2025 Extra Elite 100 Candidate Jolyna Lamar: Yes, Her Mom’s the Duke Coach, But Everyone One Else Wants Her Too!

Jolyna Lamar has one of the most heavily-entrenched families in softball.

Her mother, Marissa Young, was an All-American at Michigan and is now the Duke head coach.

Her father, James Lamar, played football and baseball at Indiana and is her club head coach with the Lady Dukes and her grandfather,

Robert Young, is a West Coast coaching legend with more than 30 years of experience in travel ball with prestigious organizations like the Firecrackers and Batbusters.

And just above Jolyna in age is older sister, Layla Lamar, ranked as one of the Top 5 players in the 2024 Extra Elite 100 as a lefty-hitting third baseman with explosive power and speed. She was also one of two 2024’s who committed before the recruiting rules changed—the other was catcher Alexia Carrasquillo—and both verballed early to Florida.

Like her older sister, Jolyna is a standout infielder who can do it all on the field and continues to impress wherever she goes. Though she obviously has an in with the Duke staff (ya think?), National Championship-winning coaches such as Patty Gasso of Oklahoma and Tim Walton of Florida are not giving up without a fight.

Of course, a lot can happen in the next five years, but for now the 2025 grad is on the radar of many of the top programs across the nation and for good reason… here’s a closer look at this 5-tool athlete…

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Name: JOLYNA LAMAR
Hometown/State:  Cary, North Carolina
Grad Year:  2025
Positions:  MIF/CF
Club Team: Lady Dukes 14u National Young/Lamar
School (City/ST): Alston Ridge Middle School
GPA: 4.0
Top Honors/Accomplishments: Student of the Year 6th Grade /Straight A student
Other Sports? Track
Preferred College Major: Undecided

What’s been your most memorable softball experience?
My most memorable experience would be when I was nine years old playing up in a 14U tournament and was selected as the MVP by tournament directors.

Scroll down to learn more about Jolyna and what it’s like having a mom as a D1 Head Coach and a top-ranked older sister who committed in the 6th grade!…

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