Prospect Report: Day 1 NTDP

Great being back in the USA gym and great seeing the 2027s come in and get after in training session #1 today in Colorado Springs.  Some familiar names and of course some new ones jumped out.  Here are some notes from the gym.  

Newcomer of the day:

Natalie Norton- Outside Hitter Drive Nation PPV 221

6 rotation outside with a definite pop in her attack jumped out today and just seemed to make plays.  We say this often, when you are in a gym of stars and you get the “Oh who is #61” from a couple of coaches around the gym, well that is very GOOD THING and that was the case with Norton today.  Soft-spoken and in her 1st training series this one is going to get looks from MANY P4 programs.  She has some explosion and plays well in the back row.  Very solid player who jumped on our list.

The DAWG is who we thought she was

Hua Laikona-Libero AZ Storm

Hands down leading the way as the top bro in this group and she just is THAT player.  I’m going all in to land a kid like this to anchor my program for four years if I’m a coach because she just has that IT factor.  The talent for the position is there, the communication and the confidence is there, but you talk with her and she’s that 20 year old leader in a 16 year olds body.  She’s the energy giver we talk about.

Brynn Stephens- Setter/OH TAV

Ok when I first saw Stephens in drills during the AM sessions I thought she was a middle, so that should tell you about her height.  The TAV standout will be in high-demand because she may be just as talented as an OH as she is setting the ball, so options are a great thing, but she was definitely an athlete that jumped out as one that had made some gains since Nationals.

Brooklyn Sippio- MB Game Point Volleyball

Sippio was another brand new athlete for me to watch today.  Aggressive on the block today and excelled in that department.  Worked well with her setters in the limited attack time they did have.  Excited to see how she progresses rest of the weekend, but Florida is an area that needs to have more big-time talent and this could be an athletic big and she fits the mold of top middles for this class.

Olivia Henry- OH IMG Academy

She is now looking the part of potential #1 player in the class.  More aggressive and stronger.  Interested to watch when they let them go 6v6 on Day 2, but Olivia just appears more mature than a year ago and a noticeable difference in her strength again.  Not sure we really get to see her battle it out vs someone this weekend, but she is passing that eye test more than ever.  You know when you move away from home you grow up, she has basically gone through the Freshman year pains as as Soph in High School and that is showing on the court.  Big jump for Henry when everyone sees her in club season.

Shaye Witherspoon-OH Rockwood Thunder

I want to credit Witherspoon with a big jump as well.  For me this is the most college ready kid in this class.  I left our interview, a month ago, very impressed with her maturity and some of her thought process on the next-level.  I just watch a different athlete than I did last July.  Same skill and athletic ability those are going to be there, but she is more mature and a better leader now her body language on the court is so much more positive.  Again day one and not super intense, but impressed with Witherspoon non-verbal actions as much as her high-level volleyball talents.

Taylor Harrington- MB Paramount Volleyball

Another one that we have known about, but deserves the shout out for her maturity and growth.  Harrington had a great day one and really has settled in as a player.  Still the defensive block threat, but her offensive attacking skills are developing.  You can also see her strength has improved and maybe added some length to already impressive reach.  Excited to see her compete in the 6v6 session.

Makenna Barnes- OPP Mizuno Long Beach

Barnes was another of the “new names” for me that had a great day.  Athletic and could attack from all over.  Effective in front and back row.  One of the better first contact OPPs today and really liked her quick explosion from the Cali prospect.  Why not right it’s the year of the West coast superstars.  Very solid Oppo to add on our list at a position that honestly that is thin in this class.

**Day Notes:

Amazing coaches......DBK is the only Head Coach here and being here only a week after the Final Four says quite a bit about her, but also a lot about how she runs her program, truly "sharing roles"' with assistant coaches and taking turns attending events like this so they also get opportunities to spend time with families. Little things tht go unnoticed by many, but I are really a priority to DBK and make her program different (think the athletes notice her being here for sure).

Coach Henchy of Penn State, Coach Reyes of Nebraska and Coach Akeo of Pitt are also working this event meaning each of them had a very short, short holiday break from the Final Four to getting right back after to get back in the gym and work with athletes. Truly a sign that this college coaching thing is a 365 gig now a days, but chatting with each of them they love doing this part of the job.

Talking with parents......quite a bit of my time on day 1 was meeting and talking with parents. It is always fun to "meet the faces" that come with the athlete names you read on paper or see online for a year and then to meet the proud parents. Not going to lie there is a lot of anxiety and confusion about recruiting and "money" and why wouldn't there be and what to believe/who to believe with their daughters recruiting.

I definitely learned that we need to add a piece to our Str8 Talk Recruiting that deals with the "economics" of recruiting real soon and we will

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Lots of new names coming today as it was exciting seeing quite a few first time invitees in the gym for this session. Follow along for highlights and notes.

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