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From rookie to role model, Armaan Franklin is making the most of his freshman season

When Armaan Franklin walked into the Bryce Jordan Center last Wednesday, one memory popped up in his head.

Franklin’s aunt, Coquese Washington, used to be the head coach of Penn State’s women’s team, so on one visit Franklin played her one-on-one inside the arena.

He was in sixth grade, and he lost to Washington, who played in the WNBA for seven years. Franklin claims his aunt cheated in the victory, calling too many fouls and not giving him enough calls, and he begged for a rematch.

“I had to tell him, ‘Never cheated, never cheated. I’m undefeated he’s never beaten me, so he’s just got to live with that for the rest of his life.