Providence kicked off their 2018 recruiting with a bang on Sunday when top-50 AJ Reeves gave his commitment to Ed Cooley ahead of Providence’s annual Elite Camp. Reeves’ commitment makes it two consecutive Providence commits from the Mass Rivals grassroots program, a pipeline that Cooley and the Friars are hoping to tap further in 2018 with David Duke. Reeves had cut his list to a final four on May 31st with the Friars being joined by Louisville, Villanova and Virginia.

AJ Reeves has committed to Providence, per source — Corey Evans (@coreyevans_10) June 25, 2017

Reeves entered Brimmer & May as a freshmen and immediately garnered attention across the NEPSAC landscape. NewEnglandRecruitingReport.com ranked Reeves as the #1 player in their initial Top 10 rankings of the 2018 class in New England. I first saw Reeves play the summer after his freshman year when he attended Providence’s Elite Camp in August of 2015. What I saw was a physically talented and skilled player who had some maturing to do. He did that and more. Reeves went from a player who complained about calls at a camp to a leader, both at Brimmer & May and with the Rivals team. As a freshman and sophomore Reeves was an Honorable Mention player at Brimmer & May in the NEPSAC Class AA. This past year he was a First Team performer. Much of the credit for Reeves maturation has to go to Brimmer & May head coach Tom Nelson. Nelson, who also coaches with the Mass Rivals, has raved about Reeves since day 1.

Aj Reeeves committed to Providence College this Morning #Frairs pic.twitter.com/9D2EK4IIl1 — Sherwyn Cooper (@BallasTV) June 25, 2017

Reeves was recently named by his fellow campers as one of the best shooters at the NBPA Top 100 camp held earlier this month.

AJ Reeves (@ajreeves11) Posterizes Defender in Day 2 of the Top 💯Camp! #MakePlayz pic.twitter.com/bxUyoEx5ZM — MakePlayz (@MakePlayz_com) June 16, 2017

Reeves will take one of five currently available scholarships for 2018. The Friars are still looking to add another player for next season, including a sit-out transfer, but nailing down Reeves’ commitment gets the 2018 recruiting off to a hot start. Look for the fullcourt press to be put on Cushing Academy and Mass Rivals guard David Duke, though all indications are that he will wait until after the July live periods to cut his list down before making any decision.

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