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Lakewood Ranch grad, LSU women's basketball star LaDazhia Williams to speak at Sarasota event

Doug Fernandes, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read
LSU's LaDazhia Williams, left, and Angel Reese react during the second half of an NCAA Women's Final Four semifinals game against Virginia Tech in Dallas in March. Williams, a Lakewood Ranch graduate, will be in Sarasota on May 30 for a meet-and-greet event.
LSU's LaDazhia Williams, left, and Angel Reese react during the second half of an NCAA Women's Final Four semifinals game against Virginia Tech in Dallas in March. Williams, a Lakewood Ranch graduate, will be in Sarasota on May 30 for a meet-and-greet event.

SARASOTA — Tuesday night, the Community Day School in Sarasota will have a championship look.

Former Lakewood Ranch girls basketball star LaDazhia Williams, who won a national title last season as a member of the LSU Tigers, will headline a meet and greet from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Community Day School, 4335 Wilkinson Road.

Williams, selected in 2017 by the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune at the Class 7A Player of the Year, finished as the all-time Mustang leader in scoring and rebounding.

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After spending her first season at South Carolina, the 6-foot-4 Williams transferred to the University of Missouri for three seasons, before moving on to LSU for her graduate transfer year. After averaging 10 points and six rebounds a game for the Tigers during the regular season, Williams netted 20, on 9-of-16 shooting, in LSU’s 102-85 title victory over Iowa, the first women’s basketball title in school history.

Tuesday night, Williams, who on Friday visited the White House with her LSU teammates, will speak before taking questions from those in attendance. The cost to attend is $10, all the proceeds going to Williams, who has signed to play for the Hapoel Petah Tikva women’s club in the Israeli Female Basketball Premier League. Those attending the meet and greet are encouraged to bring their cameras and items for Williams to sign.

Sponsoring the event is Gianna Vastola, creator of the G League youth basketball league in Sarasota. When given the opportunity to sponsor the event, the former Riverview Ram forward jumped.

“I’ve never met her,” Vastola said, “but I was really excited for the opportunity to get behind this and support a meet and greet with her.

“Our goals are to acknowledge her as a female athlete and to celebrate her success.”

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: LSU women's basketball star LaDazhia Williams to speak in Sarasota