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Former Plano West player leaving SMU
02:32 AM CDT on Thursday, April 7, 2005

By CALVIN WATKINS / The Dallas Morning News

UNIVERSITY PARK – Because he expected less playing time next season, SMU center Chris Reay has decided to leave the men's basketball program.

SMU center Chris Reay will play for New Zealand's junior national team this summer, but his fall plans are undecided. Reay, a sophomore from Plano West, said he would play for the New Zealand junior national team this summer but was not sure which college he would attend.

Reay appeared in 22 games last season, averaging 1.2 points and 8.3 minutes.

As a freshman, Reay averaged 3.5 minutes and scored seven points in 11 games.

"It was a tough decision," Reay said. "Playing for New Zealand is a prideful thing for me and for anybody else. I love playing the game, and that's all that matters."

During the season, Reay was one of several players used off the bench by coach Jimmy Tubbs. As the season wore on, Tubbs expressed concern about the lack of scoring from the bench.

Injuries to starters Bryan Hopkins, Derrick Roberts, Patrick Simpson and Justin Isham exposed SMU's lack of depth.

After the season, Reay told the coaches he would not be back.

"They didn't talk me out of it," Reay said.

SMU coaches told Reay his playing time would decrease but that he should stay. Donatas Rackauskas, a 6-11 center who missed the season because of a knee injury, and Bamba Fall, a 7-1 center out of Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, are expected to contribute.

"Chris is a hard-working young man who is a good student," Tubbs said. "He works extremely hard at whatever he does. SMU basketball wishes him well."

Not too surprising I guess. Reay seemed to get in Tubbs doghouse at one point during the season. It wasnt clear why, Reay always seemed to give effort. His best game was the home game against La Tech I believe. He came in and was very effective in slowing down Paul Milsap in the second half. Thats no small accomplishment either. Reay has some potential. He had alot of work to do offensively, but wasnt afraid to bang inside, something SMU doesnt have much of.

Good luck Chris Reay.

so does this mean we now have another scholarship for next year?

yes

Sounds like he was almost, almost mind you, invited to leave.

Well son, you will not be seeing much action next season, what with Donatus returning and Bamba coming in...

Chris says, I won't be here this summer, joining the New Zealand team.

Hmm, OK, see ya.

Chris ("they didn't try to talk me out of it")

He knew his days were numbered... the conversation was just a "formality"... the best players get to play. I always thought he was an asset to the team, but if we can use that scholarship to produce more Ws... we gotta do it. Getting another Tubbs player in the fold will be a good move.

Now we are like the big boys and our graduation rates will begin reflecting it. There is a price for both parties.

Good luck, Chris

Since Chris is in academic good standing (in fact a near A average), he won't hurt us in the new NCAA rules unless we lose a player who is not in good standing in the same reporting period. We can lose as many players to transfer as we want as long as they are in good academic standing, and we don't lose any scholarships. However, the way I understand the rules, if we lose say one player to transfer and one player is an academic casualty, we could lose a scholarship, whereas if we just lost one academic casualty and no transfers we would lose no scholarships. These rules are very strange. That said, I'm sorry to see any big meaty guy leave.

My lasting memories of Chris Reay will be (A) the Boise State debacle last year, when he was the only player on the team busting his tail as the rest of the team mailed it in (the night Coach Dement was replaced), and (B) his endless enthusiasm during games, even when he was on the bench.

He didn't play much, but I liked him. Thanks for all your effort and spirit, Chris. All the best.

This development begs the question: does Tubbs feel like he's closing in on another post player? I only see mention of the Hudson kid, but sounds like he might be leaning towards S.Carolina. Will we know something this coming week?

I've seen two reports that say that Hudson wants to decide immediately so one way of the other we should now by Wednesday I guess unless South Carolina puts him on hold. Anybody catch a glimpse of him at the Spring Game? He sounds like has some nice size for a high school kid.

there was more to it than whats been said in the papers. Chris hated playing for Coach Tubbs, and no I'm not guessing, or making it up. Also he said that he's not the only one...

Stallion wrote:I've seen two reports that say that Hudson wants to decide immediately so one way of the other we should now by Wednesday I guess unless South Carolina puts him on hold. Anybody catch a glimpse of him at the Spring Game? He sounds like has some nice size for a high school kid.

He was there? I saw the basketball team there, and there were some guys with the group that I didn't recognize, but I have no idea what this guy looks like. And it was hard to tell which guy was 6-10 (or whatever he is) because they were all stretched out in the sun.

Don't you think Christopher could catch on with UNC Greensboro? He knows their new coach.

mavsrage311 wrote:there was more to it than whats been said in the papers. Chris hated playing for Coach Tubbs, and no I'm not guessing, or making it up. Also he said that he's not the only one...

Gosh this gets old. We hear this same story on this forum with every single player that leaves SMU whether it be basketball or football. We heard with Cavan, we hear it with Bennett, we heard it with Dement and now with Tubbs.

So what is it this time? Tubbs makes them run too much, wake up too early, yells too much, demands too much...what? The head coach has to be the bad guy sometimes.