Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Transfers Reid, Page Embrace Culture, Make Instant Impact for NU
11/8/2025 2:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball
EVANSTON, Ill. - When junior guard Jayden Reid and junior forward Arrinten Page first suited up for Northwestern in the season opener against Mercyhurst, it marked the first time two Wildcat transfers started together since 2019.
The work that Reid and Page put in to gain the coaching staff's trust and become comfortable with their new teammates began long before the Nov. 3 lidlifter. During the summer, the two made sure to understand what it meant to be a Wildcat.
"It's their attitudes. They've been great," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "They've come in, and they've jumped into what we're doing, the culture, how we do things, what we're asking them to do, and what we brought them in here to do. They're veteran guys that we brought in to be starting-level players and impactful players. So far, they've done a great job of that, and they've been great teammates to the other guys."
While scouring the transfer portal, Collins placed an emphasis on tackling team needs. In doing so, he identified the necessity of acquiring a "true point guard" and "addressing the front line."
Enter Reid and Page. Through two games, both players are tied for second on the team with 25 points apiece. Page leads the team with 19 rebounds, while Reid leads the way with 11 assists. Reid credits his seamless transition to the team's culture.
"The culture is really what stuck out to me in my transfer process. That's one of the reasons I came here — knowing the stability that this program has had over the years," Reid said. "It was an easy transition for us. Obviously, the coaches are great. Guys like Nick [Martinelli], Justin [Mullins], and Jordan [Clayton] that have been here for a lot of years — we acclimated to them right away."
The junior from Westbury, N.Y. turned in a 17-point and 8-assist performance with just one turnover in a 76-54 victory over Boston University. Reid provided the Wildcats initial burst in the wire-to-wire victory, scoring seven points in the game's opening five minutes.
Reid's combination of quickness and playmaking alongside Page's athleticism has enabled the Wildcats to run and gun in transition.
"My speed works to my advantage, so Coach Collins wants me to push the ball, pick up the pace," Reid said. "Obviously, we have the personnel to do it. AP can run as a big man. We have good wings that could fill the lane, shoot, run, and dunk. So just playing fast, pushing the tempo, getting the defense back on their heels, and obviously, [it's] me just making a play after that."
As the season tipped off against the Lakers, Page had the best game of his career. The 6-foot-11 forward posted career highs of 18 points and 12 rebounds. He became the first player to post a double-double in his Wildcat debut since at least 2004.
After playing a career-high 23 minutes, Page was quick to credit the coaching staff that prepared him for the moment.
"The belief that Coach CC has in me and the rest of his team — that's probably been the biggest difference: just the confidence," Page said.
Page has played a key role as a rim protector and helped limit Northwestern's opponents to 49.5 points per game over the season's first two contests.
"When you're the biggest guy on the court, you have to establish yourself physically, and I thought he did that," Collins said. "He didn't play a lot last year. For him to get these extended minutes, meaningful minutes, and to be needed the way he is here, these are all very important games for him."
Collins sees his returning players as the glue that have enabled the team's immediate success on the floor.
"The holdovers from last year have done an unbelievable job welcoming all the new players in and kind of showing them the way, showing them how we do things, how we practice, how we approach things," Collins said. "Hopefully, those guys will keep getting better. It's been fun seeing them so far this year."
The work that Reid and Page put in to gain the coaching staff's trust and become comfortable with their new teammates began long before the Nov. 3 lidlifter. During the summer, the two made sure to understand what it meant to be a Wildcat.
"It's their attitudes. They've been great," Sullivan-Ubben Head Men's Basketball Coach Chris Collins said. "They've come in, and they've jumped into what we're doing, the culture, how we do things, what we're asking them to do, and what we brought them in here to do. They're veteran guys that we brought in to be starting-level players and impactful players. So far, they've done a great job of that, and they've been great teammates to the other guys."
While scouring the transfer portal, Collins placed an emphasis on tackling team needs. In doing so, he identified the necessity of acquiring a "true point guard" and "addressing the front line."
Enter Reid and Page. Through two games, both players are tied for second on the team with 25 points apiece. Page leads the team with 19 rebounds, while Reid leads the way with 11 assists. Reid credits his seamless transition to the team's culture.
"The culture is really what stuck out to me in my transfer process. That's one of the reasons I came here — knowing the stability that this program has had over the years," Reid said. "It was an easy transition for us. Obviously, the coaches are great. Guys like Nick [Martinelli], Justin [Mullins], and Jordan [Clayton] that have been here for a lot of years — we acclimated to them right away."
The junior from Westbury, N.Y. turned in a 17-point and 8-assist performance with just one turnover in a 76-54 victory over Boston University. Reid provided the Wildcats initial burst in the wire-to-wire victory, scoring seven points in the game's opening five minutes.
Keep doing the habits the right way ???? @jaydenreid0 pic.twitter.com/WOpk4fJraC
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) November 8, 2025
Reid's combination of quickness and playmaking alongside Page's athleticism has enabled the Wildcats to run and gun in transition.
"My speed works to my advantage, so Coach Collins wants me to push the ball, pick up the pace," Reid said. "Obviously, we have the personnel to do it. AP can run as a big man. We have good wings that could fill the lane, shoot, run, and dunk. So just playing fast, pushing the tempo, getting the defense back on their heels, and obviously, [it's] me just making a play after that."
As the season tipped off against the Lakers, Page had the best game of his career. The 6-foot-11 forward posted career highs of 18 points and 12 rebounds. He became the first player to post a double-double in his Wildcat debut since at least 2004.
After playing a career-high 23 minutes, Page was quick to credit the coaching staff that prepared him for the moment.
"The belief that Coach CC has in me and the rest of his team — that's probably been the biggest difference: just the confidence," Page said.
Throw it down, AP ??
— Northwestern Basketball (@NUMensBball) November 4, 2025
Subscribe/watch on B1G+ - https://t.co/gQGKgzwYuz pic.twitter.com/Cj4TjOLQSp
Page has played a key role as a rim protector and helped limit Northwestern's opponents to 49.5 points per game over the season's first two contests.
"When you're the biggest guy on the court, you have to establish yourself physically, and I thought he did that," Collins said. "He didn't play a lot last year. For him to get these extended minutes, meaningful minutes, and to be needed the way he is here, these are all very important games for him."
Collins sees his returning players as the glue that have enabled the team's immediate success on the floor.
"The holdovers from last year have done an unbelievable job welcoming all the new players in and kind of showing them the way, showing them how we do things, how we practice, how we approach things," Collins said. "Hopefully, those guys will keep getting better. It's been fun seeing them so far this year."
Players Mentioned
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