NCAA Softball News

Meet the Gators: Layla Lamar

Meet the Gators: Layla Lamar


GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Another week closer to Opening Day 2025, it’s time to meet our next newcomer in our Meet the Gators series, Layla Lamar.

Lamar is a freshman infielder from Cary, N.C., who committed to Florida as a sixth grader in 2018 before the NCAA recruiting rules changed. She will wear No. 17 for the Gators.

Ranked as the No. 4 player in the 2024 signing class by MaxPreps, Lamar was a three-year letter winner at Panther Creek High School and played club softball for the Lady Dukes Lamar 18u National.

During her senior season, Lamar hit .552 (32-for-58) leading her team in on-base percentage (.623), slugging percentage (1.241) home runs (11), RBI (29) and runs scored (29). She is also the Panther Creek Home Run record holder.

On April 8 against Middle Creek High School, she completed a rare feat – hitting for a home run cycle, which included a solo shot, a two-run home run, a three-run home run and a grand slam, finishing the game with 10 RBI.

 

In addition to her own athletic abilities, Lamar comes from a family of accomplished athletes.

Her mother, Marissa Young, was a three-time All-America pitcher at Michigan, earning back-to-back Big Ten Player of the Year honors in 2002 and 2003. Young is currently the head softball coach at Duke.

Lamar’s father, James, played football and baseball at Indiana and her older brother, Braylon, is currently a redshirt freshman linebacker for the University of Miami football team.

Her younger sister and former high school and club teammate Jolyna, signed an athletics aid agreement in November to play softball at UCLA.

Lamar is currently majoring in applied physiology & kinesiology with plans to pursue a career in the medical field after graduation.

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