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Julian Reese has been the definition of loyal to Maryland, sticking with the program through thick and thin. When he first joined in 2021, things were already shaky—the assistant coach who recruited him left, and then head coach Mark Turgeon stepped down just a few games into the season. A lot of players might have jumped ship, but Julian stayed, riding out the chaos and adjusting to new head coach Kevin Willard in 2022. On top of that, his sister, Angel Reese, transferred to LSU the same year, which could have been an easy excuse for him to leave, too. But instead, he doubled down on his commitment to the Terps.

“I knew what I had here in Maryland and the potential we had,” he said. “And just knowing the coaching staff so well, and them knowing me, them working with me as well, that relationship just outcasted everybody else, and it just was a no-brainer for me [to stay] this offseason.”

Even Maryland’s head coach, Kevin Willard, has been vocal about how much Julian means to the team, saying, “

I really believe one day Julian’s number will be hanging from the rafters. In an era where kids show no loyalty… [he’s] stayed the course and been as true to the University of Maryland as any player probably ever has.” Also, he’s not just a consistent player but a leader, too. And does anyone remember Freshman Derik Queen’s breakout year? Yeah, that’s mostly thanks to Julian taking him under his wing.

Julian has averaged 13.2 points, shot 55.5% from the field, and even improved his free throws to 74.1% (up from 53% last year). He had 14 double-doubles this season, including a monster 27-point, 17-rebound game against Illinois. He’s been locking down opponents all season. Also,

Julian was second in the Big Ten in rebounds and third in blocks — pretty much textbook all-defense numbers. But when the Big Ten announced its postseason awards, Julian’s name was missing from the defensive list. Instead, Penn State’s Ace Baldwin won Defensive Player of the Year, and Julian had to settle for an All-Big Ten honorable mention.

Now, if you know anything about Angel Reese, you know she’s her brother’s biggest fan. She’s had his back since day one, cheering him on from the sidelines, hyping him up on social media, and constantly reminding the world that the Reese family produces hoopers. Just a few days before the snub, Angel posted about Julian’s senior day, saying: “I’m your #1 fan.” So, you can only imagine how she felt when she saw his name missing from the list.

​​And this isn’t the first time a Reese has been snubbed for a defensive honor. Angel herself was left off the WNBA All-Defensive Team last season, which led to a firestorm of debates online. She led the WNBA in rebounds during the 2024 season, averaging 13.1 rebounds per game. Despite her impressive numbers, she was not selected.

This snub is frustrating, no doubt, but Julian isn’t the type to dwell on it. If anything, this is just more fuel for the fire. However, his sister’s been dreaming of seeing her brother finally get the recognition he deserves. After all, she’s been his biggest supporter, like always, right?

Angel Reese’s Unbreakable Support for Julian Throughout

Angel Reese has always been her brother’s biggest fan. She called it before his season even started: “My brother is going to have a great year. I’m calling it now.” And Julian Reese has delivered on those words.

After he dropped 27 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 blocks in a win over Illinois, Angel wasted no time hyping him up on X: “Somebody hoopin rn.” And when Julian led Maryland to an 84-53 win over Florida A&M with 21 points and 9 rebounds in November, Angel was all over Instagram, letting everyone know her brother’s consistency was paying off.

Their connection runs deep. Growing up in Baltimore, basketball was in their blood. Mom, Dad, and grandmother all played, and Angel credits those early days of watching her mom play in a local league as a big inspiration. That passion clearly rubbed off on Julian too. He’s been a steady force for Maryland. That kind of loyalty isn’t common these days.

Julian calls Angel his “inspiration,” but it works both ways. When he made history last year by becoming just the eighth player in Maryland’s history to hit 1,100 points and 800 rebounds, Angel was right there, retweeting the celebration.

Now, watching him get overlooked after everything he’s done — that’s gotta hurt. And you know Angel will keep reminding everyone exactly how good her brother is.