Chaminade girls basketball player Leaonna Odom picks Duke – LA Daily News
When Chaminade girls basketball player Leaonna Odom was 7 years old, the toy vending machines in the supermarket were beckoning her.
Odom was particularly drawn to one that gave away mini balls featuring college basketball teams and made a vow to her parents.
“Whatever school I get, that is where I am going to go,” Odom declared.
A little blue-and-white Duke ball came out, and the seed was planted.
Over the years, Odom grew to appreciate Duke’s tradition and excellence in girls basketball, particularly following Duke’s rivalry games with North Carolina and Louisville.
As Odom blossomed into one of the top high school players in the nation, the reality of fulfilling her childhood proclamation became a stronger possibility.
On Wednesday, Odom made it a reality, verbally committing to Duke, one of the nation’s premier women’s basketball programs, following a weekend visit.
“It’s been my dream school for almost four years,” Odom said. “I wanted to see the campus before I made my decision, but I loved it. It could not have gone any better.”
Odom said she is cancelling her other scheduled official visits to Texas, Tennessee and Louisville.
Odom said the final decision was between Duke and Texas. She said she saw everything she needed to see from Duke on her visit.
“I love how close the girls were,” said Odom, who is projected to be a perimeter player and scorer in college. “I’ve seen it on different teams where the girls are not as close. But everyone at Duke had the same goal of winning a national championship.”
Odom made a big splash for Chaminade last season after transferring from Mater Dei, averaging 17.6 points and 7.5 rebounds to help the Eagles win the CIF Southern Section Open Division crown and advance to the Regional Open Division final.
Now Odom can help a loaded Chaminade squad take aim at another deep title run with the recruiting process off her shoulders.
“I’m very excited,” Odom said.
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