Austin Reaves experienced one of the most emotional moments of his career off the court when he was surprised by his former high school teacher, Priscilla Callahan, during a recent appearance in Los Angeles.
The reunion carried deep meaning for Reaves, who has often credited Callahan as one of the most important figures in his life growing up in Arkansas. Before the surprise, he spoke openly about her impact.
“She was one of my teachers growing up. She kept me moving forward. So yeah, a lot of thanks to her. One of my teachers, Miss Callahan, was one of the biggest influences as a teacher and as a student. I wasn’t the greatest student in the world, but she did her best to keep me on the path and make me see the bigger picture.”
Callahan was more than a teacher. She became a constant presence in his life during his formative years. As a yearbook adviser, she attended games, supported the basketball program, and built relationships with players beyond the classroom. Over time, students began calling her ‘mom,’ a nickname that stuck, including with Reaves.
“When I met him, the first time I saw him, I thought he was my nephew. He was about in eighth grade, and I just ran into him on the first day I started teaching.”
“As he got older, I had his older brother, so he was always around, watching him play basketball. I was the yearbook adviser, so I was at every game taking pictures. His senior quote in the yearbook was a Kobe Bryant quote. That’s probably the only time I ever saw him wear blue jeans. He thought it would be cool if they had their autographs.”
“I don’t think he knew how famous that autograph would become. You can see how skinny he was. He was never flashy. He was just a regular kid from a small school. He would always come into my class to see if I had snacks. They started calling me mom. I was like their school mom. If they needed anything, go to mom.”
“The first time I met their mother, Austin was saying ‘mom,’ and I thought he was talking to his actual mom, but he was talking to me because he needed help pinning his boutonniere. I told him, don’t call somebody else your mom in front of your mom.”
“During lunch, the basketball boys set up an autograph table to raise money for the yearbook. His looks have changed more than anything, but he’s still the same Austin. They had practice early, like 5:30 in the morning. My classroom was near the special ed classroom, and there was a boy who waited for Austin every day. Every day, Austin would stop, give him a high five, talk to him. Not many 16 or 17-year-olds do that. It made that boy’s day.”
“When I asked him what he wanted to be, he didn’t say he wanted to play in the NBA. He said, ‘I’m going to play in the NBA.’ That stuck with me. I even asked if he needed a backup plan. He didn’t like that at all. For him to be that young and that determined, he knew he had work to do, and he did it.”
“The night of the draft, we sat there for hours. He was supposed to go around the 40s, but nothing happened. I was upset, in tears, worried about him. A couple of days later, a student said, ‘Austin’s going to the Lakers.’ Not long after, he called me. I didn’t even say hello. I just said, ‘Let me hear it.’ He said, ‘I told you so, Miss Callahan. I told you I was.’ I started crying. I was so happy for him.”
Her own recollection of their relationship paints a clear picture of who Reaves was before the NBA. She remembered a quiet, determined kid who was not flashy but carried belief in himself from an early age. When asked about his future, he did not speak in hypotheticals.
During the recent segment, Reaves recorded a heartfelt message for her, thanking her for keeping him focused when he needed it most. He acknowledged that he did not always listen, especially when she pushed him to consider a backup plan, but he understood the intention behind it.
“Miss Callahan, I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for keeping me on the right path in school. I know it wasn’t the easiest thing in the world to do, but yeah. I always told you that this is what I wanted to do, and you kept telling me I needed a backup plan.”
“I probably didn’t listen that well, but once again, thank you for everything you’ve done, not just for me, but my brother, my family. We consider you family. So thank you, and tell the family I said hi.”
Then came the surprise. As Reaves finished speaking about her influence, Callahan walked in. The reaction was immediate. Shock turned into emotion as the two embraced, closing a full circle moment that began years ago in a small Arkansas classroom.
Reaves has come a long way since then. From going undrafted to becoming a core piece of a title-contending roster, his rise has been steady and earned. This season, he has taken another leap, averaging 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. He has emerged as the second star alongside Luka Doncic, taking on a major scoring and playmaking role.
That growth is expected to be rewarded. The Lakers view him as a long-term partner next to Doncic, and he is in line for a contract extension worth up to $240 million in the offseason. It marks one of the most significant turnarounds for an undrafted player in recent NBA history.
His journey from an overlooked prospect to a cornerstone player in Los Angeles tells one story, and this reunion tells another. Behind the numbers, contracts, and performances, there are people who shape the foundation. For Reaves, that person was Miss Callahan.
