By Kyle LoJacono
Mikhail Reece stands out from the crowd no matter where he is thanks to his 6-foot-5, 245-pound body, but his mind and leadership abilities are what truly separate the Gaither senior from others.
Reece currently has a 5.8 weighted grade point average (GPA), putting him on pace to be the Gaither salutatorian. His grandmother Nell instilled in him a thirst for knowledge, which endures to this day.
“My mom (Jaclin) would be working, so my grandmother taught me how to read and about math,” Reece said. “I knew my times tables at the age of 5 because of her. She gave me that extra push to get started. Now it just comes natural, and when I’m engaged in a class I want to do the work.”
Reece is also thankful for the free education offered in the United States. He was born in Kingston, Jamaica, a country where people have to pay $500-$600 a year just to attend basic schooling. Throw in money for uniforms and books, and most people on the island nation are not financially able to get a high school equivalent diploma.
“I know that it’s a blessing to have free schooling here through high school, and if you excel enough they will pay you to go to college,” Reece said. “It’s not like that in Jamaica or basically everywhere else, so I want to jump on that and take advantage of the education here.”
Reece came to the United States around age 4. He has gotten two Bs on his high school GPA, one in physical science while in eighth grade and another in English I.
“I didn’t know the science would count because I took it in middle school, but it did,” Reece said. “In English it was borderline and I didn’t turn in one worksheet. I still think about that B in English, and after that I told myself I wasn’t going to get a B again.”
Reece’s academic focus became apparent to teachers early in the school year. Danielle de Gregory teaches Reece Advanced Placement psychology and African-American history. She has only seen his work in the classroom for about a month, but already understands why he has been able to post such a high GPA.
“The bell rings and he starts his work,” de Gregory said. “We all have bell work in every class. Mikhail starts his work immediately. He doesn’t finish talking with someone or stand in the hall for a few more seconds. The bell rings and he knows it’s time to get down to business.”
Reece is also a defensive end and team captain on the Gaither football team. Cowboys coach Jason Stokes said he brings that same “down to business” approach to the gridiron.
“As soon as we blow the whistle he’s all business,” Stokes said. “When he sees kids in practice not focusing, he’ll say something before the coaches. He’s one of those special kids you don’t get to coach very often.”
Reece had 12 tackles, two passes defensed, one sack and one forced fumble last football season. Stokes said he believes he will have a huge impact as a senior.
“He has all the measurables to be a big-time player,” Stokes said. “He’s very coachable and puts in the work to get better. Plus he understands concepts very quickly and can see what other teams are trying to do to him.”
Reece isn’t just a brain. He also has leadership qualities as apparent as his intelligence.
“I met Mikhail last year because as student government advisor I had to pick four juniors to take to the West Point Leadership Conference,” de Gregory said. “Mikhail was a perfect person because they wanted student leaders and leaders on sports teams, and he is a leader on the football team and academically.”
When de Gregory was working to find the right juniors to bring on the trip, she asked student government members who they believed should go.
“They all said Mikhail Reece without thinking about it,” de Gregory said. “So not only do his teachers rave about him, but the kids think the same way about him. … I couldn’t find a more upstanding kid than Mikhail Reece. He is a fine young man.”
Reece’s efforts in the classroom and on the football field have one of the most prestigious Ivy League universities interested in him. He was officially given a scholarship offer to play at Yale.
“When I got the Yale offer, it’s an honor, but I know that I have the ability because both sides of my family have people who are very strong academically,” Reece said. “I have a cousin who went to Dartmouth, another Ivy League school. Then my father (Patrick) grew up very poor, like in tin houses, but he went to school and is an engineer. So I know if I don’t do well it’s only because I didn’t put in the effort.”
Reece thanked Gaither offensive line coach Jeff Ditman for helping him get noticed by Yale. Ditman attended the Ivy League school and also played football for the Bulldogs.
“I think it’s the perfect fit for him,” Ditman said. “I have to watch myself because I don’t want it to seem like I’m pushing him to go there, but looking at it objectively he’s a great fit. I know they like him athletically, and I think he can succeed there as a football player. Academically I know it’s a great opportunity for him, and I think his personality would fit perfectly there. I’ll support whatever he does, but it would be good for him and for Yale to have him.”
While Ditman never directly coached or taught Reece, he has still seen his intelligence shine through on the field.
“He plays intelligently and he understands what he needs to do and what the other team is trying to do to him,” Ditman said. “I communicate that to my offensive linemen how much of an assist that is, and of course we have to deal with him in practice. We can’t outsmart him. It’s hard to fool him because he sees things in a different way.”
Reece said he is most interested in math classes and would like to become an engineer like his father —if things don’t work out with football.
“If I could go to the (NFL), that would be a dream,” Reece said. “That would be the ultimate goal and after that I could do a lot of other things with my mind if it happens.”
–All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches.
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