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Alief Elsik's Koi Reed
THE TOTAL PACKAGE: Elsik’s Reed Goes 100 Percent, 100 Percent of the Time
The Class of 2027 standout has learned how to balance it all — and he’s doing it at an elite level.
Reed is currently the No. 2-ranked student in his class, while also making an impact on the football field, competing on the basketball court and playing bass in the orchestra.
His secret? Take it one thing at a time.
“I just schedule it out, keep my mind focused and get plenty of sleep,” Reed said. “That’s my formula to give 100 percent in everything I do.”
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
On the football field, Reed is looking to take his game to another level in 2026. His goals are anything but modest.
“I’m trying to have over 15 sacks and 10 tackles for loss,” Reed said.
That relentless mindset is fueled by the physicality of the game and a deep appreciation for how much he has developed as an athlete. Reed says he’s amazed when he looks back at how much he has grown over the past few years.
He gives the glory to God and embraces the physical gifts he has been given.
“I’m supposed to play this sport with the size I was given,” he said. “It allows me to play the way I want to play. It pushes me to work with the grit and grind that this sport takes.”
Football may be his primary sport, but basketball has become an important part of Reed’s development. The explosiveness, athleticism and footwork he uses on the hardwood translate directly to the football field. And the physicality goes both ways.
“When I need to hit somebody, I just use what I do in football to absorb contact and get to the rim or get a rebound,” Reed said.
But when he’s playing basketball, Reed isn't thinking about football. He’s there to compete — and have fun.
“What I love about basketball is to have fun, go out on the court with the crowd and get some buckets,” he said. “Play the game for what it is. At the end of the day, it’s about having fun.”
Then there’s another side of Reed that might surprise people. He’s a musician.
Reed plays bass in the orchestra, a passion he picked up in middle school when he decided he wanted to learn an instrument. Music has become another outlet and another way to challenge himself.
“I wanted to learn an instrument,” he said. “When I talk to people, I have something to talk about.”
It’s just another example of Reed refusing to limit himself.
A Competitor in the Classroom
The same competitive fire that drives Reed on the football field and basketball court shows up in the classroom.
As the No. 2 student in his class, he takes academics seriously.
“I’m very competitive in the classroom,” Reed said. “It’s the same in sports, but in a classroom.”
He does whatever he can to earn the highest grades possible — completing extra credit, turning assignments in on time and maintaining the same work ethic he brings to the field.
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FINDING HIS EDGE: Attention to Detail Has Helped Alief Taylor’s Nwawueze Take His Game to Another Level
A second-team all-district selection a season ago, Nwawueze led the Lions with six sacks and nine tackles for loss while recording 30 tackles overall. But the numbers only tell part of his development.
“Analyzing plays and improving my get-off has allowed me to step up my game,” Nwawueze said. “There’s a lot you can gain by paying attention to the details — how the tackle lines up across from you, which pass-rush moves to use to get past the block, and being aware of the option plays.”
Farrah Sheeren (VYPE)
His growth as a teammate, though, has come from somewhere a little less tangible.
“I feel like, as a player, I’ve been able to develop my confidence and mental strength over the years,” he said. “That’s not something you can do on your own, so I credit a lot of that to the examples set by the leaders before me. For me, I feel like I can relate to anyone and be approachable. That helps with communication, and you can see that dynamic show up on the field.”
It’s an outlook that traces back to his earliest varsity experiences.
“My love for football comes from my teammates, for real,” Nwawueze said. “Going from JV to varsity, I realized I wasn’t the fastest guy out there. But I also learned that I didn’t necessarily have to be. I got my first sack in my first varsity game, and everyone was celebrating. It was a good moment, and it’s moments like that with my teammates that keep me going.”
That same sense of togetherness now carries into a Lions team that has already shown what progress can look like.
Alief Taylor improved from 1-9 in 2024 to 4-6 last fall, and that momentum has continued into 2026. With a fresh slate of district opponents — including teams from Spring Branch ISD and Houston ISD, in addition to their Alief rivals — the Lions are looking to take another step forward.
The featured standouts of the 2026–27 Alief Taylor Lions football team.Dana Strange (VYPE)
For Nwawueze, the difference may ultimately come down to something the numbers can’t capture.
“Honestly, it’s going to be our mentality that separates us from the teams we face,” he said. “From a skill standpoint, we’re on a level playing field. So, how we approach each game and work through the preparation — that’s what should determine how far we go.”
Beyond football, Nwawueze plans to pursue a career as a physical therapist, beginning certification training through Patient Care after graduation. For now, though, his focus remains on one more season — and on helping the Lions discover just how far their progress can take them.