Reed named athlete of year

Jakobe Reed, a two-year starter for the men's basketball team, was named VPCC's Athlete of the Year at the Peninsula Sports Club's Headliner's Night on June 29. The event recognized area athletes, coaches and supporters who have made a significant impact in sports.

He led the region in steals (2.0), assists (5.2), and assist-to-turnover ratio (3.5), while also ranking fifth nationally in both assists and assist-to-turnover ratio. He was named to the NJCAA Division III Region 10 first team, solidifying his status as one of the top players in the country. He helped lead the Gators to last year's Region 10 championship game, where they lost in double overtime. He also helped VPCC win the Region 10 regular-season and conference tournament titles in 2026. The team was a regular in the national rankings, finishing No.11 in the country in the final regular-season poll.

Coach Chris Moore said Reed's leadership, court vision, and defensive presence made him an elite-level player. A graduate of Woodside High School and a two-time VHSL state champion, Reed quickly became a cornerstone of the program.

Equally impactful in the classroom and community, Reed graduated with honors with an Associate degree in Information Technology, maintaining a 3.6 GPA and earning Region 10 All-Academic honors four times. He has also contributed on campus through his work in the IT department. He will continue his academic and athletic journey at Greensboro College, a Division III program. He reports there in August.

"His excellence, consistency, and character embody what it means to be VPCC athlete of the year," Moore said.

Previous winners of the award were baseball player Aidan Feather, men's basketball player Mekhi Reid and baseball player Michael Adams.

For more on VPCC, visit www.vpcc.edu.