Best Player Fits of 2028: The TOP 10 Player FIT RATIOs of the '28 Class

Those PERFECT FITS

The TOP 10 Player FIT RATIOS

Class of 2028 Commits

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10. Kate Mitchell - Minnesota Commit - Outside - 8.36 FIT RATIO

One of our favorite players in this class.  You want a culture kid who just hates losing.  Meet Katie Mitchell. 

High Ceiling: With the guidance of Keegan Cook and her work ethic, she is still growing and has much room for growth in her game; that’s what is scary about Mitchell: so much room for a higher level of play yet.

The style of play being played at college matches Coach's mentality: Mitchell has been coached hard at Metro and has thrived under that approach. She should click with the tough expectations and standards of Cook at Minnesota. The high demands should not take her a year + to adapt to, as others have.

FIT With the Program and How it Truly Runs Now: I think her high intensity and all-out willingness to win and compete is a little more of what Minnesota VB needs, to be honest, and throwing that extra high intensity and GRIT in the mix will be very welcome as she competes right away for PT.

INTANGIBLES She Brings (are they + or -) at Minnesota: Katie Mitchell is intense and all about winning 105% of the time, drill or match. She can be a little bit of a pain in the rear if she loses too much. I honestly think that is something the Gopher program needs an injection of more than one person into its culture, but YES I think her intangibles better be a + big time.

Immediate or Meaningful PT: Wow, again, what exactly will the roster look like, and what will Mitchell’s build look like physically? I can see her pushing for PT, and again I can see her getting shots, but I hope they have better options or they are in some trouble because she isn’t talented enough to be a Day 1 B1G starting OH.

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9. Ava Nowling - Arizona State Commit - Libero - 8.39 FIT RATIO

Nowling has a shot at being something special in Sun Devils history.

Chance to Elevate the Program’s PPV: Nowling can play a big role in year one, and with it she has a shot to do what most on the list don’t…take the Sun Devils to a spot LATE in December they have never been.

Immediate Meaningful PT: I can see her pushing for year 1 DS and even Libero time.

Matching the Program's Training Style, Being Coached, etc.: I’ve done my due diligence here, and I’m confident that ASU's high ranking on Nowling was justified for this reason. They believed in exactly how much she FITS them.

High Ceiling: Again, I think she was overshadowed and overlooked in the rankings process, and I think she is already more talented than many in the business give her credit for. She needs to speed up her reaction time, with her big athletic frame, but we are just very confident this is one of the class of ‘28s you are going to be talking about years from now.

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8. Chloe Taylor - Colorado Commit - Setter - 8.42 FIT RATIO

Our most volatile Setter prospect in the final four months of the recruiting period. This girl went out and earned this.

Chance to Elevate: This is the future of Buffs Volleyball, and we have bragged about no program more than the Buffaloes. Mostly because of this commit. The two-year class they have signed could completely turn the Buffs around.

High Ceiling: Taylor got better every week at 6-2 at WAVE (not her offense of choice), but she improved, made the best of it, and adapted. College coaches LOVE TO SEE THIS; it shows them, “here is a kid that will figure out anything we throw at her in college because she wants to stay on the team that dang bad.”

Program FIT for where they are right now: The Buffs are a build in progress, and so is Taylor. She has a chip on her shoulder and an unreal work ethic. It’s going to take that to win in Boulder.

Immediate and Meaningful PT: Boy, I can sure see her active in Year 1. You go all in for a class and a leader, WHY WAIT?

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7. Trinity Johnson - TCU Commit - Outside - 8.49 FIT RATIO 

Chance to Elevate Program: This is the type of high-impact pin who can take over matches and pair well with the young nucleus at TCU; she will be in the Rookie of the Year Convo.

Immediate Meaningful PT: With Johnson possessing position flexibility, look out. She is more than likely to be in the opening match. She should be that “extra spark and weapon” that takes TCU to the next level nationally.

Intangibles: This is Trinity’s game. She does so many things at an elite level; those are her intangibles. She can tweak an approach, or when she is in the air, she just hangs for a second and is gone, but is available and immediate, and you realize how good she is.

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6. Bella Osborne - Hawaii Commit - Libero - 8.53 FIT RATIO

STATEMENT made for Hawaii volleyball, but does it look the same for Osborne? Is it a great FIT for the star libero?

Obvious strong FITS: MATCH COACHES' MENTALITY: Bellas tells you how close she became with Coach Josh at all the NTDP sessions he worked and when he was Asst. Coach for the USA Volleyball National Team. PROGRAM FIT: Osborne is all in Hawaii and Coach Walker. They have a great bond, and this is a very close fit, so she knows exactly what she’s getting into. CHANCE to ELEVATE the PROGRAM: Coaching change at a historic program with a strong fan base. They want life brought back to Hawaii VB. Osborne is that lock-down bro who could sit back there for 5 years and be amazing. Exactly what you need in a rebuild!!

Skill-wise, high ceiling: Yes, she’s a National Team member and as competitive as anyone in the nation. She is a gym rat like so many out here; she gets reps and trains with intent. She will be in the pack of GREAT in this class.

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5. Gilian Pfeiffer - Wake Forest Commit - 8.57 FIT RATIO

Pfeiffer is a great example of what we hope volleyball recruiting becomes. A talented athlete with a lot of potential, choosing a program that is making strides to climb into postseason relevancy, and she can be a HUGE PART OF IT.

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Immediate Meaningful PT: This should be there for Pfeiffer in the Wake lineup as she has position flexibility, even though she has to be a pin at the next level. If she works as hard as she is going to need to for the next 18 months, she should find a spot in an improving Deacons lineup and add to it.

Chance to Elevate the Program PPV: The past two recruiting classes have already done that, but the new coaching staff wants tangible on-court results to add to the resume. You will need long-term memory to see this through, but Pfeiffer becoming an immediate player with Wake and developing, rather than going somewhere else and sitting for 2-3 years, will help Wake advance their program faster.

High Ceiling: Look at the gains she made this season alone and the coaches she impressed at NTDP and along the recruiting trail. I will sound like a broken record, but the next level is up to Gillian, and does she want to outwork the other 350 D1 freshmen in her class? But she has the physicality for this level for sure. The ACC is a better conference for her than the B1G, and 18 months in a college weight room will reshape her body, and I think she can move ahead of 15-20 in her class right now.

FIT FOR THE PROGRAM: I have been a big fan of what Wake’s staff is trying to build, and this is the exact prospect they need to bring in. USA VB experience, Open-level experience, yet under the radar nationally, so she was passed over by some larger schools. Gillian comes in talented, yet with a chip and mission of something to prove.

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4. Gracie White - Rice Commit - Middle - 8.60 FIT RATIO

Another Texan landing in just the perfect situation.

Let’s Hit the Obvious: REGIONALITY and CHANCE TO ELEVATE the PROGRAM

High Ceiling: Again, this isn’t a sure thing for her; it will take a lot of off-the-court work, but that is what can make Gracie go from really good to amazing. The skill work will continue to be of very good quality.

Immediate Meaningful PT: This depends on what Rice does portal wise ahead of her, but it’s been my observation that when you bring in a highly-regarded prospect (for your programs PPV Level) they get some Year 1 run. So I’d look for White to have some plan to play her first year.

FIT of the Program: This is a key strength that makes this such a great commit for Gracie. She knew the staff and had plenty of help educating her on Rice. She knows what she is getting into, and that is important and empowering for her confidence as an athlete.

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3. Molly McGovern - Kansas Commit - Opposite - 8.66 FIT RATIO

Signing a hometown kid with “Star Potential” is never a bad idea. Then landing her when battling vs. many rival programs makes it even sweeter.

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Regional WIN: Ulmer has been crushing keeping his BEST Kansas stars home, and he does it again with McGovern.

INTANGIBLES: Hometown kid, knows about the program and its history, so it means a little bit more for her to play there for KU.  One thing McGovern will bring to Lawrence that others on the list still need to find is her physicality. So much a part of the college game because of the wear and tear on your body. Even though it’s not addressed in the media, or it’s not really trendy to point out, coaches LOVE physical athletes, and McGovern is that

MATCHES WITH COACHES MENTALITY: One thing I have heard over and over this summer: “In Year 2, Ulmer is going to make sure and make this his program and get HIS ATHLETES.” McGovern fits the description from the checking I have done and understands what is expected of her and what she is getting into by playing for Coach U.

Locker room +:  She understands the culture and buy-in. She is from the area, and she fits in well with the current group on the team.

HIGH UPSIDE: We mentioned KU beat out several other Top 20 programs for McGovern.  They all had interest because of her extremely high upside at the next level.  Whether she plays right away or not, development will be key for her at KU and she will be a very, very big piece of the future there.

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2. Taylor Johnson - SMU Commit - Oppo - 8.75 FIT RATIO

Dallas talent stays home again. SMU locks up the City.

Regionality: Huge for Johnston, and SMU made being from Dallas a priority with her, as they do with so many of the best Metro area athletes they sign.

High Ceiling: Yes, she is going even HIGHER. She will put on more straight muscle and develop to improve her ability to recover and handle the banging and physical demands of the game, to go along with her athleticism.

Program FIT: Athletes are treated well at SMU, especially talented Dallas athletes. Johnson is exactly what Erger has built SMU around, and she will be a perfect fit there.

Immediate PT: Two years as OH2 with Davis?? Yes please!

Actual Program FIT: She absolutely knows what she is getting into and thrives on it. SMU is competition Day 1, but Johnson loves that mindset and is one of the top pins in America. Listen, many athletes flourish when they can escape the “rankings” of prep volleyball and actually get out and show their thing. You are going to see that from Taylor.

CHANCE TO ELEVATE SMU VB: Now they have made some big match moments and NO ONE looks past SMU anymore, but there are plenty of program firsts still out there to be had, and the program can move up and ahead of several blue blood programs still on our Recruiting Prestige PPV board. Johnson will definitely be in the plans to help make these things happen.

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1. Julia Clarke - North Carolina Commit - Middle - Friday - 8.78 FIT RATIO

Heels add another SOLID piece to a SOLID foundation being built in Chapel Hill.

Clarke’s Obvious: Regionality (we called GA/NC), Chance to Elevate the Program 

MATCH COACHING STAFF STYLE: Julia is NOT loud and boisterous and “follow me on socials.” As a matter of fact, you often lost her on the #2 team in the country because she played with the stars, and she simply did her job (well). This appears to be very much like the approach of the UNC staff who might not even have an Instagram account (other than their VB camp account lol).

• IN LOCKER ROOM: The fact that she played on that loaded A5 team and all of the attention went to others actually serves Clarke well heading to college. Now I want her to become a little more flamboyant and get her name out there more, because she is very good; she just plays and does her thing. Heading into a college locker room (esp as a highly-recruited Freshman), many times it can be a great idea to just keep it quiet in the locker room until you earn the vets' respect and then earn that respect by how you PLAY on the court. Clarke has been doing that for years at A5, so she’s in great shape for her transition to UNC.

IMMEDIATE/MEANINGFUL PT: I honestly think she goes in and pushes for a starting spot in year one, but regardless, she will work her way in for some serious reps into a program that is RIGHT ON THE VERGE OF “BEING NEXT”.

HIGH CEILING: Whenever you see a Middle that has been a little bit awkward at times and still is maybe just a bit unsure to pull the trigger, OR they are 6’3” ish, but they don’t have the all-around strength for that body size quite yet…….That is what we mean by “They have a high ceiling at the college level because when those things all click in their body….watch out. Well, Clarke shows signs of all of those. That is scary for UNC opponents (and it’s also why several SEC programs wanted Julia very, very badly).

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**Another huge fit for Clarke is that education is very important, and she is getting that at UNC, not to mention the high level of volleyball and experience of playing in the ACC.