2025 five-star guard Leonna “LA” Sneed made a significant determination final week, saying her dedication to the Utah Utes, including to a robust recruiting class for coach Lynne Roberts.
Sneed, ranked the No. 26 participant within the Class of 2025 by ESPN, is the eighth-best level guard within the cycle, and was deciding between Utah, Arkansas, and Cal earlier than in the end committing to the Utes.
A local of Texas, Sneed is the third-best participant within the state and can attend her senior yr at Karen Wagner H.S., the place she averaged 22.7 factors, 6.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 4.4 steals per sport as a junior.
Only a day earlier than her dedication, Sneed was in attendance on the Below Armour Subsequent Elite 24, the place she competing alongside 17 different five-star recruits throughout the 2025, 2026, and 2027 lessons over a three-day interval.
Most notably, the five-star guard was battling backwards and forwards with Kaleena Smith, the No. 1 recruit within the Class of 2027, each in the course of the scrimmages and the precise sport, which happened on Saturday, August tenth.
Through the showcase, Sneed confirmed off her defensive instincts, aggressive nature, and talent to be an all-around offensive participant as a degree guard, scoring across the rim, whereas additionally pushing the ball in transition and serving as a superb facilitator.
That was a key for her getting into the aggressive atmosphere on the UA Subsequent Elite, which fueled her efforts in the course of the huge sport.
“Most positively, [I pride myself on being a facilitator],” Sneed shared after the sport. “I believe that’s what we actually wanted. Once you’re in the sort of atmosphere, you’re presupposed to play quick, so I really feel like that’s what we would have liked to do.”
Going ahead, Sneed is seeking to be extra aggressive general, as she seems to be to enhance her offensive sport and grow to be a three-level scorer at a extra constant tempo.
The five-star guard has actually grown as a facilitator, and has the scoring chops, having averaged practically 23 factors per sport, however it’s about discovering that steadiness that will probably be vital on the subsequent stage.
Heading into her senior yr, Sneed has her eyes set on two issues: being a McDonald’s All-American and successful the state championship.
After that, it’ll be full steam forward at Utah, the place she’ll look to show herself and grow to be a right away contributor within the 2025 class.
Match at Utah
The Utes have grow to be one of many stronger groups in girls’s faculty basketball, having reached the Candy Sixteen again in 2022 earlier than making the Spherical of 32 final yr.
On the recruiting entrance, head coach Lynne Roberts has actually amped up the efforts in locking down the backcourt for the long run, touchdown four-star guards Brooke Walker and Kylie Ray within the 2024 class, whereas additionally including Australian guard Grace Foster from abroad.
Within the 2025 class, Sneed instantly turns into the headliner as a five-star recruit, whereas the Utes have additionally added four-star guard Avery Hjelmstad, who’s seen as a top-50 expertise by ESPN.
Sneed’s capability as a facilitator ought to shine at Utah round a bunch of gamers who shoot the ball effectively, and her defensive affect needs to be instantly felt whereas she grows into her personal as a three-level weapon offensively.
Most significantly, although, Sneed is anxious about successful, and he or she’ll look to proceed the custom at Utah, whereas pushing the staff’s ceiling additional to get to the subsequent stage.
The five-star from Texas has by no means backed away from competitors, which was clearly seen on the UA Elite 24, and that gained’t begin now as she will get prepared for the subsequent chapter of her profession.
However first comes her senior yr, the place the objectives of being an All-American and state champion loom deep in her thoughts.
