BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Bellingham Slam guard Trazil Lane, who recently completed his senior season at Lummi Nation High School, has been named as a finalist for the National Native American Basketball Player of the Year award. The award is handed out to one men’s and women’s player each year by Inter-Tribal Athletics, a national publication which covers Native American athletes across the country.
Lane, who averaged 21 points per game for the Lummi Blackhawks and helped advance the team to the 1B State Championship game last season, was named Washington state’s Player of the Year by the Associated Press in March. He also won the award following his sophomore season in 2015.
After leading the Blackhawks to a 21-5 record and one win shy of a second state championship as a senior, Lane ended his high school career with over 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds recorded.
Although still undecided on where he will play collegiately this fall, Lane has been competing this summer with the Bellingham Slam in the Seattle Pro-Am league. He has also traveled around the country to appear in several Native American basketball events, including the Native Top 50 Combine held in Lawrence, Kansas earlier this month, where he was selected as the event’s MVP.
Lane was also selected to compete with the Slam in the Seattle Pro-Am in 2016, earning the team’s sole roster spot reserved for high school players entering their senior season.
Lane is one three finalists for the men’s Player of the Year award. The other players nominated are Robert McClain Jr. from Red Lake High School in Minnesota and David Wingett Jr. from Winnebago High School in Nebraska.
Lane will be back in action with the Bellingham Slam at the Seattle Pro-Am with a pair of games this weekend. The Slam will face the Tacoma Thunder on Saturday and Jamal Crawford’s Team Adidas on Sunday, with both games tipping off at 3 p.m.
Fans can learn more about each Native American Player of the Year nominee at www.intertribalathletics.com. The winner will be announced by Inter-Tribal Athletics on August 5.
For more information on the Bellingham Slam, contact the team at (360) 734-SLAM or visit their website at www.bellinghamslam.com.
