Thread by @latimes

Austin Reaves was a bright spot in the #Lakers' miserable 2021-22 season.

His path from undrafted farm kid (and 2-time high school state champion) to the @Lakers isn't a coincidence. It involves a little “Showtime” and even some Kobe Bryant. latimes.com/sports/lakers/…

@Lakers Reaves was a shoelace skinny guard in high school. “Sometimes he’d get beaten up just going through the layup line,” coach Isaac Middlebrooks said.

But he led Cedar Ridge High to 2 state titles, including one against Kentucky recruit Malik Monk. latimes.com/sports/lakers/…

@Lakers Growing up in a 3-stop-sign Arkansas town so small that the local pizza place is called “The Pizza Place,” it was either going to be sports or farm work, his mom told her boys.

“Either you get in the gym or you work on the farm,” she would say. latimes.com/sports/lakers/…

@Lakers After 2 years at Wichita State, he transferred to Oklahoma.

"There wasn’t any question who the leader was,” coach Lon Kruger said. “He was clearly the guy who was going to dictate what was going to happen on the floor.” latimes.com/sports/lakers/…

@Lakers “In high school, I thought I was always going to be put to the side because of being from literally the middle of nowhere,” Reaves said.

@DanWoikeSports on how an Arkansas farm kid blazed a path to the #Lakers.

latimes.com/sports/lakers/…