Antonio Reeves Bio
Antonio Reeves is an American professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he plays on a two-way contract with the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League. A shooting guard listed at 6 ft 5 in and 205 lb, he played college basketball for the Illinois State Redbirds and the Kentucky Wildcats. Reeves entered the NBA after being selected 47th overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2024 NBA draft.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Reeves built his reputation as a scoring guard across high school and college, earning multiple All-American and All-Conference honors before turning professional in 2024. He is recognized for his perimeter shooting, mid-range craft, and ability to produce off the bench or as a starter depending on team need.
Early Life and Background
Antonio Reeves was born on November 20, 2000, in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. Growing up in one of the country’s most storied basketball cities gave him early and constant exposure to the game, and he developed his skills through local play and competition before reaching the high school ranks.
He attended Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix, Arizona, before transferring to Simeon Career Academy in his hometown of Chicago. Simeon has a long tradition of producing elite college and professional players, and the move allowed Reeves to face top-tier competition on a consistent basis. After completing his prep career, Reeves committed to Illinois State over offers from several other mid-major programs, signaling his readiness for the next step.
Path to Professional Basketball
Reeves began his collegiate career at Illinois State University, where he played from 2019 through 2022. He was a key contributor during his first two seasons and earned a spot on the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) all-bench team as a sophomore. He briefly declared for the 2021 NBA draft but returned to Illinois State for his junior year, where he averaged a career-high 20.1 points per game and was named Second-team All-MVC in 2022.
Following a coaching change at Illinois State, Reeves decided to transfer to a winning program and chose the University of Kentucky and head coach John Calipari. As a senior with the Wildcats in 2022–23, he came off the bench and ranked second on the team in scoring behind All-American Oscar Tshiebwe, posting 14.4 points per game. He was named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) co-Sixth Man of the Year for that season, then returned to Kentucky for a fifth year granted because of COVID-19 eligibility rules.
In his fifth college season, Reeves was named preseason Second-team All-SEC and emerged as a senior leader for a talented Kentucky recruiting class. In January 2024, he was added to the 25-man Wooden Award midseason watch list alongside teammate Reed Sheppard, capping his college career as a Third-team All-American and First-team All-SEC selection.
Antonio Reeves Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Antonio Reeves opened his college career at Illinois State, where he quickly established himself as a reliable scorer and contributor for the Redbirds. By his sophomore season, his play off the bench had earned him MVC all-bench recognition, and he continued to refine his perimeter shooting and overall scoring touch.
As a junior in 2021–22, Reeves reached his Illinois State peak, averaging 20.1 points per game and earning Second-team All-MVC honors. Despite his individual production, the Redbirds struggled as a team, and head coach Dan Muller was fired at the end of the season, prompting Reeves to enter the transfer portal.
Kentucky Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Reeves transferred to Kentucky ahead of the 2022–23 season and joined a Wildcats program under Hall of Fame coach John Calipari. Operating primarily as a reserve, he finished second on the team in scoring at 14.4 points per game and was a steadying veteran presence. At the close of that season, he was honored as the SEC co-Sixth Man of the Year.
Using his extra COVID-19 eligibility year, Reeves returned to Kentucky for a fifth collegiate season in 2023–24. He was named preseason Second-team All-SEC and quickly became one of the Wildcats’ most important players. His strong senior campaign was recognized with First-team All-SEC honors and Third-team All-American selections from the USBWA and SN, along with a spot on the Wooden Award midseason watch list.
Orlando Magic and New Orleans Pelicans (2024–2025)
On June 27, 2024, Antonio Reeves was selected with the 47th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic. He was immediately traded on draft night to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for two second-round pick swaps in 2030 and 2031, and he signed with the Pelicans on July 23, 2024.
Reeves made his NBA debut on October 23, 2024, in a 123–111 win over the Chicago Bulls, a fitting first game in his hometown market. On November 20, 2024, he erupted for a career-high 34 points in a 128–100 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, showcasing his scoring ceiling. Throughout his rookie season he was assigned multiple times to the Birmingham Squadron, the Pelicans’ NBA G League affiliate.
Charlotte Hornets Era (2025–Present)
On July 3, 2025, Reeves was waived by the New Orleans Pelicans, but he remained with the organization for the 2025 NBA Summer League. On July 26, 2025, he signed a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets, linking him to the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League. The deal marked a fresh opportunity to carve out a steady rotation role.
Reeves now serves as a shooting guard for the Hornets, providing perimeter scoring, secondary playmaking, and veteran poise developed across five college seasons. The two-way contract allows him to shuttle between Charlotte and Greensboro as needed throughout the campaign.
Driving Style and Strengths
Antonio Reeves is best known as a smooth perimeter scorer with a confident shooting stroke from beyond the arc and a reliable mid-range game. His ability to play effectively both on and off the ball makes him a flexible piece for coaching staffs, and his experience in high-pressure college environments has translated to a composed approach at the professional level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Reeves’ 34-point outburst against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 20, 2024, stands out as an early career high. He was also part of the Greensboro Swarm’s NBA G League championship run in 2026, a meaningful milestone early in his professional journey.
Antonio Reeves Career Wins
Antonio Reeves has assembled an impressive collection of individual and team achievements across his college and early professional career. From All-American honors at Kentucky to an NBA G League title with Greensboro, he has regularly found himself on winning teams.
Kentucky Highlights
During his two seasons at Kentucky, Reeves helped lead the Wildcats to competitive finishes in the SEC and was recognized individually with First-team All-SEC honors and Third-team All-American honors in 2024. His earlier SEC co-Sixth Man of the Year award in 2023 underscored his immediate impact after transferring from Illinois State.
Other Wins and Performances
At Illinois State, Reeves was named Second-team All-MVC in 2022 after a 20.1 points-per-game junior campaign. As a professional, he joined the Greensboro Swarm on a championship run in 2026, contributing to one of the earliest team trophies of his NBA journey.
Antonio Reeves Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Antonio Reeves grew up in Chicago, Illinois, a city with a deep basketball tradition that shaped his early development. His path through Shadow Mountain High School and Simeon Career Academy reflected a willingness to seek out the strongest competition available, a pattern that continued when he chose Illinois State and later Kentucky for his college careers.
Personal Life
Reeves focuses primarily on his basketball career, having transitioned directly from a five-year college stint into the professional ranks. Public details about his broader personal and family life are limited, and he has kept most of that side of his life private.
2025 Season Performance
Antonio Reeves’ 2025 campaign has been defined by movement between organizations and a renewed opportunity in Charlotte. After being waived by the New Orleans Pelicans in early July, he signed a two-way deal with the Charlotte Hornets later that month, giving him a clear pathway to NBA minutes alongside G League work with the Greensboro Swarm.
Through the early portion of the season, Reeves has served as a depth scoring option for the Hornets, with the ability to step into larger roles when needed. His experience as a Kentucky veteran and former NBA draft pick positions him as a reliable two-way contributor in a young Charlotte rotation.
Looking ahead, the remainder of the 2025 season offers Reeves a chance to solidify his role with the Hornets and continue building on his NBA debut and career-high scoring moments from his rookie year. Consistency on both ends of the floor and continued shooting efficiency will be key markers of his development.
