We need an invite to this cookout!
Louisiana State University’s (LSU) Angel Reese has been receiving a lot of publicity after leading her team to an upset victory over Iowa in the NCAA women’s basketball championship game. While the 20-year-old was celebrating her monumental achievement, the very next day, her cousin Jordan Hawkins also earned an NCAA championship win, with The University of Connecticut (UConn) defeating San Diego for the men’s title, People reports.
Reese congratulated her cousin via text, both already making plans for how they’re going to celebrate back home in Maryland.
“[She] said she was proud of me. We both said we need to go home right away for the cookout. I know it’s going to be crazy. The whole family is going to be there,” Hawkins told reporters.
Hawkins grew up in Gaithersburg, Maryland, attending DeMatha Catholic High School, with his cousin Reese just down the beltway in Baltimore at St. Frances Academy. Hawkins also celebrated his cousin’s victory, saying that he hopes their story will inspire other young people from home.
“This is for all the kids from Gaithersburg, Maryland, that didn’t think they could do it. I did it. Now you can do it, man. Me and Angel paved the way. We did it…I’m going to see her in Maryland soon. The cookout gone be lit,” he exclaimed.
Reese has been suffering a lot of unjust criticism for how unapologetically confident she is and how she chose to celebrate her win on the court. Still, she’s been taking it all in stride, hoping to also be an example to other young girls like her.
“All year I was critiqued about who I was. I don’t fit the narrative. I don’t fit in the box that you all want me to be in. I’m too hood, I’m too ghetto. You told me that all year. But when other people do it, y’all don’t say nothing. So this is for the girls that look like me, that want to speak up on what they believe in. It’s unapologetically you. It was bigger than me tonight. I’m happy. I felt I helped grow women’s basketball,” said Reese.
Congratulations Angel & Jordan. We are so extremely proud of you both!
Cover photo: Cousins Angel Reese & Jordan Hawkins win NCAA championship titles just one day apart/Photo Courtesy of NCAA Photos/Getty Images/Jessica Hill/Associated Press