,” Darlene told The Michigan Daily. “You had to do something musically, whether it was singing, or playing the saxophone, he had to do something musically.”
Reed Jr. chose the saxophone and continues to play. He sees similarities between music and basketball.
“[The] saxophone, it’s all about rhythm, it’s all about tuning,” he explained. “So on the court that’s what it is.”
He added, “You need to know where the defender is on the offensive side, where to be on defense, when the time is right. And that’s the biggest thing in music.”
The 2026 Men’s NCAA Basketball National Championship game between the UConn Huskies and Michigan Wolverines is on Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8:50 p.m. ET on TBS, TNT, and truTV, and available to stream on NCAA March Madness
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