Angel Reese's Basketball Journey
Freshman Year (2016-2017): A Strong Start
Angel Reese began her high school career at St. Frances Academy with impressive performances, averaging 11.1 points and 11 rebounds per game. She earned All-Metro first team honors and led St. Frances to the IAAM A Conference championship with a remarkable 30–1 season record.
Key Achievement: Made the FIBA U16 Women's Americas Championship team roster.
Sophomore Year (2017-2018): Rising Star
Reese showed significant improvement, averaging 17.6 points, 12.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game. She maintained her All-Metro first team status while leading her team to another IAAM A Conference title.
Key Achievement: Named MVP of the Capital Classic after her team defeated competitors with a score of 115–80.
Junior Year (2018-2019): Peak Performance
This was Reese's breakout year. Her average of 22.6 points and 19.3 rebounds per game earned her the All-Metro Player of the Year honor. She guided St. Frances to another IAAM championship.
Key Achievement: Her AAU team, Team Takeover, captured the Nike EYBL championship with a 57–47 win against All Iowa Attack.
Senior Year (2019-2020): A Legendary Finish
Despite pandemic cancellations of events like the McDonald's All-American Game, Reese maintained exceptional performance with 18.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.5 blocks per contest.
Key Achievement: Won her fourth consecutive IAAM championship with a 25–3 season record and became the first female athlete at St. Frances to have her jersey (#10) retired.
University of Maryland (2020-2021): College Transition
Reese began her college career at the University of Maryland as the No. 2 overall recruit and top wing in the 2020 class. Her freshman season at Maryland established her as one of the country's rising stars.
Key Development: Reese showed promise at Maryland but would later transfer to LSU to further develop her skills and chase a national championship.
LSU (2021-2024): Championship Glory
After transferring to LSU, Reese reached new heights in her college career. She became a dominant force in women's college basketball, showcasing the skills she developed at St. Frances Academy.
Key Achievement: Secured a national championship victory with LSU in 2023, becoming one of the most recognizable figures in women's basketball.
WNBA (2024-Present): Professional Career
Selected seventh overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Reese brought her talents to the professional level. The foundation built at St. Frances Academy continues to serve her well in the WNBA.
In her own words to Vogue: "High school prepared me for everything." Reese demonstrates exceptional leadership skills and performance under pressure that she developed at St. Frances.
Did You Know?
What high school did Angel Reese attend before becoming a basketball star?
A young athlete rose to dominance on the basketball court leading her team to multiple championships during her formative years in Baltimore’s bustling atmosphere. Angel Reese has become a name that represents the highest standard of achievement in women’s basketball. But where did this journey begin? Which high school played a role in shaping Angel Reese into today's basketball star? This article examines Angel Reese’s high school journey at St. Frances Academy by looking into her accomplishments, obstacles overcome and the enduring legacy she created. This article serves as a complete guide to understanding her roots for basketball fans as well as young athletes who are curious about her beginnings.
Introduction: The Making of a Star
Angel Reese transcends the typical definition of a basketball player because she represents a unique phenomenon. Her trajectory from impressive performances at LSU to her present position with Chicago Sky in the WNBA stands as an inspiration. The beginning of every great story marks its start point and Reese began hers at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, Maryland. Why does this matter? Her high school years were instrumental in refining her skills and developing her character while attracting attention from recruiters across the country. In this article we'll explore her St. Frances Academy years by analyzing her statistics and awards and examining the personal experiences that shaped her into the person she is today.
Early Life and Family Roots
Angel Reese entered the world on May 6, 2002 in Randallstown, Maryland where basketball played a significant role throughout her upbringing. Angel Webb Reese played college basketball at UMBC before switching to professional play overseas and Michael Reese also had experience in basketball. Basketball remains a family tradition as her younger brother Julian plays for the University of Maryland.
In an interview with Teen Vogue Angel Reese Profile, she shared that her mom never forced her to choose a sport. She was allowed to select her sports which brought her joy and exploration through volleyball, softball, cheerleading, and track until she settled on basketball. She found her basketball inspiration from WNBA stars Candace Parker and Maya Moore and Baltimore's Muggsy Bogues while playing against older kids on boys' teams in her recreation league.
St. Frances Academy: The High School Years
Angel Reese went through her high school years at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore which operates as a private Catholic institution famous for its superior basketball team. Between 2016 and 2020 she evolved from a promising basketball talent into a national sensation. We will examine Angel Reese’s development throughout each season of her high school career.
Freshman Year (2016-2017): A Strong Start
Reese began her high school career with strong performances by averaging 11.1 points and 11 rebounds per game. As a freshman she earned All-Metro first team honors and guided St. Frances to the IAAM A Conference championship with a remarkable 30–1 season record. That year, she also tried out for the U16 national team, as reported by The Baltimore Sun St. Frances' Angel Reese trying out for U.S. U16 basketball team and secured a place on the FIBA U16 Women’s Americas Championship team roster.
Sophomore Year (2017-2018): Rising Star
Reese showed her improved performance by averaging 17.6 points, 12.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game. She maintained her All-Metro first team status while leading her team to yet another IAAM A Conference title with a 24–4 season record. Her standout moment? The Capital Classic named Reese as MVP after her team defeated their competitors with a final score of 115–80.
Junior Year (2018-2019): Peak Performance
This was Reese’s breakout year. Her average of 22.6 points and 19.3 rebounds per game earned her the All-Metro Player of the Year honor. Reese guided St. Frances to another IAAM championship while her AAU team Team Takeover captured the Nike EYBL championship with a 57–47 win against All Iowa Attack. The suspension following an on-court incident served as a learning opportunity instead of a setback for Reese.
Senior Year (2019-2020): A Legendary Finish
The pandemic led to the cancellation of significant events such as the McDonald’s All-American Game but Reese maintained her exceptional performance by averaging 18.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.5 blocks per contest. She won her fourth consecutive IAAM championship with a 25–3 season record and earned repeat honors as All-Metro Player of the Year before receiving the High School Female Athlete of the Year award. Her career totals? Angel Reese accumulated 1,720 points which ranks second in the school's history and secured 1,250 rebounds making her the top rebounder ever at the school. St. Frances made history by retiring jersey number 10 for the first time for a female athlete.
Personal Insights: Growing Up in the Spotlight
Reese demonstrated prodigious basketball skills but also excelled as a multi-sport athlete. Winning IAAM C Conference titles during her freshman and sophomore years demonstrated her versatile athletic talent. But with fame came pressure. She developed a thick skin at an early age due to the public eye according to Teen Vogue Angel Reese Profile. Her coaches saw her potential early. Coach Jerome Shelton, with over 600 wins, said, “The bigger the crowd, the better she played” WMAR2 News: Angel Reese’s Baltimore High School Coaches.
My childhood memories of high school games included watching Reese whose energy levels were electric. That kind of presence isn’t taught—it’s felt.
Transition to College and the WNBA
Reese began her college career at the University of Maryland after attending St. Frances but moved to LSU where she secured a national championship victory in 2023. Selected seventh overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft, she told Vogue, “High school prepared me for everything” Vogue: Angel Reese will showcase her abilities in the WNBA. She demonstrates exceptional leadership skills and performance under pressure which she developed at St. Frances.
Legacy at St. Frances Academy
Reese’s impact is undeniable. Ranked No. 2 overall recruit and top wing in the 2020 class before she concluded her time at St. Frances with both a jersey retirement and leadership legacy. According to assistant coach Nytearia Burrell Angel Reese made an impact in her city as well as throughout her state and country.
High School Stats: A Snapshot
Here’s a quick look at her dominance:
| Year | Points/Game | Rebounds/Game | Assists/Game | Blocks/Game | Key Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshman | 11.1 | 11 | - | - | Angel Reese received All-Metro First Team honors and secured the IAAM Title during her freshman year. |
| Sophomore | 17.6 | 12.1 | 3.1 | 1.8 | Reese earned All-Metro First Team honors and was named MVP of the Capital Classic during her sophomore year. |
| Junior | 22.6 | 19.3 | - | - | Angel Reese earned All-Metro Player of the Year honors and triumphed with the EYBL Title throughout her junior year. |
| Senior | 18.6 | 10.2 | 3.4 | 2.5 | Angel Reese received Athlete of the Year honors and had her jersey retired during her senior year. |
Conclusion: A Foundation for Greatness
Her time at St. Frances Academy prepared Angel Reese for an extraordinary basketball career beyond her time on the court. Her high school years were transformative as they took her from four consecutive championships to earning a retired jersey while shaping her into a leader and an inspiration for competitors. Curious about her path or want to voice your opinion? Leave a comment down below and watch her current games with the Chicago Sky. The starting point of one's life can determine their future path.
