Angel Reese, the college basketball star who led her Louisiana State University basketball team to its first National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball championship and set the NCAA’s single-season record with 34 double-doubles, has earned another honor.
On July 17, Baltimore County dedicated its newly renovated basketball court at the Scotts Branch Recreation Activity Center, located off North Rolling and Liberty roads, to the hometown hero. County officials, state and local legislators delivered remarks and presented Reese with several citations. “I want to give hope to the kids in the crowd that one day this could be you,” she told attendees, who also included students and members of the community.
The court, now known as “Angel Reese Court,” was one of the sites where the 6-foot-3 LSU Tigers guard played as a youngster. She also honed her athletic talents playing with the county recreational EDRECO and Deer Park basketball teams.
In high school, Reese played four years on the nationally recognized girls varsity basketball team at St. Francis Academy in Baltimore City. Her coach was Jerome Shelton, also a hometown hero, who achieved his 600th career victory in 2020. Still St. Frances’ winning coach after 30-plus years, Shelton lives in Woodstock.
After graduation, a highly recruited Reese chose to play for the University of Maryland and transferred to LSU after two seasons with the Terps.
Off the court, Reese continues to lead and use her platform to inspire change, most recently launching the Angel C. Reese Foundation dedicated to empowering young women and the next generation through sports, education, financial literacy, and more.
The renovations to the Scott Branch RAC basketball court are part of efforts from county officials to replace outdated equipment — some put in place more than 40 years ago — with new poles, backboards, and rims at 168 county-managed basketball courts and 10 recreation activity sites, formerly known as PAL centers.
According to county officials, the Angel Reese Court at Scotts Branch recently received replacement fencing and a new gate surrounding the outdoor court, as well as the installation of new poles, 36×36 inch rectangle acrylic backboards, breakaway rims and nets.
The basketball system replacement project, supported by federal funds, is expected to be completed by the fall of 2023.
