Northern Kāhu are delighted to announce the signing of Tera Reed for the upcoming Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa season.
Off the back of an outstanding NCAA collegiate career, Reed is returning to her roots for her first foray in professional hoops.
Reed grew up on Auckland’s North Shore but hasn’t resided in NZ since her early teens.
“I am excited about the new Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa league and the opportunity to play at home.
“The Kāhu are building a strong and connected team,” enthused Reed.
Tera has achieved much in her collegiate career, one she had her heart set on when she headed to the States as a 14 year old.
Not everyone is willing to uproot from family and leave the comforts of home as a Year 10 and move overseas but Tera did just that, first in 2012 and again in 2014. Eight years later her American school and collegiate journey has concluded.
A veteran of 135 NCAA Division 1 games, the Tall Ferns wing is fifth on the all-time list of games played by a Kiwi woman in Division I hoops. She also amassed 1,624 points, just 24 points shy of eclipsing Erin Rooney’s all-time record of 1,647 points.
Back in 2014 the teenage Reed was already playing for the Harbour Breeze, helping them to a WBC title the year she left for the States.
Reed departed for the States at the end of Year 9 at Westlake Girls High School to relocate
to San Juan Capistrano, playing under former Tall Fern coach Tracy Carpenter. She returned to New Zealand and left again at end of Year 11 for Burlington, New Jersey and attended Life Center Academy.
In America the 182cm guard was exposed to playing against faster, taller and stronger opponents.
“High school basketball in America allowed me to experience first-hand the higher level of competition and play against the girls I was competing against for a college scholarship,” she reflected.
Following high school Reed accepted a 4-year scholarship at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) where she enjoyed instant success.
In 2017-18, as a freshman, she led the VCU scoring averaging 13.8 points per game resulting in her being named to the Atlantic 10 Conference All-Rookie team.
She led the VCU scoring three seasons running, the rangy wing a key player as VCU won a coveted Atlantic 10 Championship, and with it a berth at the NCAA Tournament in 2020-21.
Reed played her fifth and final college season at the University of Southern California Trojans under former Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach Lindsay Gottlieb.
For the Trojans she averaged the most minutes on court (30) for the Trojans, the most assists (3.2 per game), the fourth most points (158) and the highest 3-point shooting percentage at 40%.
Reed hopes that playing for the Kāhu under coach Jody Cameron, who doubles as an assistant coach on the national team, will enhance her chances of again playing for the Tall Ferns. She last donned the black singlet in 2018.
“I haven’t really been involved recently but I would love to represent New Zealand at the Paris and Los Angeles Olympics and at the next World Cup. I am excited about the talent coming through.”
Nearing the completion of a Masters in Human Resources Management, Reed will link up with the Kāhu towards the end of May.
Reed joins Micaela Cocks, Tahlia Tupaea and Ash Kelman-Poto as announced Kāhu signings. More players announcements will follow in the coming weeks.
The Kāhu play their first home game, against Tokomanawa Queens at Franklin Pool & Leisure Centre on Monday July 4. Details of ticket sales will be announced shortly.
