Duop Reath has had one of the most interesting and inspirational journeys to SEC basketball.
Coming from war-torn South Sudan, he started his college career at Lee College, where he developed his raw body into a polished all-around player that could do it all, albeit on the lower levels of college basketball.
The talent was undeniable, but the rock that was his body needed to be chiseled further into an athlete that could play at a Division 1 level. He needed close coaching that could assist Reath in making himself into the dominant athlete that he always thought he could be.
In stepped Johnny Jones.
Jones offered Reath a scholarship after his sophomore season at Lee, and the rest is history.
He has been a dominant low post player at times for LSU, showing flashes on the block and in the pick and roll, and a serviceable defender on the block.
His skillset will be important this season for new head coach Will Wade as LSU goes through a transition period. If he can take a step forward in what he’s been successful at, then Reath looks to be one of the best players on the LSU roster.
Inside the Numbers
One of Reath’s more impressive skills is his rebounding rate, where he pulls in one of every eight rebounds on both ends of the floor.
That rate of rebounding compares quite favorably to fellow SEC big man Yante Maten, who is known as one of the better rebounders in the SEC, as well as Sindarius Thornwell, who famously ripped down 21 rebounds against Alabama in a hard-fought quadruple overtime loss.
The affinity for rebounding is one of the reasons that Reath is regarded as one of LSU’s most important pieces for the upcoming season.
Of course, Reath is also the team’s leading returning scorer after averaging 12 points per game last year.
Analysis
Reath has been through a lot in his young life.
Making his way from Perth, Australia to Baytown, Texas to Baton Rouge, Louisiana is quite the journey for a young man to make to follow his dreams.
That adversity that Reath has faced so far gives him an edge over most of his competition. He has something and someone to play for:
His family back home.
That support system is cheering for him all the way, and he’s playing for them, with the hope that one day, he can make it professionally somewhere, whether it’s in the NBA or overseas, so that he can provide for his family.
Reath has a good chance at the NBA with his elite rebounding ability, which is something that all teams need in some form or fashion.
If he can become that dominant low post presence, as well as maintaining that level of rebounding, he can really capitalize on the amount of opportunity that LSU has, and maybe, just maybe, he can fulfill his dream of making it professionally.