Well-centered Turner comes up big at Vernon Hills

Nothing much seems to faze Lem Turner.

Sometimes it's hard to tell if the 6-foot-5 middle hitter from Vernon Hills just threw down a kill, or had one of his attempts at the net stuffed back in his face.

Not that the latter happens much, but you get the point.

"Lem is an incredibly talented kid physically, and obviously there is a certain skill set you need in volleyball to be able to do what he does," Vernon Hills volleyball coach Chris Curry said of Turner, who holds the school's career blocks record and has earned nearly a full ride to play volleyball at national power Ball State next year.

"But in a (quick) game like volleyball, you also need to have the mental ability to shrug off mistakes and stay in the moment," Curry added. "That's big, and Lem has that. He is so well balanced."

Turner's healthy perspective on life in general probably helps.

He knows what real struggle and adversity is, and missing a play at the net certainly isn't it.

Turner grew up in a household where every member of his family besides him struggles with his or her hearing to some degree.

Both of his parents, mother Luz and father Lionel, are completely deaf. Luz was born deaf. Lionel lost his hearing at age 2 due to an ear infection.

Brother Lorenzo, the oldest of four Turner brothers, is also completely deaf. Meanwhile brothers Luke, who is two years older than Turner, and Leo, who is a year younger than Turner, can hear and can function in regular-track classes at Vernon Hills High School, but they are technically considered legally hard of hearing. They have worn hearing aids in the past.

"I know I'm one of the lucky ones," Turner said. "I've seen what they've all gone through as deaf or hard of hearing people. It's a struggle, and there will always be obstacles for them.

"But it's also made them stronger and proud of what they can still accomplish. They are happy people who work so hard."

Turner had no choice but to make sure his work ethic was up to par.

"I think growing up in my family motivated me," said Turner, who translates for his parents at school and team functions with sign language. "I know I'm in a better position in my life, and for me to waste any opportunity in front of me would be a shame because I know there are a lot of people who would love to have those same opportunities. I think that's made me really work to take advantage of any chance I get."

Turner, who first started playing volleyball in middle school, and only to work on his jumping for basketball, wound up getting a starting spot on the varsity volleyball team as a sophomore. By the end of that season, he was drawing some interest from college coaches.

In fact, he went to the Ball State volleyball camp with a friend that summer, and by the end, the coaches there, impressed with his height and jumping ability, were offering him a scholarship.

Ball State has been ranked among the Top 25 teams in the nation the last few years.

"It's funny because I never expected to like volleyball as much as I do now," said Turner, who managed to get multiple scholarship offers (Cal-Irvine and Penn State were among his other finalists) despite playing only one year of club volleyball. "Now, I'm going to get the chance to play in college. It's still like a dream. I still can't really wrap my head around it."

Turner used to feel the same way about his early morning summer workouts with his brothers and dad. He had a hard time seeing the bigger picture.

Starting when he was in seventh grade, he got a regular 7 a.m. wakeup call for a family-sized workout that wasn't for the faint of heart. He and his brothers would lift, run, jump and work on sports skills, all under the watchful eye of their dad.

"There was no sleeping in. It was a pain in the butt and he was like a drill sergeant," Turner said of his dad and the workouts. "But athletically or mentally, I wouldn't be in the position I'm in now without my dad instilling a good work ethic in me and pushing me and investing in me.

"I just really like it that my scholarship shows that what he did for me paid off."

Turner had 260 career blocks as of Wednesday, 14 more than previous Vernon Hills record holder Ian Pecker, who also played volleyball at Ball State. Turner sits just outside the Top 15 in IHSA history for career blocks.

Also a basketball standout at Vernon Hills the last two years, Turner holds the career record for blocks in that program as well. He's got more than 160 blocks and had a career-best 6 blocks in a game four times this past season.

Clearly, he's taking after his mom in many ways. Luz was an all-American volleyball player at Whitney Young High School and was the only deaf player on her team.

"She says I get my volleyball abilities from her," Turner said. "My dad did basketball, football and track at the Illinois School for the Deaf. They're an inspiration."

And clearly not just for their athletic accomplishments.

pbabcock@dailyherald.com

Follow Patricia on Twitter: @babcockmcgraw