“Stanford is just insane.” Five-star recruit Lara Somfai has taken major strides in the basketball world, finally landing in Stanford, California. The Cardinals are in the midst of their first season after the retirement of legendary head coach Tara VanDerveer, who had been at the helm since 1985, only stepping away for one season in 1995-96. While fans won’t see Somfai on the court this season, the Australian will be ready to wear the cardinal and white next year.

Since this addition is expected to bring further strength to the team’s roster, today we will delve into Somfai’s career track and personal life.

Lara Somfai: A towering talent ready to elevate Stanford’s Roster

Lara Somfai, a towering forward, though having a Hungarian name, hails from Australia and was born on March 28, 2007, in the same country itself. While details about her early life and family remain somewhat private, it’s clear that she has received unwavering support from her parents throughout her basketball journey. Her parents were notably present during some of her college visits, offering their guidance and encouragement before she ultimately chose to commit to Stanford.

Standing at 6’4″, Somfai’s height is a notable advantage, especially considering the average height of high school female basketball players is typically around 6 feet. This gives her the potential to address a key need for Stanford—size. With Kiki Iriafen and Cameron Brink gone, Stanford began the 2024-25 season relying on 6’4″ freshman Kennedy Umeh as their sole towering player. Lara Somfai’s height and skills are expected to be key in reestablishing the team’s dominance in the post.

“I absolutely have always loved Stanford. I think the academic side is super important to me and all the schools are incredible academic schools. But Stanford is just insane,” Somfai told On3. Somfai had long back listed three options as college destinations: Duke, UConn and Stanford and she eventually announced choosing the last one, rejecting UConn which was considered the favorite. However, her basketball journey has been quite long and dates back to 2019.

From Local Talent to Rising Star: Lara Somfai’s Early Basketball Journey

Although Somfai’s exact hometown remains unclear, it’s likely that she resides majorly in Adelaide, South Australia, based on the hints from her Instagram account. From a young age, basketball was a significant part of her life.

By the time she was 12, she wasn’t just attending local games—she was already competing at the national level. Interestingly, while Adelaide often appears in her social media posts, her early basketball journey actually began in Ballarat, Victoria. There, she played for the Ballarat Rush in the U-14 national competitions in 2019, a fact revealed through her Instagram.

However, after finishing seventh grade that same year, Somfai made the move to Adelaide, where she joined the Forestville Eagles (FEBC) junior team, donning their iconic blue and yellow jersey. It was here that her game really started to take off, and she began turning heads in the basketball community. Just a short time after her debut with the Eagles, Somfai was invited for her first radio interview, a sign that her talent was not going unnoticed. She had even started practicing on a 3×3 basketball court.

At just 12 years old, she was already making a name for herself, with highlight videos showcasing her standout performances beginning to surface. In 2020, she had another reason to celebrate when her photo was published in a local newspaper after one of her games. Overjoyed, Somfai proudly shared the moment on her Instagram, grinning ear to ear as she held up the newspaper with her photo, a milestone that marked the beginning of her growing fame in the basketball scene.

Lara Somfai got her first major opportunity to showcase her talents on a bigger stage. She attended the Transition Sports Holiday Super Camp, where she caught the eye of American coach Joey Wright. Wright, a seasoned coach who had led three different teams in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL), gave Somfai a platform to prove herself. While the recognition didn’t come immediately, the exposure she gained at the camp ultimately paid off, setting the stage for the next big steps in her basketball journey.

After her time with the FEBC and Transition Sports Adelaide, Lara Somfai, now 17, made a few strategic moves to further her basketball career. She enrolled at Modbury High School, where she continued to develop her game. In 2023, she took her talents to the Norwood Flames Academy, further establishing herself as a rising star in Australian basketball. But this was where her journey took a major leap when she hit the international stage in October 2023.

From Down Under to the U.S.: How did Lara Somfai land at the American Basketball Circuit?

Representing Australia in the FIBA U-17 Oceania Championship, she wore the green jersey with pride, and the experience was a huge confidence booster for the young athlete. Realizing her potential, Somfai made a big announcement in December 2023: she was heading to the U.S. to join the American basketball circuit. Destination? IMG Academy!

After soaking in her last few days in Australia, she boarded a flight in January, first landing in New York. However, her next stop was Bradenton, Florida, where she joined her academy and began competing in March. In just a span of one year, she has been ranked as a five-star recruit, ranking 16th on ESPN 2025 class standings.

During the 2024 U-17 Women’s Basketball World Cup, Lara Somfai averaged 14.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Over her career with Australian junior teams, she has consistently averaged 15.7 points and 8.2 rebounds, demonstrating her strong potential and steady performance on the court. These achievements quickly made her a top target for colleges across the country.

Ultimately, she has chosen to commit to Stanford, becoming the second pick from the Top 30 of the Class of 2025, joining fellow recruit Hailee Swain, ranked at No. 9. She even secured some NIL deals at the mere age of 17.

As for how Somfai will contribute to Stanford, we’ll have to wait and see what next season holds.