July 20, 2012

By Michael Eldridge | UTAMavs.com

LAS VEGAS, Nevada - A unique opportunity has fallen to two UTA alumni, LaMarcus Reed III and Kaleb Canales. Chasing the dream of playing in the NBA, Reed has the opportunity to be ahead of his competition playing under Canales, interim head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Now as Reed chases his dream, the comfort level of playing for a coach of similar coaching styles to his college career has helped propel Reed forward.

"I felt like I was home there for a minute," Reed said. "He preaches some of the same things that coach Cross preached. I wouldn't say I was ahead of the pack, but I wasn't behind the pack either."

Reed said that the experience of playing professionally has made him feel as if he is starting over, similarly to what it was like to play college basketball at the beginning of his career.

"I'm learning how different the game is at the next level," Reed said. "I see what kind of work that I have to put into it. If you aren't doing the same you fall behind real quick. I am just enjoying the moment right now."

Reed, a first-team All-Southland Conference selection last season for UTA, has yet to make it into a game during the Summer League in his team's three games.

The opportunity to play, or coach at the highest level has not been forgotten by Canales in his experience with the Trail Blazers that began with a video internship in 2005. The youngest coach in the NBA at 33 is very humble about the experience.

"It's been an unbelievable blessing," Canales said. "God has been so awesome in my life and it's a privilege. I am very grateful for the opportunity to coach basketball at the highest level. I try to control what I can control and coach these guys to the best of my ability."

It comes with no surprise that the coaching styles are similar between the former UTA assistant coach Canales and current head coach Scott Cross. The pair is still both friends and say that they speak to each other frequently.

"Coach Cross is and always has been one of my mentors in my coaching profession," Canales said. "We spend a lot of time together talking life and talking about basketball and exchanging ideas."

Canales is 8-15 in the 23 games that he has coached since being appointed to the position and is a candidate to be the full-time head coach.

Reed and Canales hit the court again Friday night against the Denver Nuggets in the Summer League.