Putnam City North’s Layla Shomo
Freshman shooting guard Layla Shomo is one of the underclassmen to watch on the Putnam City North basketball team. She has played the game for about seven years now and is dedicated to excelling in it.
“Layla is a tough competitor who plays with high energy,” said head coach Logan Martin. “She is aggressive on the defensive end and loves to take charges.”
Shomo credits her mother for first inspiring her to pick up a ball.
“Once I started playing, I fell in love with the competitiveness, the energy, and the way the game has connected me to so many people,” she said.
Shomo says she admires her mother because of her “work ethic, leadership, attitude about life, and resilience in all things.” Her mom has taught her that character means staying true to your values in every aspect.
“Showing respect, working hard, handling adversity, and uplifting others whether you’re playing, on the bench, or off the court,” described Shomo.
Many things fuel Shomo’s desire to succeed in basketball, most of all being her natural passion and competitive drive, but she shares other factors that she keeps in mind as well.
“My team, my goals, my dreams, my family, and the desire to constantly improve,” she said about what motivates her. “I always want to show up my best so I can contribute to something bigger than myself.”
Part of the bigger picture she describes is her team, who she has already grown close with and will continue to build bonds with over her high school career.
“My teammates mean everything. They’re like family,” she said. “They’re supportive, competitive, and always pushing me to be better. We trust each other, and that makes the game even more fun.”
No matter what the situation is – before, during, or after games – Shomo is appreciative of her teammates.
“Before games, my team and I always listen to music, stretch really well, and pray. I personally like to visualize what I want to do in the game because it helps me stay focused,” she said. “After games, I usually talk to my family and team, and we always have to eat after!”
Shomo shared that one of her favorite memories was the Thanksgiving Hoopfest tournament, especially their win against Duncanville, Texas.
“It reminded me why I love the sport and how special our team really is,” she said.
Looking ahead to the future, Shomo plans to continue playing basketball in college and would love to have a career as a sports analyst so that she can always be around the game she loves.
