If James Lamar’s Lady Dukes organization based out of the Carolinas didn’t have a reputation for being a national program, it should be now considered one that can go anywhere in the country to pull it top talent.
In mid-February, Extra Inning Softball detailed the pickup of three Extra Elite 100 players in Keagan Rothrock (ranked #1 overall in the 2023 Extra Elite 100, Florida commit), catcher Lillian Vallimont (#5 in the 2022 Extra Elite 100, Northwestern verbal) and outfielder Jolie Adams (#3 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100, uncommitted).
Two weeks after that, the Lady Dukes announced that P/OF Kai Minor from Irvine, California and ranked #17 in the 2025 Extra Elite 100, would be commuting cross-country to play for the team and last week another California standout revealed that she would also be playing for Coach Lamar’s team.
Jada Lewis, an outstanding centerfielder from Vallejo,, California, played last year for Marty Tyson’s Corona Angels 14U team which was loaded with talent and twice in the last decade has won PGF 14U National titles and twice finished second.
Jada said she loved the “team chemistry” and “family atmosphere” of the Dukes’ team after watching the 18U team play in Arizona earlier this year and “wanted to be a part of that culture.”
Coach Lamar added that “Jada told me the passion our kids play with and the way they cheered for each other impressed her and she wanted to be part of it. I have the utmost respect for Marty Tyson’s program and I knew she was coming from a competitive environment and could bring competition to our organization.”
Jada attended a recent organizational workout in New Jersey and continued to like what she saw while Coach Lamar was equally impressed on his side too.
“I love her athleticism and confidence at the plate,” the travel coach, who is married to Duke Head Coach Marissa Young and also has two standout softball-playing daughters of their own, told us this week.
“I was truly impressed, but told her family before they committed to us that ‘Coming from California is a long trip for no promised playing time’ and they quickly responded with, ‘We come from the Corona Angels, we are all about competition.’”
“That sealed the deal for me, I believe 100 percent in finding kids who want nothing but competition. Our team goal is to have competition at every position on the field, nothing is owned and rent is due every weekend.”
“I want my players to leave our program knowing what it takes to take someone’s spot at the next level. You simply gotta be a dog to play here and most parents and kids can’t handle it. I have players from California to New York on our roster and we look forward to a great summer and building team chemistry over the spring to be all one this summer.”
Here’s more on Jada and what makes her such a highly-valued prospect…
