While teammates lace up their sneakers and lock into warmups, Jayden Reid takes a moment to himself before taking to the court.

The 20-year-old calls his mom or dad – sometimes both – to talk. It’s not about basketball. It’s about keeping himself grounded before stepping onto the court.

“Just checking in, hearing their voices,” Reid said. “It helps me stay balanced before I go out there.”

For him, basketball has always been bigger than a game. 

The constant support from his parents throughout his journey has shaped his mindset through the highs and lows of his life.

His father put the ball in his hands in first grade, and by middle school he was taking the game seriously. Since then, he knew making the NBA was his main goal.

As he took on a leadership role with USF this season, the foundation remains critical – grounding him in a season filled with challenges.

Related: USF men’s basketball wins 2OT thriller, AAC honors Abdur-Rahim

His sophomore year at South Florida has been about more than development – it’s been about stepping into something bigger than himself. 

At 5-foot-10, he’s often the shortest player on the court, but his presence is anything but small.

“For me, the size don’t matter,” he said. “Once I’m out there, I feel like everybody else.”

But beneath the confidence and quickness is a player who understands how fast things can change.

“Everything can be taken away in a blink of an eye,” he said. “So I just stay grateful and go hard every second of the day.”

For Reid and his teammates, that reality hit hard in October.

Just weeks before the season tipped off, USF head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim died unexpectedly when he was 43 years old. 

Reid, who only knew Abdur-Rahim for just over a year, said the team was gathered at practice when they received the news, a moment that left the locker room in stunned silence.

“I was glad that we found out together because if we were on our own, our emotions would’ve taken us different ways,” Reid said. “We were able to just cry about it together, talk about it together, and try to find a way to move on from there.”

In the weeks that followed, Reid and his teammates had no choice but to lean on one another, finding strength in the bond they had built.

The team spends time together away from basketball playing video games in their apartments, going paintballing and eating out.

He said these moments helped them stay connected through a season filled with challenges.

As a young leader on a team that’s had to lean on each other more than ever, Reid has embraced the responsibility of keeping the Bulls moving forward.

“There’s no way we get through this season without each other,” Reid said. “We all we got.”

When Reid isn’t watching game film, he’s studying something else – sports documentaries. 

He said he loves seeing the behind-the-scenes grind of great athletes, how they prepare and approach their craft.

“Seeing how [Michael] Jordan approached the game, how he worked and led his team, really opened my mind,” Reid said about “The Last Dance”, the documentary on Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls dynasty. “I like watching how great players prepare.”

If basketball wasn’t in the picture, Reid already knows where he’d be.

“I’d be focused on acting,” he said with a laugh. “Trying to be in movies, doing modeling – something on TV.”

For now, though, his role is set, and he’s playing it well.

Related: USF celebrates the life of Amir Abdur-Rahim, announces new tributes in his honor

This season has tested the Bulls in ways they never expected. Injuries, lineup changes, and personal loss have all taken their toll, but the team is still showing fight

“We never give up,” Reid said. “That’s just who we are. We always feel like we have a chance.”

That belief has fueled some of USF’s most improbable comebacks.

Down 20 with 10 minutes left at UTSA on February 19, the Bulls stormed back for a stunning 75-72 win.

Earlier in the season, they erased a 14-point second-half deficit against Rice on Jan. 29, outscoring the Owls 20-5 in the final stretch to pull off another comeback.

“Coach Amir gave us that mentality,” Reid said. “The never-give-up attitude – it’s just stuck with us.”

But the season has been about more than what happens on the court.

“We’ve grown as brothers this year,” Reid said. “Basketball is one thing, but off the court, we’ve built something real.”

That’s the kind of impact Reid wants to leave behind.

“I want to be known for more than just a basketball player,” he said. “USF basketball is going to keep going with or without me, but I want to leave a lasting impact.”