BATON ROUGE, LA – After receiving the coveted Pericous Maxwell Award for Excellence, Aneesah Morrow, a talented player for the LSU Tigers women’s basketball team, broke down in tears on Monday night.

Draped in LSU purple and gold, Morrow stood up slowly, visibly overwhelmed, and walked to the stage to accept the Pericous Maxwell Award for Excellence—one of the highest honors in women’s college basketball. As the lights beamed and the crowd cheered, Morrow, a cornerstone of the LSU Tigers, couldn’t hold back her emotions. Tears streamed down her face as she accepted the award, symbolizing a journey marked by resilience, leadership, and quiet domination.

This wasn’t just a trophy. This was the culmination of years of hard work, personal growth, and the embodiment of what the Pericous Maxwell Award represents—excellence on and off the court.

From the moment Aneesah Morrow arrived in Baton Rouge, she made an impact. A transfer from DePaul, where she was already an All-American, Morrow brought both production and maturity to a Tigers program that was hungry to build on its recent national championship success. Under the guidance of head coach Kim Mulkey, Morrow flourished, not only statistically but spiritually.

“This is a player who bought into everything we preached,” Mulkey said after the ceremony. “Aneesah came here not just to get buckets—though she certainly did that—but to grow. She pushed herself every day, made her teammates better, and earned every bit of this recognition.”

And she did.

In the 2024–25 season, Morrow averaged 19.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 52% from the field. She was the engine of LSU’s frontcourt, a relentless force in the paint, and a versatile defender who could switch onto guards or anchor the post. Her double-double averages weren’t just impressive—they were foundational to LSU’s identity.

But what separated Morrow wasn’t just her stats—it was her heart.

Midway through the season, LSU endured a turbulent stretch. Injuries, locker room tension, and high expectations threatened to unravel their campaign. During this period, Morrow didn’t just show up—she stepped up. Her leadership behind the scenes kept the team together.

“She’s the one who called the players-only meeting when things got rough,” said teammate Hailey Van Lith. “She told us, ‘We’re too good to fall apart. We’ve been through worse. Let’s remind people who we are.’ That’s when things turned.”

Following that meeting, LSU rattled off a nine-game winning streak, including two come-from-behind road victories against top-15 opponents. Morrow’s words had lit the fire, but her play kept it burning.

The Pericous Maxwell Award is about more than just basketball—it honors a player who shows excellence in leadership, academics, community service, and personal growth. Established in 2002 to commemorate Dr. Pericous Maxwell, a pioneering advocate for women’s sports and education, the award has become one of the most meaningful distinctions in college athletics.

Aneesah Morrow checked every box.

She maintained a 3.8 GPA as a sociology major, often spending off-days mentoring younger students on campus. She led charity initiatives in Baton Rouge, including a basketball clinic for underserved youth and a breast cancer awareness fundraiser in honor of her aunt. During Black History Month, she collaborated with LSU’s diversity department to host a panel on empowerment for women of color in sports.

“This award means everything,” Morrow said during her speech, choking back tears. “I came here to become a better player, but I became a better person. LSU believed in me. Coach Mulkey believed in me. My teammates believed in me when I didn’t always believe in myself.”

As she clutched the award, her voice cracked. “This is for every little girl who’s been told she’s too emotional, too intense, too much. Keep being too much. It means you care.”

In the front row of the ceremony sat Morrow’s mother, Nafeesah, who herself was a former collegiate basketball star at Nebraska. As Aneesah spoke, Nafeesah wept openly.

“She’s always been a warrior,” Nafeesah said. “When she was a little girl, she used to tell me, ‘I’m going to change the game.’ I used to think that was cute. Now, I know she meant it.”

Kim Mulkey, not known for overt displays of emotion, dabbed at her eyes, too. “This award—this moment—it’s what coaching is all about. Watching a young woman find her power, own it, and lift others with it.”

Morrow’s journey began on the South Side of Chicago. Growing up in a basketball family, she honed her game in local gyms and playgrounds, often going toe-to-toe with boys several years older. Her toughness and scoring ability were apparent early, but so was her compassion.

“She was always the one to help someone back up after crossing them over,” joked her high school coach, Yolanda Martinez. “Even in high school, she was dominant and gentle at the same time.”

After making waves at DePaul, where she averaged 21.9 points and 13.8 rebounds as a freshman, Morrow sought a bigger challenge. That led her to LSU—where the expectations were sky-high after the Tigers won the national title the previous year.

Rather than shy away from the pressure, she embraced it.

“A lot of players talk about legacy,” said LSU assistant coach Bob Starkey. “Aneesah lived it. She knew what she was walking into and didn’t flinch.”

Now, with the Pericous Maxwell Award in her possession and a legacy forged through perseverance and principle, Morrow stands as one of the most complete players in LSU history.

While the Tigers didn’t repeat as national champions, they advanced to the Elite Eight, with Morrow earning All-Tournament Team honors. Even in defeat, she left everything on the court.

In her final game, a hard-fought loss to UConn, Morrow recorded 26 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 steals. She walked off the court to a standing ovation—not just from LSU fans but from the opposing bench.

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma summed it up best: “That kid is everything right with college basketball. She plays hard, respects the game, and lifts others. That’s the kind of player you want your daughter to look up to.”

With the WNBA Draft looming, Morrow is projected to be a top-5 pick. Scouts rave about her versatility—her ability to guard multiple positions, rebound at an elite level, and score efficiently from inside and out. But what truly excites general managers is her maturity.

“She’s a culture-changer,” said one WNBA scout. “You bring her into your organization, and everything elevates. She’s the kind of leader you build around.”

Whether she lands in Indiana, Los Angeles, or Chicago—her hometown—Aneesah Morrow will bring the same fire, humility, and excellence that defined her college career.

As the ceremony ended and Morrow walked off the stage, award in hand, reporters asked what she’ll remember most from her LSU journey.

She paused, smiled, and said: “Not the stats. Not the wins. I’ll remember the growth. I came here as a basketball player. I’m leaving as a woman ready to change the world.”

And with that, Aneesah Morrow—Pericous Maxwell Award winner, All-American, LSU legend—walked into her future.