Layla LeSure comes to Vincennes University from Plainfield, Illinois, where she attended Plainfield South High School and earned Athlete of the Year honors during her senior year, an achievement she considers the most memorable moment of her athletic career. Layla chose VU because of the coaches and the environment they created, and she values being part of a team with teammates she knows she can rely on. As she begins her career with the Trailblazers, the 5-foot-11 forward has one clear team goal in mind- winning a championship.
Individually, Layla hopes to become mentally tougher and continue developing her game around the wing. Her family serves as her biggest source of motivation, and she carries the mindset that "pressure makes diamonds or bursts pipes," challenging herself to respond positively when faced with pressure and adversity. Her dream is to become a professional athlete, while she is also considering future careers as either a wildlife biologist or forensic psychologist. Her advice to younger athletes is simple: believe that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.
Away from basketball, Layla enjoys reading and writing, with Piecing Me Together among her favorite books. She also enjoys R&B music, Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Princess and the Frog, while fresh fruit is her go-to late-night snack. A'ja Wilson is her favorite athlete, and Layla would love to attend a WNBA game and someday visit Japan. If she could trade places with anyone for a day, she would choose Rihanna, and if given the chance to break any record, she would go right back to basketball and chase the record for most three-pointers made in a single game.
Coach Johnson on Layla...
"Layla has a unique combination of length, athleticism, and skill that gives her a lot of potential on both ends of the floor. As a freshman, she is continuing to learn and grow, but her tools and ability are exciting. Iām looking forward to watching her gain confidence, embrace the work, and see just how much she can impact our program."
