Name’s the same, but game is different

If there were a White House in Redondo Beach and the most famous local athletic family got to stay there, the Zahns might qualify.

Andrew and Adam were 6-foot-10 and 6-8 basketball standouts at Redondo High who signed with Arizona and Oregon, respectively.

Along came their little brother, Austin, who grew to 6-8 and discovered another sport in high school, volleyball.

“Dunking is definitely a cool feeling,” he said. “I love dunking a basketball, but the most exciting thing is getting a stuff block, going up and completely rejecting somebody.”

Austin has become the No. 1 volleyball prospect on the West Coast. He signed in November with USC and is a member of the U.S. Junior national team that will travel to Morocco in July for the world championships.

There’s a contentment and satisfaction in Zahn’s voice because he boldly chose a different athletic path than his brothers and made it work.

“It was a lot of fun,” he said. “I couldn’t rely on being a Zahn. That didn’t matter to anybody in the volleyball world.”

It started his freshman year at Redondo. While on the way to basketball practice, he ran into the volleyball coach, Tommy Chaffins, and told him he was interested in trying out for the team.

Chaffins almost jumped for joy. The other Zahn brothers lasted less than a week trying volleyball.

“I remember being so stoked,” Chaffins said.

By his junior year, Zahn dropped basketball to focus exclusively on volleyball, and he has had no regrets.

“I love it,” he said. “It’s a rush. When I’m having a game I feel I’m on and can’t be stopped, that’s the best. When I hear them say, ‘Watch out for Zahn,’ I love that and use that to drive me more. That pumps me up when they’re using my last name.”

The moment he stepped onto Redondo’s campus, Zahn knew the comparisons to his brothers would start. He served as a ball boy for Redondo basketball teams growing up.

“There definitely was pressure,” he said. “There wouldn’t be a day I’d step onto the court, ‘That’s Andrew and Adam’s little brother.’ It was tough to be always expected to perform.”

But Zahn had a Plan B hatching in the back of his mind. As early as the third grade, he’d travel to Hermosa Beach with friends and watch pro beach volleyball tournaments.

In junior high, he’d play a little volleyball but was never the first player taken in pickup games.

“I messed around with the kids at my middle school,” he said. “I didn’t know the rotations or the rules. I definitely was taller than anybody. I definitely smashed it well.”

He learned volleyball fundamentals in high school, and his talent began to show.

Last season, he helped Redondo reach the Southern Section Division I championship match. He had 30 kills in one match.

“His jumping ability and dexterity in being someone who’s 6-8 makes him a much sought-after commodity,” Chaffins said.

Wearing sandals on the way to practice fits Zahn just fine, along with heading to the beach.

“You show up with a towel and sunscreen and you have a few games,” he said.

Zahn’s size alone didn’t make him a top volleyball player. He has trained hard, listened intently to his coaches and watched others, trying to pick up good habits.

“There’s a lot of footwork that you rehearse day after day that becomes natural,” he said.

His brothers’ college basketball days are over. Adam just finished his senior season at Oregon. Andrew played four months in Japan.

Now the first athletic family of Redondo Beach will focus on its volleyball prodigy.

“We’re excited Austin changed it up,” mother Cathy said.

Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@

latimes.com.