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Eric Konkol Inks Three Student-Athletes to NLIs in Early Signing Period
11/9/2022 2:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
TULSA, Okla. –– The University of Tulsa men's basketball head coach Eric Konkol announced Wednesday that Jarred Hall, Matt Reed and Carlous Williams have signed National Letters of Intent on the first day of the early signing period.
"We're very excited these three men decided to join the Tulsa family," Konkol said. "We look for, of course, talented basketball players, but also talented students and great people. These three all fit that mold. We're excited to get to take part in their journeys to become the best versions of themselves here at TU."
Hall is a 6-8 small forward from Nashville, Tenn. who is a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at Lebanon High School.
"Jarred is a versatile, athletic basketball player who possesses all the qualities that we're looking for in a TU basketball student athlete," Konkol said. "He can play multiple positions and we see him guarding all five positions on the floor at some point, as well as providing full court pressure on both sides of the ball. He can handle, he can pass and he's also a proven scorer from beyond the perimeter."
As a junior, Hall averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds and three assists while helping the Blue Devils to a 29-7 record under head coach Jim McDowell. One of the top players in the state of Tennessee, Hall was named to the state tournament team, was given First Team All-State honors and was named the MVP of the region and district tournament.
The son of Rod and Debbie Hall, he has also lettered in track and field, participating in the high jump.
"Jarred is an elite talent," McDowell said. "He can shoot the three, he can rebound it and bring it up, he can facilitate it, and he has a high basketball IQ. He's got all the tools and on top of that, he's a great kid. He's a great student and a wonderful school guy. He's been a pleasure to coach for four years, that's for sure."
Joining Hall is the 6-9 center Matt Reed from Carrollton, Texas. Reed is entering his senior season at ISchool of Lewisville under head coach Brian Nwelue.
"I think it's a great opportunity for Matt," Nwelue said. "He's joining a team with a coach who has a great track record at a new school and a great conference. He will do well in that environment and I'm looking forward to seeing how he does."
In his junior season, Reed averaged 17.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Reed brings versatility to his game with his ability to score in the paint or beyond the 3-point line. He's a 53 percent shooter from the floor and 39 percent from 3-point range for his career. Reed is the son of Scott and Leslie Reed.
"Matt is a guy who we've known for a very long time, for some since he was an eighth grader," Konkol said." He's a gym rat and someone who loves to get better and better. He has a unique skillset at his size where he can score inside and out, and he can also create for others with his passing ability. He's skilled and physical where he can defend and rebound and use his size around the basket. He understands positioning and the game really well."
Finally, Williams, a 6-5 forward from Hattiesburg, Miss. signed with the Hurricane in the early signing period. Williams in his second season at Pearl River Community College under head coach Chris Oney.
"First and foremost, Carlous is an outstanding young man," coach Oney said. "He comes from a family who supports him, and he's the kind of kid who wants to win and wants to do things that make the program look good. I'm excited for him because his dream was to go play for a good school with a great coach. I think he accomplished both of those in signing with Tulsa."
In his freshman campaign with the Wildcats, Williams appeared in 28 games and averaged 8.0 points and 3.2 rebounds in 16.0 minutes of play while shooting 48.0 percent from the floor, 40.5 percent from 3-point range and 77.6 percent at the line. Williams follows in the footsteps of another former Golden Hurricane who played at Pearl River, Brandon Rachal.
"I think he and Brandon are a lot alike," Oney said. "I think Carlous is a probably a better shooter than Brandon, but as far as the will to win and the competitive spirit, they're the same."
Williams played high school ball at Harrison Central. He averaged 11.3 points and 12.2 rebounds in his senior season while leading his school to the 6A semifinals. As a junior, the 2021 Clarion Ledger All-State Boys Basketball Team selection recorded 14.4 points and pulled down 9.2 rebounds per game. He's the son of LaQuida Williams.
"We're very excited that Carlous is joining us," Konkol said. "He has experience under his belt as a Junior College transfer from Pearl River, where he developed his game. He's a three-level scorer who can rebound and defend multiple positions. He's got an impressive strength to him, and he's another guy who can defend multiple positions in the half court and full court. He can also provide a lot of versatility on the offensive end as a forward, both inside and outside."
"We're very excited these three men decided to join the Tulsa family," Konkol said. "We look for, of course, talented basketball players, but also talented students and great people. These three all fit that mold. We're excited to get to take part in their journeys to become the best versions of themselves here at TU."
Hall is a 6-8 small forward from Nashville, Tenn. who is a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at Lebanon High School.
"Jarred is a versatile, athletic basketball player who possesses all the qualities that we're looking for in a TU basketball student athlete," Konkol said. "He can play multiple positions and we see him guarding all five positions on the floor at some point, as well as providing full court pressure on both sides of the ball. He can handle, he can pass and he's also a proven scorer from beyond the perimeter."
As a junior, Hall averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds and three assists while helping the Blue Devils to a 29-7 record under head coach Jim McDowell. One of the top players in the state of Tennessee, Hall was named to the state tournament team, was given First Team All-State honors and was named the MVP of the region and district tournament.
The son of Rod and Debbie Hall, he has also lettered in track and field, participating in the high jump.
"Jarred is an elite talent," McDowell said. "He can shoot the three, he can rebound it and bring it up, he can facilitate it, and he has a high basketball IQ. He's got all the tools and on top of that, he's a great kid. He's a great student and a wonderful school guy. He's been a pleasure to coach for four years, that's for sure."
🤫take a peak pic.twitter.com/mJMuT8Rd69
— Tulsa Basketball (@TUMBasketball) November 9, 2022
Joining Hall is the 6-9 center Matt Reed from Carrollton, Texas. Reed is entering his senior season at ISchool of Lewisville under head coach Brian Nwelue.
"I think it's a great opportunity for Matt," Nwelue said. "He's joining a team with a coach who has a great track record at a new school and a great conference. He will do well in that environment and I'm looking forward to seeing how he does."
In his junior season, Reed averaged 17.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Reed brings versatility to his game with his ability to score in the paint or beyond the 3-point line. He's a 53 percent shooter from the floor and 39 percent from 3-point range for his career. Reed is the son of Scott and Leslie Reed.
"Matt is a guy who we've known for a very long time, for some since he was an eighth grader," Konkol said." He's a gym rat and someone who loves to get better and better. He has a unique skillset at his size where he can score inside and out, and he can also create for others with his passing ability. He's skilled and physical where he can defend and rebound and use his size around the basket. He understands positioning and the game really well."
— Tulsa Basketball (@TUMBasketball) November 9, 2022
Finally, Williams, a 6-5 forward from Hattiesburg, Miss. signed with the Hurricane in the early signing period. Williams in his second season at Pearl River Community College under head coach Chris Oney.
"First and foremost, Carlous is an outstanding young man," coach Oney said. "He comes from a family who supports him, and he's the kind of kid who wants to win and wants to do things that make the program look good. I'm excited for him because his dream was to go play for a good school with a great coach. I think he accomplished both of those in signing with Tulsa."
In his freshman campaign with the Wildcats, Williams appeared in 28 games and averaged 8.0 points and 3.2 rebounds in 16.0 minutes of play while shooting 48.0 percent from the floor, 40.5 percent from 3-point range and 77.6 percent at the line. Williams follows in the footsteps of another former Golden Hurricane who played at Pearl River, Brandon Rachal.
"I think he and Brandon are a lot alike," Oney said. "I think Carlous is a probably a better shooter than Brandon, but as far as the will to win and the competitive spirit, they're the same."
Williams played high school ball at Harrison Central. He averaged 11.3 points and 12.2 rebounds in his senior season while leading his school to the 6A semifinals. As a junior, the 2021 Clarion Ledger All-State Boys Basketball Team selection recorded 14.4 points and pulled down 9.2 rebounds per game. He's the son of LaQuida Williams.
"We're very excited that Carlous is joining us," Konkol said. "He has experience under his belt as a Junior College transfer from Pearl River, where he developed his game. He's a three-level scorer who can rebound and defend multiple positions. He's got an impressive strength to him, and he's another guy who can defend multiple positions in the half court and full court. He can also provide a lot of versatility on the offensive end as a forward, both inside and outside."
— Tulsa Basketball (@TUMBasketball) November 9, 2022
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