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.” 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.
TOWNE INTERVIEW
Angel Reese
Star Guard for Maryland Terrapins Women’s Basketball
U
By Tom Worgo Photography courtesy University of Maryland
niversity 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.”
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What’s Up? Annapolis | March 2022 | whatsupmag.com
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
