Jordan Hawkins and Angel Reese have more in common than just being cousins. They are also both stars on the hardwood, leading their teams to the Final Four of the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments. It’s the first time in history that cousins have achieved this feat in the same year.
Hawkins, a freshman guard for UConn, and Reese, a junior forward for LSU, grew up playing basketball together in the DMV area (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia). They learned from each other and pushed each other to improve their skills. Hawkins said Reese was his biggest challenge on the court, while Reese said Hawkins inspired her to pursue her hoop dreams.
Now, they are both one win away from playing for a national title. Hawkins scored 15 points in UConn’s Elite Eight win over Gonzaga, while Reese had 24 points and 12 rebounds in LSU’s upset over Stanford43. They keep in touch regularly through texts and FaceTime calls, cheering each other on and sharing advice.
Hawkins and Reese are not only cousins but also role models for young basketball players. They show how hard work, talent, and family can lead to success in the sport they love.