On Thursday, LSU's Angel Reese received recognition as a semifinalist for the Naismith Player of the Year award, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
Reese's performance this season has been nothing short of dominant, boasting an impressive 23 double-doubles, the third highest tally in the nation. Remarkably, she has maintained a streak of 12 consecutive double-doubles, marking her third instance of achieving such a feat during her tenure at LSU. Notably, Reese has notched double-figure scoring in all 65 games she's played for LSU.
In a rare accomplishment, Reese joins the ranks of Vanderbilt's Wendy Scholtens (1989 and 1990) as the only player to lead the SEC in scoring and rebounding in consecutive seasons. This season, Reese has averaged an impressive 19.0 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, ranking second in the nation in rebounding and leading with 5.6 offensive rebounds per game. Her impact is further highlighted by her seven 20/20 games in two seasons at LSU, including a standout performance with 25 points and 20 rebounds against Auburn this season. Impressively, six of these games have seen Reese tally at least 25 points and 20 rebounds.
Despite nursing a right ankle injury, Reese displayed her dominance at the SEC Tournament. Despite doubts about her availability after rolling her ankle during LSU's game against Auburn, Reese opted to play, contributing 21 points and 17 rebounds against Ole Miss. She continued her strong showing in the SEC Tournament Championship, posting 15 points and 13 rebounds. Over the course of three games at the SEC Tournament, Reese averaged an impressive 19.7 points and 13.7 rebounds, earning a well-deserved spot on the All-Tournament team.
Reflecting on LSU's performance after Sunday's matchup against South Carolina, Reese remained optimistic, acknowledging the team's resilience despite challenges. She emphasized the team's focus on improvement and readiness for the upcoming NCAA tournament.
