Photography courtesy University of Maryland
University of Maryland sophomore guard Angel Reese grew up in a basketball intense household. Her parents played basketball both in college and professionally overseas. Angel’s two brothers have also competed at the Division I college level. Her 18-year-old brother Julian, a freshman, is on the Maryland’s men’s basketball team. So, there’s a sibling rivalry of sorts.
“Everything was always competitive with my younger brother,” says Angel, 19. “We had a basketball court in front of our house, and it was always very competitive and intense. We played all the time together. It helped shape me to who I am now.”
It made 6-foot-3 Reese, a sophomore guard/forward into a dynamic player. Early in the season, she led the Terrapins in points, rebounds, and steals. That came after a sophomore year in which she averaged 10 points and six rebounds in 15 games, mostly coming off the bench. A foot injury kept out of the lineup for a few months.
Reese was the highest-rated player ever to commit to Maryland. ESPN ranked as the No. 2 overall recruit in the country. At Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, she led the team to four straight Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Conference championships.
We talked to Reese about how basketball ran in her family, her relationship with Julian, being a vocal and energetic player, and what she wants to do after college.
What was it like growing up in a basketball household?
Everything was just competitive. Our basketball court in front of the house had to be taken away because we were just so competitive. Everything was just always win, win, and win. My younger brother didn’t want me to be better than him. We used to argue and say, “Who is taking the shots?” But it really helped my game.
Your brother is playing at Maryland, too. What does that mean to you? It must be special?
It’s great because my mother can come to all the games. It’s just great to have Julian here. We learn from each other. We talk to each other before games and after games to see what pointers we can give each other. It’s fun and so great.
You all hang out together on campus? What type of things you do together?
We usually hang out in each other’s rooms. He has a dog, so I will go hang out with his dog. We also see each other in the gym, and we will eat dinner together sometimes.
Maryland Coach Brenda Frese has been one of the country’s top coaches and she won a national championship. How would you describe your relationship?
We have a great relationship. We bump heads sometimes, but we always come back together so she knows what’s best for me. We really listen to each other. She is always there for me.
Your scoring is way up over last year. What has been the key to elevating your game?
My teammates are getting me the ball more and I am taking advantage of that. I didn’t get to show much last year and think I just focused on things mentally and being positive, and being able to get through adversity if I faced it.
You play with a lot of energy. Can you talk about that?
My coaches and teammates expect a lot out of me. One thing I can really bring is energy. That is one of the things I learned last year when I wasn’t playing. They feed off my energy and it’s exciting.
Photography courtesy University of Maryland
You are a vocal player. Does that help your teammates?
I give the freshman some confidence. I tell them you are going to make some mistakes, but it will be okay. It’s a big-time atmosphere to be in. They are going to be nervous and miss shots. Mentally, you have got to have a short memory for things like that.
You were ranked as the nation’s No. 2 recruit coming out of high school. The list of schools recruiting you seemed endless. Why Maryland over other schools?
It is close to home, and I like the family atmosphere. Coach Frese had a vision of what she wanted for me: That’s to be in the WNBA, and also to win a national championship. The girls on the team are so nice and cool. I felt they were like my sisters from the beginning. Everything just fits for me. My other top schools were South Carolina, Tennessee, USC, and Syracuse. Everybody was telling me I was going to be a star.
After last year playing with no fans. Is it exciting to play in front of big crowds this year?
Yeah, it is really fun. Having all those people there is great. I love having all my friends and family there. I appreciate the support.
What do want to do after you graduate from college?
I want to play professional basketball and go to the WNBA. After that, I want to be a commentator on TV. My major is communications. I have talked with Christy Winters Scott, who is a Maryland grad and has done broadcast work for ESPN and the The Big Ten Network. I have talked to her about doing an internship next summer.
NCAA March Madness
At the time of this writing the Maryland Terrapins Women’s Basketball Team was ranked No. 12 in the AP Top 25 national poll. Expect to see Angel Reese and her teammates compete in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament this month, when the opening round games tip off on March 16th. Games continue weekly, through the Final Four/Championship weekend, which is scheduled April 1–3.
