Northern Colorado gets Johnatan Reyes from San Antonio Clark

As signing day nears, Johnatan Reyes was one of the state’s point guards that were starting to build some steam in the recruiting department. The flashy point guard had been on the campus of St Edward's in Austin and most recently had Texas State on his heels.But after a weekend in Greeley, Colorado, Reyes committed to the Northern Colorado Bears.

Reyes says that Head Coach Jeff Linder has brought energy to the program and players are excited what the staff is trying to build.

“I was very impressed with what Coach Linder and his staff are doing in their first year at UNC,” said Reyes. “They're doing a great job of installing a positive culture and setting high expectations for themselves and the players. I felt that they would be able to get the best out of me and help me develop to the best of my ability.

“The culture they're building is one of unity,” continued Reyes. “You can feel that all the coaches get along and they're connecting with the players. It had a family feel to it and it didn't feel like it was just business. Everyone was comfortable around each other and that made it easy for me to be me around them.”

Reyes makes the game look easy when the ball is in his hands. He is versatile and is a good scorer who gets everyone involved. Reyes feels that he will fit the Bears program with his style.

“Coach Linder and I are going to get along great. He had high expectations from his players and demanded everybody give 100% at practice. I have those same expectations for myself and wouldn't want to be a part of a team that would accept anything less from the players and coaches. I'm a gym rat and that fits in with Coach Linder's vision of having a team of guys who have a positive attitude and are self-motivated. I'm going in knowing that nobody is going to outwork me and will challenge my teammates so they can be the best players possible. I think this is what Coach Linder is expecting from me. Even though I'll only be a freshman, as a point guard I need to be able to lead and be an extension of him on the court.”

Through the process, Reyes relied on his father, brother, head high school coach Steve Sylestine, and summer program director of the HD Toros, Lou Martinez.

“Everyone was a big part of my recruiting process,” Reyes said. “I really trust their opinion and they all felt that Northern Colorado would be a good fit for me.

“My brother told me to trust the process and focus on the things I had control over," Reyes said of his brother, Orlando Mendez who played a big part at Western Kentucky (2005-2009). “He's instilled in me to always respect the game and play it the way it should be played by competing at all times. He said I needed to have faith in my abilities and do my best to elevate the game of my teammates. If I did this everything else would fall into place.”