2028 Major Shuffle: Over 50 PPVs change following KC Weekend. See the updated list.

PPV Movement Following NIT

Over 50 athletes “bump” following Kansas City

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*The first bit of moving started to happen with the Class of ’28s during the NIT weekend, traditionally the unofficial start of the recruiting calendar and the largest event of the season.  Athletes from all over come to the center of the USA and compete in the same facility.  Such a great showcase for the sport and the first chance for MOVEMENT in the lists as we have said before, everything y'all had been reading before was all make up fugazi from some pay sites that wanted you to subscribe, NIT is when the professionals truly clocked in for the Class of 28.

*So yes there have been lists and notes, but if you are connected to people inside the game.  This is when 95% of colleges get truly locked in/serious on 2028 and so this is our first (more intensive look) at certain potential athletes stacked against each other. 

Also, OPPPO #1 for many schools to see how many potential targets have grown during the off-season and what strides or growth they have made since Nationals. 

Watching films is one thing, but seeing them in person is completely different. 

Passing the eye test is the true checkmark for many coaches. 

Watching them compete vs certain athletes tells a coach so much that you don't evaluate other places.

**Also, one thing I am not sure I personally always agree with when it comes to VB recruiting vs. a more analytical based sport of say baseball or say football even.  **Also a great argument with a shifting generation of college coaches (for a podcast if I had one anymore).

**With no stats availalbe at a tourney like NIT that is hard for coaches and scouts, so that is why so many go off of "the old eye test" and I do get it you can just tell sometimes, but it's also hard to measure and sell to a general public when you are trying to be unbias.

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So, without too much commentary on what we saw in general, let’s just say there was A LOT of “yep, she’s about what we thought” and A LOT of whoa, we were not close there at all”. EXACTLY like some of the coaches said as well. That is why it’s February, people, and guess what things will change next week and the next and the next.

There were over 50 bumps in our evals, and there will be over 75 by the time we go through the list. Here are some of the major movers after KC and the NIT.

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**Also, a note.  There is no way we can get everyone, as soon as this is posted we will see a post on social or skim the list again and see another name that we missed and add to this (up or down).  Again if you are new PPVs move up and down daily it is an evolving process until you graduate.  Our scouts see things daily or get input constantly (from camps, practices, tournaments, Prep or Club matches) athletes are always being evaluated because that is what happens at college they are evaluated daily and they move up and DOWN and part of the grind is dealing with BOTH no matter how great you are.  Your PPV is simply a body of work over a career.  Very rarely do you stay the same.  So with all of that here are some of the top upward movers during NIT in KC.

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+29 Julia Clarke - Middle Blocker A5: I mean, parents have to literally start paying us to start liking taking a flier on their daughters in December. Two classes ag,o it was (Taylor Stanley, Kendall Northern and Bellamie Beus wayyyy before everyone else jumped on those All-American trains), then in 2027 we were the first to declare Ireland Real #1 early and called Kyla Williams a dog way before anyone else did so that leads to the Miss Julia Clarke, don’t say we didn’t warn you. She is going to be in that Top 2-3 middle blocker group this year, trust us. The upside continues to show itself. She has an Ireland Real enthusiasm to her (remember positive energy is contagious with some cultures). She is smooth in her routes, she has the height, and is quick off the floor. She proved it on the big stage. Kari Knox will always get the headlines, and that is ok. Clarke is LEGIT.

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+24 Amari Frazier - Middle/Pin AZ Storm: I’m giving her the Lauren Plum Award for just going out there and being the best “athlete” in KC. I was so happy to be wrong about Frazier’s eval pre-NIT, but she did struggle a bit in summer select camps and didn’t look as smooth as she looked last weekend. That was the girl who wanted the ball anywhere on the court and was having fun! She played with confidence and strength, which was evident. Frazier honestly looked like one of the ten best in America in KC, and you could envision her on a pin in a college uniform. She was our Do-it-all performer and leaped about 20 spots up the chart.

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+28 Bella Osborn - Libero Madfrog: This is more of Bella saying, “How in the heck did you doubt what everyone else was saying about dude?” Rather than her making a huge jump, AKA hey Bella, my apologies to you as well, you are as good as advertised lol. So locked in and intense and no wasted steps, her platform on point and away from the body, I love the ground she covers despite not being as tall as some of the longer bros in the class, so efficient with her movements, and she also does fall to the floor when she doesn’t need to “she’s an efficient flopper”. She is a legit #2 or #3 in the class. Not quite A. DeBeer Game Faceis  winner material, but she has potential

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+16 Abbie Powell - MB - Muncie: Powell is another MB in that new age (Andi Jackson) mold that we just love, and she is raising eyebrows. The upside is what is exciting to coaches, and you should see a different player by June as she has that build that screams (college baller). Do we need to say Municanna training and work ethic will only help her? She could jump into the Silver Prospect level by the magic June 15th day. **Watch her

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+11 Sydney Whisenton - Setter/OH Alamo: I know Sydney had a massive stat-packed prep season as more of an OH, but we heard so many great things about her setting in KC. You hate to bring up the “size thing”, but depending on where she wants to look, you have to, and it was good to see her play the way that she did on that stage. She was noticed by many in the coaching ranks so her stock should be climbing already.

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+14 Megan Hodges - T Street OPP/Middle: Now I want to be clear because I do know we weren’t clear in our earlier notes when we were simply trying to include what we heard from a NITDP scout, in our column when she told us that Hodges was playing as dominant at the NTDP sessions (earlier in the year) than anyone and she had only been at the position a few months. We didn’t see her T Street team or Hodges in KC because she was home injured, but that doesn’t stop the fact that she is still one of the best athletes and most dominant players in this class, and if not at one, maybe two positions.

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+10 Charli Niu - Austin Juniors Setter: I have touched on Charli twice this week, so I won’t go into great detail, but she is gaining attention for a couple of reasons. She is easily the most physical setter in the class and an intimidating presence if that is your style. She will continue to develop technique-wise, but athletically, she is going to be elite. Second, she has “IT,” and that brings her extra eyes, and she has earned that, and it's good for her. She has a lot of attention right now, and she is making the most of it. As a positive athlete like Charli, in today’s age of so much negativity, why the heck not give her all of the extra attention she can get!

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+5 Mallory Mizell - STARS Volleyball OH: Now, maybe Mizell’s number didn’t jump a ton, but that is because it has been climbing for a year. She is as productive as an OH as there is in the class. She needs to increase her explosiveness a little heading to college, but she scores. Her prep season and last year’s club campaign were insane, so she needs to be on the list.

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+6 Piper Pease - OPP - Alamo: Working with Whisenton Pease continues to improve her game, coming off of last season’s impressive Nationals showing. Pease strength is still her strength and her power. She has that cannon and a burst off the floor.

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Others to note:

Gracie White: MB - Dallas Skyline continues a great start to the season

Malie Ogebechie OH - Sports Performance Impressive attacking, thought her power was exceptional.

Ashlyn Pelon Libero - Legacy puts herself right in that “chunk” of tier two bros who will be looking at some of the top 15 schools in the nation come June.

Audrey Sutherland OH - NNJ passing skills have improved, and for her height, that’s a point of emphasis as teams will evaluate if she is a 6-ro OH for us????

Maddie Gonyeau Setter - Triangle, who is new on our list, but is not on many college lists. Will fit in that tier 3 list and Red/Elite Orange Prospect Level, and in a year of great need at the Setter position, she looks like a tremendous prospect for a program that can take someone who can develop for 1-2 years. Excited to watch more of her in the film room.

Addison Tucker Libero/DS - TAV is a solid athlete playing the back for TAV, showing the position's development over the last few years. Range and strength as she gets to so many difficult balls, covering so much of the court.