Antonio Reeves

Reeves is an American guard who entered the NBA as a 2024 second-round pick, spent his rookie season with the New Orleans Pelicans, and later signed a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets. His college career spanned five seasons across Illinois State and Kentucky, featuring a transfer motivated by coaching change, a co-Sixth Man of the Year award in the SEC, and a spot on the Wooden Award midseason watch list. He has shown scoring instincts at both the collegiate and professional levels.

Born on November 20, 2000, Reeves grew up in Chicago and attended Simeon Career Academy before finishing his prep career at Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix. He committed to Illinois State over several mid-major offers. As a sophomore, he earned a spot on the Missouri Valley Conference all-bench team. He declared for the 2021 NBA draft but withdrew and returned for his junior year. In 2021–22, he averaged a career-high 20.1 points per game and earned second-team All-MVC honors. After the team struggled and coach Dan Muller was fired, Reeves entered the transfer portal.

Reeves transferred to Kentucky and coach John Calipari. As a senior, he mostly came off the bench and ranked second on the team in scoring at 14.4 points per game behind All-American Oscar Tshiebwe. He was named SEC Co-Sixth Man of the Year. He tested the 2023 draft waters but returned for a fifth COVID-eligibility year. As a fifth-year senior, he emerged as a key player and was named preseason second-team All-SEC. In January 2024, he was named to the Wooden Award midseason watch list alongside teammate Reed Sheppard.

The Orlando Magic selected Reeves with the 47th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft and immediately traded him to the New Orleans Pelicans for future second-round pick swaps. He signed with New Orleans on July 23, 2024, and made his NBA debut on October 23 in a win over the Chicago Bulls. He was assigned to the Birmingham Squadron multiple times during his rookie season. On November 20, 2024, he scored a career-high 34 points in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. On July 3, 2025, the Pelicans waived him. He played with New Orleans in the 2025 Summer League before signing a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets on July 26, 2025.

Reeves is a scoring guard with a quick trigger and the ability to get hot in stretches. His college numbers reflect a player who can carry an offense, as evidenced by his 20.1 points per game at Illinois State and his role as Kentucky's second-leading scorer. He operates comfortably off the dribble and can create his own shot in the mid-range. At the NBA level, he projects as a bench scorer who can provide instant offense when called upon. His defensive development and three-point consistency will determine whether he can secure a standard contract and a lasting rotation role.

Reeves enters the 2025–26 season on a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets. His path includes five collegiate seasons, a late-second-round draft selection, a draft-night trade, a rookie season with multiple G League assignments, a 34-point career high, and a move to Charlotte after being waived by New Orleans. His scoring track record at Illinois State and Kentucky suggests offensive potential if he can translate his shot-making efficiency to the NBA level.