By Conner S. Felts
Reed Kirtner, a junior shooting guard, on the George Wythe Varsity basketball team, helped lead his team to a winning record in the 2023-2024 season.
Reed has been playing basketball his whole life.
“I remember going to the Wytheville Rec center when I was only 3 years old,” Reed says. “I would go with my dad when he would get home from work and we would play for hours.”
From a young age, Reed was surrounded by like-minded people who helped him excel and gain a love for basketball.
To this day, Reed still goes to the same rec center and practices. Whether it be after school, on the weekends, or during school breaks, Reed is always on the court. His dedication has proved to work well for him as he is one of the leading scorers on his team, hitting the magic number 1,000 (one of two Maroons to do so) this season.
Throughout all his success as an athlete, he has stayed humble. He knows it is important to listen and learn from those around him. Reed says one of his favorite NBA players is Steph Curry.
“He is my favorite because he is strong in his faith as a Christian.” He says, “Steph is determined, resilient, and humble. He is a good leader and someone easy to look up to.”
It is a goal of Reed’s to be a leader whom people want to follow and look up to. He wants to continue growing within the sport of basketball and take his skills to the next level of college and hopefully the NBA. Reed is excited about the work required to make it to where he wants to be.
“I want to make it to the next level in basketball and I can’t do that by sitting on the couch. I have to be working even when I don’t want to. I have to be working when my opponents are resting.”
As his junior season comes to an end, he has had time to reflect on what he has done good and what could use some improvement.
“This season I have changed my work ethic and my outlook as an athlete. I give all glory to God and I do what I know I am capable of. As long as I don’t leave anything on the table, I am happy.
Kirtner is determined to make a name for himself. The next steps for him will surely be something to keep an eye on.
He is just getting started.
