LSU Basketball Star Angel Reese Announces her Decision
After the LSU Tigers lost their elite 8 matchup to the Iowa Hawkeyes, much speculation was made as to the future of stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese who have maintained a respectful rivalry as two of the top players in women's college basketball the last two seasons. With Clark announcing already that she is declaring for the WNBA draft, the spotlight was on Reese. Well, she has now also declared. We dive into what that all means for the Tigers and Reese in this article.
Star LSU Forward Angel Reese has declared for the WNBA draft as announced on Wednesday.
The 2024 WNBA Draft is scheduled for Monday, April 15th on ESPN and Reese is a projected 1st round draft pick.
In the latest round of mock drafts, Sporting News projects Reese to be picked 7th overall by the Minnesota Lynx while CBS Sports and The Athletic project Reese to be picked 8th by the Chicago Sky. ESPN also tabbed Reese going 7th.
Reese spent two years in Baton Rouge after beginning her career at Maryland. The 6'3 Forward played a key role in LSU national championship last season, and then their run to the Elite 8 this year.
Reese was named the SEC's Player of the Year this year, as well as being an All-American (1st team according to the US Basketball Writers Assoc. and 2nd team according to the AP). Reese was a 1st team All-American according to both last season.
Reese averaged 18.6 PPG, 13.4 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.9 SPG, and 1.0 BPG on 47.1% shooting this year, earning SEC Player of the Year honors. Reese averaged 23 PPG and 15.4 RPG on 52.5% shooting last year. That gives Reese averages of 20.9 PPG, 14.4 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.9 SPG, and 1.3 BPG on 50.1% shooting across 69 games in two years at LSU.
Including the two seasons at Maryland, Reese's career averages are 18.6 PPG and 12.3 RPG on 49.8% shooting. Reese has career averages of 17.7 PPG and 12.2 RPG in 16 career NCAA Tournament games. Reese averaged 21.3 PPG and 15.2 RPG in the tournament in last year's national title run for LSU.
Reese was a 1st team All-SEC selection each of the last two years to go along with being the conference's Player of the Year this year. Reese was also named to the All-Defensive team both years as well.
All four mock drafts listed earlier have Reese being one of three SEC players selected in the 1st round (12 picks), joining Tennessee's Rickea Jackson and South Carolina's Kamilla Cordoso. All four mocks have Jackson being picked third by the Chicago Sky and Cordoso being picked fourth by the Los Angeles Sparks.