(I spotted something sitting on a shelf in my office, a Wheaties box honoring Willis Reed that he inscribed for me. Seeing the box rekindled memories of an interview I had with him, a local fellow whose NBA career was spectacular and who passed away at age 81 in 2023. In memory of Reed, here’s an article I wrote about my visit with him in 2009.)
Reed Comes Full Circle Back to Lincoln Parish Hills
Willis Reed has come full circle but his travels have led him on a circuitous path of thousands of miles over the past 67 years. Born in Hico June 25, 1942, Reed has settled down on a beautifully landscaped hill studded with ponds and pines just north of Grambling.
If you’ve kept up with this gentle giant from north Louisiana, you already know that he moved from Hico to Bernice at the age of six where he established himself on the basketball court, earning a scholarship to Grambling State University. After a stellar career with the Tigers where he averaged more than 26 points and 21 rebounds per game, it was on to the NBA when he was drafted in the first round by the New York Knicks.
Reed’s 10 year NBA career was simply out of this world. For starters, he helped lead the Knicks to two NBA championships, was named Rookie of the Year in 1965 and played in seven NBA All-star games in 10 years in the league. Incredibly, in 1970 Reed was the first player in NBA history to be named Most Valuable Player in the NBA All-star game, NBA Regular season and NBA playoffs MVP all in the same year. That year, he was also named to the All-NBA first team, NBA All-defensive first team, was named ABC’s Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year and Sporting News’ NBA’s Most Valuable Player. In 1982, Reed was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame and his #19 jersey number was later retired. This year, he had his countenance emblazoned on a Wheaties cereal box.
While Reed was wowing fans at Madison Square Garden, he was doing something else away from the gaze of his adoring fans.
“I was slipping out after practice to a friend’s farm hunting deer with my bow,” he said.
“I got into hunting as a kid by going with my dad, Willis Sr. Dad had some good dogs, and he hunted squirrels during the day and ‘coons at night. It was just natural for me to get hooked on hunting because I was exposed to it at an early age. The worst whipping my dad ever gave me was the time I took his dog out chasing rabbits; it just about ruined the dog for treeing squirrels and ‘coons,” Reed explained, chuckling.
Scanning the walls of his spacious home, there is no doubt that hunting has been a big part of his life with mounts of trophy whitetail deer, mule deer, moose, caribou, cougar, and antelope, et al, adorning the walls. Three ponds surround his home, and Reed enjoys sitting on the pier and catching bream with his grandson.
“While I was playing ball, I was able to purchase some property in New Jersey and Pennsylvania where I could hunt with my friends whenever we had the chance,” Reed noted. “Today, a group of us guys have a hunting club over in Alabama where we hunt deer and turkeys, and we’re headed up to Montana to hunt elk and deer this fall. I’m hoping to take a mule deer with my bow.”
Reed reflected on his retirement from playing basketball and why he decided to quit the game when he did.
“In 1974, the season after winning an NBA championship, we were playing the Lakers in Los Angeles. I was running down the court when something snapped in my right knee,” Reed explained. “The doctors checked it and said I’d need surgery to repair the damage, and at that moment, my mind was made up. I decided to retire because there was some more hunting I needed to do and some mountains I wanted to climb. I had two championship rings and some nice awards, and I decided it was time to hang it up. I’ve never second-guessed my decision and today, I’m happy where I am.”
Where Reed is today is some fifteen miles from Hico, where he first saw the light of day 67 years ago.
FISHING REPORT
CANEY LAKE –. Bass are best at night on soft plastics and dark colored crank baits. Some are caught early morning around the grass on topwater lures. Smaller bass are chasing shad on he surface and are schooling. Shad imitation lures are working best.. Crappie are suspended with shiners and jigs taking some nice fish. Bream both chinquapins and bluegills are moving off the beds and can be caught on crickets and worms. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BUSSEY BRAKE – Bass have been good early mornings on topwaters and on soft plastics. Try Sinko’s later in the day. Crappie are on the flats and are biting on shiners or jigs. The bream bite has slowed a bit. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – The water is falling and fishing is improving. Crappie are fair to good fishing the tops with shiners or jigs. Bass have improved fishing shad imitations in the cuts. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Bass fishing has been best on crank baits, Wobbleheads and soft plastics. Crappie are suspended and best fishing has been in the hottest part of the day on jigs and shiners. Bream bedding shallow is ending and the fish have moved deeper. Catfish are good fishing off the banks. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Crappie fishing has been fair to good on jigs and shiners. Bass are around the banks and hitting topwaters early while later hitting hit jigs, spinners and soft plastics. Night fishing has improved around lighted piers and boat docks on soft plastics and crank baits. Bream are moving off the beds and are more scattered. Stripers are schooling and hitting shad imitations. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Catfish are biting. Bass, crappie and bream are slow. For information, contact the marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water is slowly falling and the road to the landing is open. The water looks good but still a week away from good fishing. For info call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.