Congratulations to Laila Phelia ’21 for being named the Larosa’s MVP Featured Athlete of the Week!
NAME: Laila Phelia
SCHOOL: Mt. Notre Dame
SPORT(S): Basketball
GRADUATING YEAR: 2021
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: “Helping team win state sophomore year.”
BIRTHDATE: 12/28/2002
HEIGHT: 5’10”-161 lbs.
RESIDENCE: Cincinnati
PARENTS: Greg & Tina
BIGGEST INFLUENCE: “My mom.”
FUTURE GOAL: “My goals are to play Div. I basketball with an opportunity to play professionally. Ultimately, I want to be an impact on children, especially foster kids to help them find stable families; this would give them the needed help to one day become productive adults in the community.”
A four-year varsity starter, senior Laila Phelia has helped the Cougars to a 10-0 start in its run for yet another Ohio state championship. She enters her senior season averaging for her career 10.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game and has been named to this season’s Cincinnati Enquirer’s preseason all-city team.
She is off to a good start this season with numerous double-digit scoring games, including vs. Cookeville, Tennessee (27 points), Mercy McAuley (16 points), Carmel, Indiana (16), St. Leon East Central, Indiana (15) and Roger Bacon (14).
Laila helped the Cougars earn an Ohio state championship (the program’s seventh state title) her sophomore year and was a key member of the undefeated, nationally-ranked team her junior year that was 28-0 regional champions before play was interrupted by the Covid pandemic.
Her junior year, Laila averaged 13.2 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game, 1.8 steals per game and 1.1 assists per game. She was named first team all-GGCL for the third straight time and also was honorable mention Southwest Ohio District and honorable mention all-city (Enquirer).
Active in community service, Laila also plays for the Cincinnati Angels club team and will play collegiately at the University of Michigan.
Her favorite athlete is Skylar Diggins, favorite entertainer is Kevin Hart, favorite book is Live Fearless by Sadie Robertson, favorite movie is Love and Basketball and most-like-to-meet is LeBron James.
COACH’S QUOTE – “Laila has distinguished herself in the classroom and on the basketball court during her tenure at Mount Notre Dame, the result being a full basketball scholarship to the University of Michigan. Laila takes great pride in securing her legacy as one of the best to play at MND. She epitomizes team-first and strives to be a great example for our underclassman. She is well deserving of every accolade she received. Laila has been a privilege to coach.”
— Scott Rogers, Basketball Coach