Dream Team Recap: The Setters

Dream Team Review: 2028 Setters

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Josalyn Samuels - Setter South Dakota 

Samuels played well and is so much more confident now in these “Big Gym” settings. Even though she was not feeling 100% because of fatigue and an illness, she played very well both days. A common theme of 3/4 2028s at camp was not a lot of screw around time; it was pretty much game faces from the minute they walked in the Devaney until they checked out, though you can see Samuels becoming more and more comfortable in this role of being around the spotlight as she goes on year 3. On the court, she has gained strength and accuracy she so her block was more of a weapon than the others. Movement on OOS was good, her footwork improves…..listen she is one of the top 2 setters in the class and if you are asking me to nitpick we are all crazy, she’s really stinking good and 6’1” she’s going to be an option all the way through June and yes she’s from the same club as someone else on the current team (but that won’t factor into the Huskers decision one bit whether or not to offer her next year) her talent and the fit will.

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Taimane Ainu’u - Setter Hawaii

She is all that was advertised from the U19 team. Steady, accurate, very strong, and can move (though she did an excellent job getting to balls out of the system and getting feet in position to make plays. She communicates non-verbally, not a big talker at all. Always studying and with eyes constantly examining the court, I watched her for a couple of plays, and it was something to see her scan the defense as she prepared for the play. It’s her and Samuels all the way I believe and I have already said it, this is one of those program feel things. What does a coach like over another? They have many similarities in their games. I couldn’t tell you who is 1 and 2, but both are very talented at the position.

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Alex Knox - Setter, Pennsylvania

This is the “coach” of the group. Technique solid, knows the game inside and out, was constantly talking with new players about positioning and timing. I enjoy watching Knox perform her craft. We talked during craft, and I told her she almost has to go to school out East because she plays and fits that culture so well. Tough, she does whatever it takes to get the job done, not always pretty, but it works. She never gets hurt. She has a little bit of a mean streak on the court, probably when it comes time to compete. Just someone who will figure it out or run up a $1000 electricity bill on the lights, trying. Talent-wise, a step behind Samuels and Ainu’u, which is no shame at all, but a part of that next group that will all go to very good programs and be very talented.

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Chloe Burbage - Setter, North Carolina

Dang it Burbage was another one that grew on me as the first session went on. Saturday AM, and I looked at her initially with everyone else and thought “this can’t be the girl I saw tearing up Nationals two weeks ago. She is tiny on this court.” It took her a little while to get comfortable early on, but by Session 2 (Saturday PM), she was catching up with everyone. First off, she is as athletic a setter as there was in the group. She was the most talkative and vocal, without a doubt. Good on the block and good height (no player profile, so guessing just over 6’). 

Then by Day 2 she was completely comfortable and you saw her accuracy improve and the timing started to mesh with her new pins. Then you saw that energy she plays with on her club team, which is a real strength of her game. She is a dynamic setter who truly finished the last day of the competitions very strongly. I think she really learned on day 1 and made adjustments quickly and adapted her game for day 2, and coaches look for that at camps like this. I think Burbage moved herself up towards that next big pack in this loaded class, and she is an athletic talent that next-level coaches tend to love.