The Update: News, Notes and So Much Happening in the Class of 2027

The Update: News, Notes and So Much Happening with the Class of 2027

​

It's been a minute, but let's connect some of the dots that have been beginning to bring this 2027 Recruiting Puzzle together.  I love how some of these schools continue to put together incredible classes, one talented piece at a time:

Recruiting is changing; you can tell the game is changing, especially if you look back at this class.

Crystal Ball:

Back in January, if you had guessed that the Nation's #1 and #2 ranked setters would commit to Texas A&M and Kansas, then you get to start your own recruiting website and everyone will now subscribe to you going forward.

The more I sleep on Peterson to the Aggies and Jones to the Jayhawks, the more I love both homes for each of them, but I PROMISE YOU NO ONE saw that coming in January.  I also think it is TERRIFIC for the sport that not every top commit heads to school x,y and z automatically.  I hope both of them blow it up and have amazing careers and it starts a trend that a few more top prospects follow their path.

​

Surprise Classes are to be taken in moderation, people:

Listen, I was the first person to write about LMU, BC, San Diego State, South Carolina, and Clemson's breakout recruiting classes. I promise you, but we still need to understand that they are what they are.  While they are huge jumps and may be the best recruiting classes ever for these schools, I do think some sites need to pump their brakes A LOT when putting some of these classes as high as 3 or 4 in the country.  First off, I have asked this ? For three years now, how do certain sites even come up with their class rankings? (other than by guess)  I mean it's fun to say "Oh Loyala Marymount that's a fun story right now...Boom, they are #3 in America.  Minnesota, they have one great player and one decent player, Boom, they feel like they are #4 in America.....Penn State ehh, they only have 4 girls on the National Team, that's not very good, feels like an #8 type of class this week, yeah, yeah, perfect."

Our rankings are far from perfect, but at least we are completely transparent about how we determine the Class Score and how that becomes the overall ranking.  So, yes, Loyola Marymount's class is very good, ranking in the top 20 for the first time ever, but it's not quite comparable to the type of athletes that Louisville, Pitt, and Stanford have signed.

​

So, the uncommitted: 1. Are they uncommitted, and 2. What is their status?

There isn't a large part of the 2027 first 100 that are not yet verbally committed to a school, but there are some interesting ones.  Then there is the Stanford factor: those top athletes who are verbally committed to Stanford, but can't say anything (you know why I won't get on my soapbox again).

Let's go through a few of those athletes, and I'll provide my prediction if they are open (then what I believe their status is) or if they are a Stanford Verbal or another school option.

Ireland Real - Outside - WAVE, California

Texas, Kansas, Stanford.  Guestimate: I have felt Texas was the correct fit for Real since last Summer because of culture, yes, I understand what the OH room depth chart looks like in Austin and that she could start from second 1 she landed in Lawrence and I would love to see her be a LEGEND in Lawrence, but I think they are distant.  I think she has much bigger star potential than Stanford. Volleyball players go there and are never heard from again until Christmas.  I know their history, but they don't market their program at all. Their games get zero airtime or publicity, and I'm being selfish, but Ireland is too big a personality to go there and be hidden.

(Again, I know, I know, volleyball has a plan and everyone and their dog watches volleyball, haven't I heard so why would Stanford ever change anything about their program?) However, Ireland needs to be under the bright lights of Austin or Lawrence (trust me, if she were to pick Lawrence, they would create bright lights for her).

​

Willtrace Ngoh - Middle - Houston Juniors, Texas

USC, Vandy, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Florida?  Guestimate: Willtrace has become a very important recruit to us, and she is just one of those young people who is very easy to get attached to, and the Houston Juniors family feels that way with "Wiggles".  She is the ultimate diamond in the rough and raw talent that has no idea how talented a volleyball player she is or that she can be, but she does understand that volleyball is a huge opportunity for her, and she is not afraid of hard work and is dedicated to being good at this volleyball thing.  You also know how legit her potential is simply because of the high-profile programs that jumped in on her with so little data on her.

I have no idea how her visits have been going, but my gut from the beginning told me this young lady values family and a close knit community.  On this list that screams two schools above the rest and I think it's important she goes somewhere that isn't too big I think she could benefit from that community aspect for at least a year as she is still brand new to this volleyball thing and she can't just be thrown in to the big game like happens at big programs sometimes.  I can see the small town fit with Lexington or the smal family fit with Vanderbilt.

​

Ava Burgess - Outside - Club V - Utah

Guestimate: Stanford Verbal

​

Eva Jeffries - Outside - CITY - California

This has been the most inconspicuous athlete we have maybe ever covered in four years of recruiting.  We have watched her close to 10x have asked several pro scouts and saw her in-person at two NTDP's.  I'm not sure she every played the same way back-to-back events and I'm not sure we ever received the same report twice.  Then as it came down to recruiting of course we get no information from the West Coast (which is why they have by far the most unsigned athletes still), but we heard everything from USC would take her immediately on the 15th before Texas could offer in case Ireland Real said no to them, to she's a Stanford commit (we do not believe that to be true), to she's heading to the midwest, she's going to Oregon or UCLA.  So we have had Eva linked to committing to almost 16 schools so far since June.  Guestimate:  We have absolutely ZERO clue!

​

Cynthia Ockerman -Middle - Legacy -Michigan

Ockerman is that hardworking do everything athlete that is simply a tweener in some college coaches eyes. Eventhough PrepVolleyball had her as Top 25 in America and she camped at places like Stanford, Duke, Michigan St, etc.  She was a 9.0 TOP testing for height and never recorded her block touch or 3 step approach.  She was invited to multiple NTDP training sessions by USA Volleyball so you would think offers would be coming in.  Could be that she is waiting for the right one or weighing her options here also.  Many things could be happening with Ockerman who has played in many big time matches with Legacy.

​

Hanna McGinest - Outside - Mizuno Long Beach - California

Again Hanna is another that is a little puzzling, as you would think she would have had a couple of firm offers in place right away in June.  Her older sister is finishing up at USC this season so could that be an option?  Does she want to go to a smaller West Coast school and play early?  Is she looking leave the coast and do her entirely own thing?  It would be crazy if she decided a school like LMU or SDSU and make one of those schools become a Super Class.  Like Jeffries I have not heard a word good or bad on McGinest since July.

​

National Champs Strategy echoes Nebraska:

When the Nittany Lions signed Molly Robertson to this 2027 class it actually knocked down several dominos the average eye wouldn't even consider (totally my opnion and silly recruiting observations, not verified by anyone at PSU or Nebraska just my random 2 cents), but when Penn State Robertson they in many ways copy catted their B1G Rivals in setting a couple year recruiting blue print for how they can attack their future.

​

Both squads took what are referred to as (blood relatives= meaning you cut them open they bleed the school colors so they are amazing volleyball players, but they are also lifelong fans of the program) so I'm just guessing that they came at a great Rev Share bargain.  When you are in the Salary Cap Era every $ counts.  Also, they will probably stick around through alot more just because they are "part of the program they love".  Those are players you can always count on to be life-long role players and will jump in and play with a minutes notice beause it's a dream come true.  Where a kid from Florida doesn't love sitting on the bench the same way.

So with Robertson, Penn State brings in the backup for Danielle Whitmire basically and let Whitmire know we aren't recruiting over you.  Then Roberstson knows you get to be a Nittany Lion for 4 years and you are the backup setter and could be in at any moment.  That's a huge job, but also you don' cause trouble of make waves or complain etc.  So everyone wins.

​

5 Biggest Recruiting W's of the Last Stretch:

Kansas: Signs Marissa Jones Setter

*Blue Chip Recruit, *Franchise Setter, *Biggest Volleyball Star Program has every had all in one sign

​

San Diego State University: Gentry Barker Outside

I'm still not sure I believe it so yes this is a steal.  Barker was linked to Top 10 programs early on and was just labeled "too small" for their list.  So then she falls down a little bit of step and offers come from everywhere.  Not sure if The Aztecs sold Barker on the perfedt weather in Diego or what, but this is just an amazing verbal for them and a program chager for sure.

​

Boston College: Signs Maddy Conner Opposite

*One of Top 5 best Opposites in US *Cross Country Recruit *Huge Recruiting Steal, Undervalued big

*Will need training and quickness, but coachable.

​

Appalachian State: Signs Anne Culkar Outside

Culkar comes from AVC in Cleveland and is as big of a commit as App State has maybe ever had.  Slightly undersized, but productive, explosive and powerful Culkar should be an immediate contributor for App State and the key to the class.

​

Syracuse: Signs Layla Dunn Middle

Dunn is a high flyer and is stil. raw on the court, but man can she fly.  Athletically she left coaches in awe this Spring.  So is she an immediate PT contributer, probably not, but midway year 1? Forsure I think you can see an impact and that is great for Syracuse

​

​

​

​

​

​

​