Born in Dallas, Texas, Reed attended Crossett High School in Crossett, AR. He was a three sport star in high school, playing a tight end and defensive end in football , Center in basketball, and as a pitcher with a 95-mile per hour fastball for the baseball team. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 2000 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft and was also recruited by Houston Nutt to play college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks. The White Sox paid him a $550,000 signing bonus, and Reed opted for baseball.