BY TRISTAN SASSE
PHOTO COURTESY OF FHSU ATHLETICS
Redshirt sophomore on the Fort Hays State University women’s basketball team, Lanie Page, transferred from Kansas State University this past semester. But ever since high school, she has received national recognition for her basketball ability.
As a senior at Wamego High School (KS), the 6’3” forward was a McDonald’s All-American and Gatorade Player of the Year nominee. She was also ranked the No. 82 player in the nation out of high school by ESPN Hoopgurlz.
During four seasons in high school with the Red Raiders, Page compiled an 82-13 record, won the Class 4A state title in 2013, and was the Kansas Class 4A Player of the Year in 2015.
Page credits her family for a successful high school career: “Being able to play with my sister and for my dad was definitely special and gave me a whole other aspect of basketball to love,” said Page. “It really turned into a family thing and was honestly a blast.”
After high school, Page had moments of success through perseverance with the Kansas State basketball team. During her first season with the Wildcats, an injury forced her to redshirt. The following season, in February of 2017, she scored a career-high 16 points off the bench against Iowa State and was also named second-team Academic All-Big XII.
From being a highly sought-after recruit in high school to joining the Wildcats, Page is grateful for the amount of opportunities she was given.
“It was nice to be recognized and respected at such a high level as an athlete coming out of high school,” said Page. “Not every player gets that kind of opportunity.”
This story is brought to you by: Sip N’ Spin
The following year, after a short stint with the Wildcats, she decided to move away from the basketball scene in April of 2017. In the fall of 2017, she took a semester away from basketball.
Following the 2017 season, Page made the trip out to Hays, KS, and she knew soon after it was the right place for her. Once Page arrived, she felt more welcomed than she could have ever imagined.
“The transition from K-State to Fort Hays has honestly been really smooth,” said Page. “My teammates and coaches have been super supportive and helpful in the whole process.”
Page first became eligible for the 2017-18 season as a member of the Tigers WBB team on December 30 against Bethany College. Page finished her Tiger debut with 14 points and three rebounds off the bench. On January 27, the transfer recorded 21 points, four assists, three rebounds, and three blocks in an outing against the Lindenwood Lions. Most recently, she scored 17 points off the bench at Central Oklahoma and 19 points against Northeastern State.
With all of Hays behind her, she felt the spark she was missing with the Wildcats: “Coming in midseason, I was a little worried about being completely accepted by the community and fans, but I couldn’t have been more wrong,” said Page. “I feel like I’ve been here for so long because of the support and acceptance I’ve seen thus far.”
Page has appeared in 13 games with the Tigers, giving FHSU valuable minutes as a starter and off the bench. Currently, Page averages 9.5 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per game as a Tiger.
Ultimately, Page has experienced many beneficial moments throughout her basketball career, and doesn’t believe any of it would have been possible without her family and friends.
“I think surrounding yourself with good people and people that want you to succeed is really important,” said Page. “I’ve had some amazing teammates throughout my life that I’ve stayed friends with and that have pushed and encouraged me to this day.”