Inspiring Others – Mississippi State

STARKVILLE – Gabe Lazo was just six or seven years old when the nickname, Pee-Wee, stuck. He had a brother 11 years older than him, so the name Pee-Wee just seemed to fit.

These days, Lazo is all grown up. He’s now an assistant coach for Mississippi State women’s basketball. But his path to MSU was paved using the characteristics he developed back when he was first called Pee-Wee.

“One of my biggest traits is being a hard worker,” Lazo said. “I take pride in that. I always want to outwork everybody else.”

Lazo’s life has been a shining example for how hard work indeed pays off. And Lazo – of Latin descent with both parents from Cuba – loves using his own story to encourage others in the Latino community.

“I have a lot of high school coaches from all over the country that reach out to me and want me to mentor them,” Lazo said. “High school coaches from all over the country see a Latino that has worked their way up. I feel I’m becoming somewhat of a small-scale inspiration. I will never forget where I’m from.”  

Lazo – a native of Miami – has a story that is full of interesting twists and turns. He was a high-level prep basketball player for Miami Senior High School. At Miami Senior, Lazo’s coach was another Latino – former South Carolina men’s head coach and current leader of the Massachusetts men’s program, Frank Martin.

“Frank is an inspiration to me, and we’re in contact a lot,” Lazo said.

College basketball came calling for Lazo after his high school days. He played at FIU for the 2003-04 season and that work ethic of his was put on full display.

“I went from being a walk-on to starting point guard and having a great year,” Lazo recalled. “That taught me a lot. It taught me that if you work, you’re going to have opportunities.”

Lazo made a couple of other stops in his playing career. He played for Miami-Dade Community College as well as Barry University.

However, it was shortly after all that Lazo got put on his current trajectory – even if he didn’t see it coming.

“My story with coaching is funny, and I never thought I would be coaching,” Lazo said. “A former girlfriend got me into coaching. I became her assistant coach, and we inherited the worst high school program in the state of Florida. They hadn’t won a game in two years, and we developed that program. We trended into one of the…