Athletic phenom Willis "Wolf" Reed went home to be with the Lord on March 21, 2023. Born June 25, 1942 in Hico, LA, Reed stayed in his home state for his college career, leading Grambling State University to the 1961 NAIA championship and a third-place finish in 1963. GSU retired his number and named its court after him in 2022.

An NBA second-round pick in 1964, Reed quickly proved that standing only 6-foot-9 wouldn't keep him from becoming one of the league's top centers. He was a major physical presence in the post across his ten years in the NBA, all with the Knicks. He was the NBA's Rookie of the Year in 1965 and the association's Most Valuable Player in 1970, as well as a seven-time All-Star and a five-time All-NBA selection. He was eventually named to the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams. He also had a career as a professional coach and vice president of basketball operations for several teams.