Utah's Vegas Super Saturday will cause National Disruption in 2028 Rankings

Major Risers EARN IT Vegas Day 1

​

Well, well, well, the state of Utah has a DAY!  Three ELITE athletes stood out above some amazing play on what was a Super Saturday in Vegas.  Their performances warranted the PPV boost they each received and their increase causes some shuffling in our Class of 2028 upper quadrant.

 It wasn’t that they passed the eye test; it was how dominant they looked in doing it.

I heard Dan Meske say on a podcast (ironic he was in the gym today) not long ago, “it’s actually kind of easy to scout the truly elite athletes because they should just stick out in a gym….” well Taylor Freeland OPP SCVC, Maija Mortensen, MB SCVC, and Janiah Burrage OH Forza 1 did that.

​

Now again, the first thing to remember is that these aren't popularity contests, and they are not high school rankings.  These are college-based assessments and have nothing to do with the size of your club or the size of your state. They simply look at the prospect's college impact potential.

​

Taylor Freeland- OPP SCVC Utah Diamond Prospect

Freeland is the real deal, and every coach in the country knows it. She dominated some very good volleyball players today, and it wasn’t close; she was the best player in that convention center. It is so effortless for Freeland in-system or out of system, and her arm is special. Some athletes just have a gift, and the crazy thing is that Freeland has a “high ceiling,” so there is a lot of room for growth. Her passing skills have to be considered as good, if not the best, of any of the challengers in the country (it would come down to her and Floyd for this as well).  

Attitude and team-first buy-in (she plays side-by-side with one of the best middles in the country, as you will read), she is coachable, and comes from a smaller club.  Checking around all of the things you want in a top prospect, from work ethic and culture, kid, etc., you are going to get all of those from Freeland.

​

Maija Mortensen- Middle SCVC Utah Gold Prospect

Much like Freeland Mortensen simply dominated in Vegas. Besides Rautenberg, she is the most complete middle in the class when you combine everything from size, physicality, how well she moves, and her touch. She has zero problem running multiple routes, and when she gets up, her elbows are pressing way above the net (look for our highlight reel coming soon).   Maija is a coach's kid, so you are going to get that added bonus of the gym rat, high IQ, and love of the sport that comes with that title as well.

The who’s who of logo schools gathered around SCVC’s court all day today were not only there to watch Freeland; just as much attention was being paid to Mortensen, and she earned all of it. Again, I don’t know what her USA VB standing is, but she needs to be in some kind of tryout for a team.  

​

Janiah Burrage- OH Forza 1 Gold Prospect

After seeing the social media post this week of Burrage touching 10’8” and then watching her in person show it on the court today, you have to make at least an argument for her being the top OH in the class of 2028. I don’t think there has ever been a clear-cut case for #1, and what I really liked was how Burrage played every single point the same way today. People roll their eyes at me when they don’t think this matters, but when there isn’t a clear-cut talent difference, coaches look for things like that, and I was impressed with that little thing whenever I was watching Janiah, not to mention the freakish athleticism I just haven’t quite seen from anyone else. I also think she has more upside because her frame has a lot of room to add college gains at the next level. So Burrage made a big jump from the morning.

​

Others than shined in Vegas on Saturday

​

Josalyn Samuels- Setter Kairos Diamond Prospect

I had to fly halfway across the country to witness the growth and separation that Samuels continues to make as one of the elite setters in this class, when I could have ridden my bike six blocks to her club practice??? I guess you have had to know the kid since she was 12 to see the difference, but her confidence is growing and she is so much stronger than even in the summer. She has played at an older level for so long it is simply natural to the SD prospect.  

I’m so intrigued by how this setter recruiting cycle is going to go with all of the big dogs needing a floor general and two very closely evaluated targets on the board. Regardless, Josalyn earned another bump, and once again, I think you can make a legit argument for either one of the top two setters in the class for 1 and 2 (and be correct).

​

Sydney Whisenton- Setter/Pin Alamo Silver Level

“Whisenton is just an all-around crafty and fun volleyball player to watch. Super productive, and she simply does a ton of great things on a court. There has to be a spot for a player like that in a legit program because she makes things happen and she is productive wherever you put her.” Those are the recommendations that hold water from the scouts that matter when talking about an athlete that we have wondered about and simply wondered if she is too much of a “tweaner” to find a spot in a P4 program or not? Question answered. PPV bump Whisention.

​

Saylor Halvorsen- OH SG Elite Elite Red Level

Halvorsen continued more of the same this morning. The OH has grown since prep season and is stronger and plays that way. She is using the entire court and can play the back row in serve and receive well. She moved up to Elite Red level with this bump, and Halvorsen has been one of our favorites since the Fall, so it will be interesting to see what her options start to look like as June approaches. I think schools are getting an undervalued OH on the rise.

​

More notes from Minneapolis to come, but one we had to include in Saturday coverage:

​

Chloe Burbage- Setter NC Academy Silver Level

“One thing we’ve realized about that club is they do a great job of letting their players become all-around athletes and volleyball players. Burbage is becoming that; she’s been great in Minneapolis. I know you like so just wanted to let you know that she has been REALLY good the first two days here. Accuracy + and Hands + just keep getting better for her.” So there you go, and yes, I do really like Burbage, and apparently, I’m not alone as the NC ’28 keeps moving up Big Boards nearing June.

​

​

****More to come after Day 2 in Vegas and following Minneapolis, and will get some Philly follow-up during the week. Stay tuned.