5-star forward Naz Reid commits to LSU over Arizona

Five-star forward Naz Reid has committed to the LSU Tigers over the Arizona Wildcats, he announced Tuesday.

It’s an unsurprising development considering Reid canceled his Sept. 8 official visit to Arizona.

Reid, a 6-foot-9 product from New Jersey, is the No. 15 player in the 2018 class and No. 3 power forward.

Reid narrowed his finalists to LSU and Arizona in mid-August, but a few weeks ago it was reported that Reid was expected to take his talents to Baton Rouge.

Reid denied that report, but the writing was on the wall for a while.

LSU head coach Will Wade visited Reid on Sept. 11 and Reid took another unofficial visit to LSU on Aug. 26 after taking his official visit on June 30.

Reid is AAU teammates with Arizona commit Jahvon Quinerly, but is also good friends with LSU commit Javonte Smart, who had been recruiting him to LSU.

Arizona will continue its pursuit of other frontcourt targets including five-star prospects Bol Bol, Simi Shittu and Moses Brown, and four-star prospects Jordan Brown and Bryan Penn-Johnson among others.

Arizona currently has the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class with Quinerly, Shareef O’Neal, and Brandon Williams committed, and Sean Miller said UA could sign as many as seven players in 2018, so there is still plenty of work to be done.

Follow Ryan Kelapire on Twitter at @RKelapire