‘Work hard, stay dedicated.’ Macon’s Kowacie Reeves Jr. signs Exhibit 10 deal
One of Macon’s most highly regarded basketball players, Kowacie Reeves Jr., is taking his next step toward the NBA after recently signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Indiana Pacers.
Reeves, who starred at Westside High School, played two seasons at Florida before transferring to Georgia Tech. The standout now has the opportunity to compete for an NBA roster spot.
An Exhibit 10 contract is a one-year, non-guaranteed NBA deal for the league minimum salary. It allows teams to evaluate players during training camp and the preseason before deciding whether to convert the contract to a two-way deal or waive the player, who can then join the organization’s G League affiliate.
In a sit-down interview posted May 29 on the Pacers’ YouTube channel, Reeves said he knows the Pacers play at a fast pace and that he’ll need to keep “pushing that pace” and get rebounds to make the roster.
“It would mean a lot,” Reeves said of the opportunity to play in the NBA, adding that his focus last season was simply finishing his college career strong.
“I didn’t say I didn’t have no thought of the NBA, but it wasn’t at the forefront of my mind by any means,” he said. “So, just to be here and have a chance, man, if I made it to the other side of that chance, it would be … the world to me.”
‘Never forget where you started’
Reeves emerged as one of Macon’s top high school players at Westside from 2017 to 2022, averaging 21 points per game as a guard during his junior year, as previously reported by The Telegraph.
His success in helping lead the Seminoles made him one of Middle Georgia’s top recruits.
Reeves Jr. started playing basketball at 4, and grew up playing in local rec leagues and the Upward Bound program.
Community members and local organizations say Reeves’ recent signing reflects years of dedication, discipline and perseverance.
The Macon-Bibb Recreation Center, where Reeves played as a child, spotlighted him Sunday in a social media post.
“A local kid, a lifetime of hustle, a dream realized. Kowacie Reeves Jr. wore our MBCRD uniforms as a child, and now he’s signed with the Indiana Pacers,” the center wrote. “This is what happens when you work hard, stay dedicated, and never forget where you started. Our kids & community see you!”
Reeves, a former four-star recruit in high school, received about 20 offers from top schools, including Florida, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech, as previously reported by The Telegraph.
Under former Westside Coach Josh Grube, Reeves was the Seminoles’ leading rebounder and scorer for the 2020-21 season, according to the school’s website. The Macon native was also designated as Region Player of the Year in 2019-2020 and 2020-21.
Reeves spent the final years of his collegiate career with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, earning more than 1,200 points, including 808 at Georgia Tech, as reported by the university.
The NBA Summer League begins July 9 in Las Vegas.