Khalia Lanier was named the best volleyball player in America’s high schools the other day. April Ross presented the award.
Lanier is from Phoenix. Her father is Bob Lanier, the Hall of Fame NBA center with the size 22 feet.
Next fall, Lanier will be a freshman at USC, where Ross, the Olympic beach volleyball silver medalist, was an All-American.
Lanier’s familiarity with big shoes, and filling them, will be needed.
“She’s another Bricio,” USC coach Mick Haley said.
But then Samantha Bricio will retain her uniqueness no matter who follows.
As the Trojans go for an NCAA regional championship at the University of San Diego, beginning Friday night, Bricio is a good bet for college Player of the Year and has significantly messed with the time-space formulas of the college game, as well as the heads of those across the net.