#UHGrad Series: Faith, Family Define Blair’s Houston Journey

In conjunction with the University of Houston's May commencement ceremonies, UH Athletics is celebrating its standout graduates who have shined in the classroom and in the arena of competition with our #UHGrad Series.

HOUSTON – University of Houston senior Laila Blair's journey through life took a turn in 2018 when her grandmother, Anna Blair, passed away.

Blair, who grew up Christian, began reflecting on her lifestyle and questioning her priorities. That self-examination and curiosity in God transformed into a commitment.

"When she passed away, I made a vow to not just say I believe and trust in God, but to live out a lifestyle that reflected that," Blair said. "When people view my life, I don't have to say a word about how I am a follower of Christ, but you can see it in my behavior, in how I talk, how I treat others, and how I'm attentive in all encounters."

As witness to her grandmother's passion for Christ, Blair has used those examples to better her own surroundings while serving in a leadership role for Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and as a three-time team captain for Houston Women's Basketball. Blair, who averaged 15.9 points per game in 2023-24 – ranking eighth in the Big 12 Conference – says her faith also played a role in returning for a final season in 2024-25.

"It was the hardest decision of my life because I was struggling and battling with the fact of coming back, going through the whole college process again, and many other things," Blair said. "This is where God wants me and this is where He was leading me. He wants me to continue to bring light to different issues and topics, especially pertaining to women's basketball and our program. I'm in such a blessed position to bring light to show others why they should support and invest in Houston Women's Basketball."

At Waller High School, 45 miles northwest of the University of Houston, Blair was a standout for the Lady Bulldogs, averaging 32.5 points per game as a senior en route to being named District MVP and a McDonald's All-America nominee. Her future academic and basketball plans, however, did not necessarily include UH.

"Believe it or not, I used to say that I was never going to UH because I was already a hometown kid," Blair said. "I wanted to go play Power 5 right out of high school and to play collegiate basketball at the highest level. Right out of high school, my mind wasn't set on going to UH."

Her perception of the school and its offerings began to change during the recruiting process and in the eighth grade, the University of Houston extended Blair her first offer.

"When I started to look at UH, I realized this was ideal and that I would see my parents and my siblings in the stands at every game," Blair said. "I've always been big about that and my family is a big part of me. When choosing UH, family played a major role in it, but I also loved the family atmosphere the coaches gave off."

The decision also allowed Blair to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Media Production expanding her digital interests from photography and graphic design to filmmaking and its creativity and technical skills involved. On Thursday, Blair will join her peers from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences in receiving her degree.

"It opened my eyes to the fact that I've always loved visual arts and how I've always been a fan of movies," Blair said. "I love the art of turning stories into visuals. Being able to experience it and take all these different classes in college as far as scriptwriting, making different films, and editing films has really developed me into officially wanting to be a filmmaker. Choosing media production allowed me to grow my love for cinematography and film."

Blair, who will take post-baccalaureate courses during her final year with the program, hopes to use her platform and super senior season to get the community more involved and excited about Houston Women's Basketball while charting a winning course during the program's second season in the Big 12 Conference.

"It's been very important to see how far the game has come and to see how different players have brought notoriety to it. As far as pertaining to Houston, getting the community here more involved and to come out to the women's basketball games is important, that's why I'm here," Blair said. "I want to bring light to how elite basketball is played right here in the City of Houston. There's a lot of female hoopers out here and I feel like it's not known enough. We strive for a winning culture where we want people to come and support."

Blair says she appreciates the diversity of relationships built at UH and the opportunities to build connections with so many people from different walks of life. Despite the improvements in her game over her four years on campus, Blair says it is her transformation off the court that has been most notable.

"I've grown as a person more than anything," Blair said. "I'm thankful for that because as I have grown stronger in my identity which helps me as a basketball player, a leader, a teammate, and being coachable. With all these other roles I have in life, I can live in the power and authority of my own identity through Christ. From being a senior in high school to a super senior now in college, God has done so much in my character in so many ways."

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