Despite missing some time earlier in the season, LSU Tigers star forward Angel Reese has had a fantastic junior year.
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As a result of Reese's individual success and another stellar regular season for coach Kim Mulkey's defending national champion LSU squad, Reese was named the SEC Player of the Year on Tuesday.
Reese reacted to the announcement with a post on X: "So many things I could say right now but all ima say is thank you God. STAY DOWN 10. ?."
So many things I could say right now but all ima say is thank you God. STAY DOWN 10. 🙏🏽 https://t.co/BF0ll4VmNc
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) March 5, 2024
Clearly, the Tigers' star player and social media icon was overjoyed about what being given this rare honor means to her.
In addition to being deemed the SEC's best player, the "Bayou Barbie" also was named to the All-SEC First Team and the SEC All-Defensive Team.
This is Reese's second consecutive All-SEC First Team selection. In fact, there's no doubt she deserves the Player of the Year honors — as shown by her 19.1 points and 13 rebounds per game. She actually produced better individual stats last season (23 points and 15.4 rebounds per game) compared with this year. Yet she managed to lead the SEC in both stat categories each season.
Reese leading the SEC in both points and rebounding makes her the first player since Vanderbilt's Wendy Scholtens to lead the league in both stats multiple seasons in a row, which Scholtens did in 1989 and 1990.
Adding to those impressive numbers, Reese is also currently No. 2 in the nation with 214 free throw attempts and No. 6 with 156 free throws made.
Of course, the most important accolade of them all is Reese having won a national championship last season. While LSU isn't considered likely to go back-to-back this year, one can never count out Mulkey's teams.
While she has been hinting about potentially returning to LSU for another year, Reese still appears to be undecided about whether to declare for the 2024 WNBA Draft.
If she does decide to go pro, there's no question that she'll be a first-round pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft, which takes place April 15.
Perhaps the way LSU finishes its season will have an influence on Reese's ultimate decision. Yet, with a national championship and SEC Player of the Year Award on her trophy mantel, Reese has nothing left to prove in college.
