Men's Basketball | 12/19/2017 8:36:00 AM

By Paul Suellentrop
 
Brian Reaves follows Arkansas State basketball through the box scores and keeps in touch with some of his former teammates.
 
His rooting interest for Tuesday's Wichita State game vs. Arkansas State, however, is solidly with his son and the Shockers. Brian Reaves played for Arkansas State from 1989-93 ­– when the school used "Indians" as a nickname before switching to "Red Wolves" in 2008.
 
Son vs. alma mater is no conflict.
 
"It really won't be weird, and I guess it's because I'm an Indian," Brian Reaves said.
 
Austin Reaves, Wichita State's sophomore guard, grew up in a prominent basketball family in Arkansas. Brian Reaves recorded 384 assists, tied for third on the school's career list. Nicole Wilkett, Austin's mother, earned all-conference honors and averaged 18.9 points during her two seasons at Arkansas State. Older brother Spencer and Austin played together at Cedar Ridge High and won state basketball titles in 2013 and 2014. In 2016, Austin Reaves averaged 32.5 points and Cedar Ridge won another title.
 
Austin Reaves inherited parts of both games – dad's floor game and passing and mom's scoring. Both expected him to play the game hard and learn from instruction. That changed when Austin started at Wichita State. The parents leave most of the critiques to Shocker coaches. Neither parent plans to attend Tuesday's game, largely because of work commitments. 
 
"They both were really hard on me growing up," he said. "That's a good thing when you're growing up – you can't get too high on what you're doing good. You've always got to work on the lows that you have."
 
Austin Reaves played baseball and basketball and hunted and fished the lakes and wilds of northeast Arkansas as a youngster. Those activities didn't leave much time for TV or watching games. He remembers going to one Arkansas State game as a youngster; Jonesboro is about a 40-minute drive from his home in Newark. He knew about the family connection to Arkansas State and saw pictures of his parents during their playing days. The short shorts worn by his father remain a source of amusement for the sons.

"My dad played when the shorts were really short," Austin Reaves said. "I always make fun of him when I see those."

Their success drove a passion for basketball that started with Spencer dragging Austin to the gym and soon pushed Austin, as well.
 
"It's a blessing to have two parents that both played at a (NCAA) Division I team," Austin Reaves said. "That's what our goal was. I never thought I would be where I am now."
 
Arkansas State's recruitment of Reaves didn't get serious, in part because of a coaching change, Austin Reaves said.
 
"They talked to me a lot, . . . but I don't know if they ever offered (a scholarship)," Austin Reaves said.
 
When the Red Wolves did invest in the recruiting, Wichita State enjoyed a head start. Brian Reaves thought about the fun of his sons (Spencer plays at the University of Central Missouri) following his legacy. That scenario, however, never gained any momentum.
 
"It was late in the game," Brian Reaves said. "He had already decided, especially when Wichita State and (assistant coach) Kyle Lindsted started following him."
 
For the 11^th-ranked Shockers, Tuesday's game represents a chance to rebound after Saturday's 91-83 loss to Oklahoma. The defeat dropped them eight spots in the Associated Press and USA Today coaches polls. Arkansas State (4-7) is 1-6 away from home and completes a three-game trip that took it from Omaha to Florida to Koch Arena.
 
Wichita State lost a game in which it scored 80 or more points for the second time in coach Gregg Marshall's tenure, falling to 87-2 in that scenario. Defense didn't take all the hits – the Shockers missed 18 of 24 three-pointers. Poor shooting and six second-half turnovers ruined rally opportunities when the defense improved.
 
"We've got to play well, hopefully get a win," Marshall said. "More importantly, just play well . . . We are looking forward to getting back to the court - playing here in Koch Arena and trying to get a little bit of a feel-good situation going."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.