NETT LAKE, Minn. – NIACC volleyball continues to work on its front line by signing middle hitter LaShae Brooks of Nett Lake, Minnesota.
Brooks signed with NIACC volleyball on February 3, and has also verbally committed to the women’s basketball team.
“We are excited that LaShae has decided to play at NIACC this fall,” said NIACC volleyball coach Chris Brandt. “She is a natural athlete who’s very strong and should be able to make a big impact on both volleyball and basketball.”
Brooks is a three-time St. Louis County All-Conference and Arrowhead All-Conference selection in volleyball. She tallied 785 kills and 153 blocks in a little over three seasons of play for Orr High School and North Park High School. Injuries kept her out for almost all of her senior season last fall.
In basketball, Brooks was named St. Louis County All-Conference in 2010 and 2011. North Park was ranked as high as fourth in Minnesota’s Class 1A this season.
Tom Burnett, Brooks’ volleyball coach at Orr and North Park, has had a lot of conversations about Brooks with other coaches, former players, and school administration. None of them have seen a player like her.
“We’ve concluded that LaShae is by far the most athletic girl that we’ve had come through Orr High School since we started female athletics in the early 80’s,” Burnett said. “She has been the most athletic girl in the conference the last two years.”
Brooks, who is six feet tall, will be one of the tallest players on the court. Coupling that with her athletic abilities, she has a lot of upside at the college level according to Burnett.
“I’ve seen her snap the rim on a basketball hoop, so not only is she tall, she can leap,” Burnett said. “She has a lot of raw athletic talent, and could develop into an incredible player once she is fine-tuned and conditioned.”
NIACC hopes her presence will add to a team that finished seventh in kills per set (9.9) and eighth in blocks per set (1.6) in the 10-team Iowa Community College Athletic Conference.
Brooks is the sixth player to sign with Trojan volleyball for next year. Counting Brooks, NIACC has added a pair of middle hitters, three outside hitters, and a defensive specialist.
