The Prospect Report: Post Nationals Check In

The Prospect Report: Post-Nationals What People in the Game Are Saying

So much talk of remaining 2027s, the start of 2028s, and even some initials on some 2029s, so let’s get after it.

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Ireland Real: Again, we will try to explain this, as it is a perfect example of how college coaches view recruiting, as opposed to Prep Sites that do rankings. I’m not sure what stats look like or how many “awards” she has won, but Ireland is and has long been the most sought-after prospect in the Class of 2027 and has also long since had the highest PPV score in the class of 2027. 

When Texas, Wisconsin, and Stanford go all in on you from Day 1, you are the #1 prospect in a class, regardless of what any Ranking Poll says. Those three have been Ireland’s Top 3 for some time as well, and recently SMU entered the picture on some level to at least get a zoom with the Cali star. What I love is that Ireland is TAKING HER TIME. I don’t think there are any plans to commit until Fall or after she takes visits and truly experiences each campus she chooses to visit. Her commitment will also make one class look drastically different. I’ve said this 500x. I’m a football guy, and I love recruiting battles, and I get cheated in volleyball, because there are not enough of them, so I’m enjoying all of this and know Ireland and her family will make the best decision for her.

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Other 2027s:

There are still several very talented Outsiders available in the class, and my hunch is that it’s more about the athletes taking their time than a lack of offers. It may also be that they are finding what they think is their correct fit. But, just a few athletes that I talked quite a bit about during the club season are still out there for schools:

Eva Jeffries: CITY

Gentry Barker: Madfrog

Ava Burgess: Club V

Caelyn Whoesendove: A5

Hanna McGinnest: Long Beach

Makenna Barnes: Long Beach

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Some of our Player Profile Athletes that have drawn extra attention in the last week+

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Ingrid Smith: Paramount Setter who has added Virginia and Duke to her camp list after already camping at Georgetown. Ingrid is working the academic and athletic angle. Congrats.

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Shylyn Koerber: NKYVC is a Setter that has just added eight select camps for after nationals. All of them are in the region. She is a solid option for a mid-major starter or backup for a smaller P4 school, and Koerber is considering both.

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Just a bundle of 2028s Talent:

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I’m going to group several of our 28s that have profiles and discuss them. Several individuals have updated their profiles, but I will discuss a few more. Also, unfortunately, I did remove a couple that were great athletes; I didn’t like the attitude for a 15-year-old. Here is a list of some great ones.

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Macie Chase Houston Jr. is a firecracker in terms of energy at Setter, and her long frame will serve her well. She will need to continue working on technique and location, but she is a gym rat and loves the game. Also, because she is in a class DEEP with elite Setters, but she has come a long way this season, and I'm excited to see her after the Fall.

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Piper Pease Alamo Volleyball: I apologize, I must not have had my old man glasses on the first four times I watched your film, because after two days of watching you in person, it’s a whole new ball game. This Oppo is scary. She will need to learn to play higher, but do not lose that power. I have to create a new award for her because her PPV has almost rocketed 90 points after the feedback at nationals, considering her physicality and the level of play she exhibits, plus her block already has her college-ready.

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Izzie Penrose, AZ Storm, maybe our most active social media bro on our site, we always know what Izzie is up to, and that’s a great thing. She has already attended some legitimate camps, and another one where it was even better to watch her play in person (for a second time). This is the year of bros, but Izzie is in that convo; she isn’t done camping. Check out her YouTube channel and see what she's up to. She is a battler, just as you would expect from a Stormtrooper.

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Halima Watkins NYC Jrs I feel like Halima and I bonded when she updated her profile and reported that she is attending 25!!!!! Select Camps this Summer. That’s incredible, but she's getting a taste of everywhere, for sure. This is an 2028 athlete coaches should check out. I love that her physicals are all very solid 9.5s across the board, so she will have the athletic skills to play in any conference. We have seen in this 2027 class that this is a massive positive for P4 coaches gathering athletes to compete.

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Annabelle Ross, AZ Storm Middle - Stop me if you've heard this one…. Very talented and athletic middle blocker from the Phoenix area. Yeah, I figured you had. Ross is the next in a long line of P4 prospects in the “Goldmine of College Volleyball Recruiting,” the Phoenix Metro. I wish I were breaking some major news here, but go look at her camp list and you'll see that about the entire Top 10 has beaten me to the scoop. Annabelle is dominant on the block, and she loves her slide. Is she advanced for her age, like Brooke Harwood? Just get ready, she’s one of the best.

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Harper Broyles Alliance Libero, they make more than country music stars in Nashville now. This one has raised her PPV score 35 points through the Spring and has earned herself some invites to some of the best select camps around. She is a battler, and her Adversity team is helping to put Nashville club volleyball back on the map as well. She is the GOAT of all Libero classes, but Broyles is a legitimate P4 option, and if she grows next year like she did this year….BOOM.

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Kennedy Hummert, a Pittsburgh Elite Libero, will also be camping quite a bit the rest of the summer, and I appreciate the variety she has chosen. From some mid-majors in her region to some smaller P4 schools, she will get an idea of where her game is at now heading into her recruiting year for sure. I also appreciate her regional approach, but taking into account several camps!

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Alexandra Knox, Pittsburgh Elite, just attended the UNC camp and won the NEW AWARD, and anyone who took our Straight Talk Recruiting Class knows precisely what that means. Knox is so physical at and around the net, but also so soft with her touch on her sets. Probably the most underrated nationally of this great class of setters, she needs to be considered in the recruiting picture next season.

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Maggie Jewell, NC Academy Middle, had an impressive Nationals in Dallas. Active and productive vs some of the best in a deep class of 28. She is vocal on the court, and her feet don’t stop in the middle. Constant communication with her setter and runs a variety of routes well. Playing for a club that has college coaches stopping by often, now Maggie and a couple of teammates will get looks next year, and she deserves them.

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Josalyn Samuels, Kairos Setter, who led her team to their first-ever 16s Open bid at USA Nationals, will continue her Select Camp Tour. Already expected to be a Top 3 Setter for sure in the Class of ’28, the South Dakota prospect has already been to Austin and will camp in Creighton, Louisville, Nebraska, and Minnesota still this summer, along with another NTDP training session. So be ready to hear Samuel's name spoken at the top of the class through June when talking to setters in the class.

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Penelope Reisman, Tri State Elite Setter, picked up some good news when she was recently invited to participate in this upcoming Summer NTDP training session. Though she currently only has NC State listed for select camps, Reisman is one of the top Midwest setters in 2028, and performing at the NTDP event will give coaches an idea of how she stacks up against many of the nation’s best who will be in attendance.

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Baylor Dinger Volt Volleyball Libero will be attending a few P4 camps this summer. The Fargo , ND ’28 will camp at Michigan, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, and a Husker Camp, hoping to gain more exposure heading into her recruiting year. Playing for a smaller regional club like Volt, the larger camp exposure can help an athlete like Dinger.

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Cala Haffner Pineapple High Performance Libero was truly fun to watch in person again. The race is on, and she is a once-in-a-generation talent. There is already talk of the top programs making an all-or-nothing type pitch for her next year, almost like Texas and Wisconsin are taking this year with Ireland Real at Outside. The crazy thing is that I feel like there are 5-6 other All-American-type potential players in the 2028 class. Haffner is just that good.

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Tatum Kelly, 1st Alliance Setter. The first thing I noticed, and the college eyes around her court did as well, was the strength Tatum has gained this year. She is also much more vocal on the court (a big goal she told me in a recent interview with us). She is also going to be courted by National Powers, as well as all the Big Ten schools, since she is right in the heart of the conference. It will be interesting to figure out her fit in the class as we move along.

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Watch for more 2027 updates coming soon, and we will continue to talk more 2028s as we work our way through the Summer into their Sophomore years of prep ball. More to come as we receive information and updates for the Prospect Report.