2025 Recruiting: Lara Somfai

[Zarathustra]

Some stats: rebounds Australia 21 two offensive;
Japan 12 rebounds, two offensive. Japan with six steals to
Aussies one, and Japan with only two turnovers to
Aussies 11. The Three point shooting is rather
equal: Japan 35 % on 5/14 and Australia 33.3 % on
4/12. Assists are equal at SEVEN. My mind is on
who might run out of gas! But the Australians play
a long bench.. Hopefully the rebounding will compensate
for the steals by Japan and the Australian TURNOVERS.
The Turnovers are caused by the Japanese pressure
defense and Australian pass passes ( long passes stolen
by the Japanese ). As always who makes the half
time adjustments.

THREE MINUTES AND 16 seconds left 62 - 62!
Who will have the "GRIT" to bring the fifth place
trophy home??

 

[Zarathustra]

THREE MINUTES AND 16 seconds left 62 - 62!
Who will have the "GRIT" to bring the fifth place
trophy home??

Final Score Australia 67 Japan 64
Lara Somfai: 9 points on 3 for 11 shooting,
five rebounds, three assistss, two personal fouls,
one turnover, no steals, no blocks, efficiency
EIGHT. 6'1", Madison Kathleen Ryan #11
was the HERO for the SAPPHIRES with 25 points and
a critical two pointer and wonderful three pointer
to close out the scoring for the Australians. THE
Australians needed every point and possession. Japan
stole the ball twice in the final 27 seconds
for four points and a VERY TENSE finish for the
Aussies. Good ball control and passing for the Aussies in the final 13.9
seconds with the Japanese swarming on
defense. An interesting game. Lara sat out
the last few minutes, the Sapphires going for
some speed over height. The Australians
had to really work to get FIFTH PLACE. Japan
is quick, many steals, very effective of at
obtaining JUMP BALL calls, and also Japan was somewhat
surprisingly good at getting OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS
with their energy and tenacity. Next Stop:
Croatia vs Taipei. GO OLIVIA!

 

[Zarathustra]

Final Score Australia 67 Japan 64
Lara Somfai: 9 points on 3 for 11 shooting,
five rebounds, three assistss, two personal fouls,
one turnover, no steals, no blocks, efficiency
EIGHT. 6'1", Madison Kathleen Ryan #11
was the HERO for the SAPPHIRES with 25 points and
a critical two pointer and wonderful three pointer
to close out the scoring for the Australians. THE
Australians needed every point and possession. Japan
stole the ball twice in the final 27 seconds
for four points and a VERY TENSE finish for the
Aussies. Good ball control and passing for the Aussies in the final 13.9
seconds with the Japanese swarming on
defense. An interesting game. Lara sat out
the last few minutes, the Sapphires going for
some speed over height. The Australians
had to really work to get FIFTH PLACE. Japan
is quick, many steals, very effective of at
obtaining JUMP BALL calls, and also Japan was somewhat
surprisingly good at getting OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS
with their energy and tenacity. Next Stop:
Croatia vs Taipei. GO OLIVIA!

THIS MAY BE A LARA SOMFAI thread, but... consider: Madison Kathleen Ryan, see note/thread above, is
a 15 year old (birthday March 31, 2009) on the U 17
Australian WBB Team. This afternoon, against Japan, she scored
25 points in 26 minutes ( and the critical last five points
for the AUSSIES) Stats: FG % 68.75 % on 11/16 shooting,
Two point shooting: 8/11 for 72.75 %, three
point shooting: 3/5, 60 % and no free throws.
five rebounds. She is listed as a SMALL FORWARD
6' 1". SHE is # 11. Her club team is listed as "VICTORIA
STATE ( Australia )". Is she on anybody's RADAR???
By American standards she would be going into
her SOPHOMORE YEAR in H.S. i.e 15 years old.
This was her only true "breakout game" in the
tournament but she was a STARTER on a
good Australian Team. My guess is: "To Be Continued!"

 

[BRS24]

(sorry) article behind paywall

 

[GenoWept]

(sorry) article behind paywall

No surprises there! I think she’d maybe mentioned a couple months ago that those are the teams remaining from her original top 5 that she’d be moving forward with but she wasn’t going to rule out additional teams. But sounds like she’s ruled out any other teams maybe (I can’t read the article so idk if that says something different). I honestly still think UConn would be the front runner for her… I haven’t forgotten those pictures of a young Lara dressed in UConn gear!!

 

[UConnCat]

 

[GenoWept]

x.com

It won’t let me just post the photo, but Kelis Fisher just shared a photo on Twitter of her with Geno Auriemma and Lara Somfai! Thought that was an interesting trio (like maybe a coach with his two future players?)! I’ll never forget when Kelis posted a picture with Sarah Strong and then shortly after Sarah committed.

 

[yhun89]

I like this.

 

[BobbyJ]

Helping them find their classes at IMG?

 

[darrell]

Per 247Sports, Lara is set to visit 2/3 of her finalists (Duke & Stanford) on Official Visits this week, alongside her parents who’ll be visiting from Australia.

No word if she’ll be attending First Night (I’d love to see her there with Kelis). Says she plans on committing before the early signing period, so likely within the next month or so.

 

[Zarathustra]

Per 247Sports, Lara is set to visit 2/3 of her finalists (Duke & Stanford) on Official Visits this week, alongside her parents who’ll be visiting from Australia.

No word if she’ll be attending First Night (I’d love to see her there with Kelis). Says she plans on committing before the early signing period, so likely within the next month or so.

I would love to have Lara playing at UCONN. A talented and smiling 6'4"
international player with Summer 2024 FIBA experience on two different Australian
teams.... Plus, she has played with Kelis last year and will play with her this year.
Fingers are crossed!

 

[UConnCat]

Per 247Sports, Lara is set to visit 2/3 of her finalists (Duke & Stanford) on Official Visits this week, alongside her parents who’ll be visiting from Australia.

No word if she’ll be attending First Night (I’d love to see her there with Kelis). Says she plans on committing before the early signing period, so likely within the next month or so.

I think Lara's visit to UConn (March?) was an official visit. If so, she'd only be able to visit for First Night on her own dime. If her visit to UConn was an unofficial visit, then she would be able to visit for First Night as an official visit,

If the March visit is her only visit to UConn, hopefully she has good memories.

 

[Geew1992]

I think Lara's visit to UConn (March?) was an official visit. If so, she'd only be able to visit for First Night on her own dime. If her visit to UConn was an unofficial visit, then she would be able to visit for First Night as an official visit,

If the March visit is her only visit to UConn, hopefully she has good memories.

I thought with the new rules, you can have as many officials as you want? Or is it one official per school?

 

[UConnCat]

I thought with the new rules, you can have as many officials as you want? Or is it one official per school?

One per school unless there is a coaching change.

 

[Bone Dog]

Says she plans on committing before the early signing period, so likely within the next month or so.

So we could hear before the end of November?

 

[Boreifs]

So we could hear before the end of November?

The early signing period is Nov 13-20

 

[BobbyJ]

So we could hear before the end of November?

Before Nov. 13.

 

[Rings R Us]

Lara is on her way to Duke for her official visit now per her Instagram story. I think this is Duke's big weekend for men and womens basketball equivalent to our First Night.

I believe she has one more visit to Stanford after.

 

[Zarathustra]

Before Nov. 13.

Come to FIRST NIGHT, Lara! Fit Friday, October 18th into your schedule please!

 

[MilfordHusky]

Lara appeared to have a good time with the Crazies this weekend. I hope she comes back to Storrs.

 

[yhun89]

Lara appeared to have a good time with the Crazies this weekend. I hope she comes back to Storrs.

She also appeared to have a good time with us though so... we'll see.

 

[darrell]

New Lara highlights. She’s quite the player.

 

[yhun89]

Interesting: Lara visited us and followed all our players. Nobody on Duke but the coach and recent recruits (Toby and Ari) are followed by her. She’s also at Stanford right now.

Edit: She’s also unfollowed DUKEWBB account and Coach Kara no longer follows her. I think it’s us and Stanford now.

 

[Zarathustra]

New Lara highlights. She’s quite the player.

Lara: passing, drives, short range jumpers, three pointers..
and she is 6'4".... What is not to love? Bring your smile to Storrs, Lara!
Make the Boneyard smile!! GO Huskies! GO LARA!!

 

[Zarathustra]

Interesting: Lara visited us and followed all our players. Nobody on Duke but the coach and recent recruits (Toby and Ari) are followed by her. She’s also at Stanford right now.

Edit: She’s also unfollowed DUKEWBB account and Coach Kara no longer follows her. I think it’s us and Stanford now.

WOW! Don't forget, Lara, Geno will be passing Tara in total wins this season ( hopefully on
November 20th! ). Go UCONN! GO LARA!