The Prospect Report: June 16th AM Edition

News and Notes from Day 1 and Day 2 of Class of 2026 Recruiting

**Texas Being Texas:

From my projections the Champs are still the Champs and may be able to take the Summer off after this AM.  Coach Elliot sent out 3 BOOM’s via social media and though only Setter Genevieve Harris (Top Setter PPV 240) has gone on social and announced I believe that the Horns have their Class of 2026.  It will be (in my guesstimate only Henley Anderson #1 PPV in the Class 300 an OH and Emily Cagino our 2nd highest PPV 197 for an Libero in the 2026 class.

**Indiana another A:

The Hoosier staff continues to hammer the regions top talent and addressing needs with tough, talented Midwest VB players.  Getting 2 on Day 1 Sara Snowberger PPV 242 is a competitor who falls in that “slightly undersized” category, but you get her in a college strength program and I think her ceiling is high with her work ethic.

Then they add a late night (well I go to bed at 9 PM so late for me:) Libero in Ellie Helper PPV 160 putting her in our Top 10.  Helper is what many would call a perfect “Program Fit” for IU.

Predictable Commits:

I thought that Tarnow (PPV 288) our #2 MB to Wisconsin was predicted as the 1st Alliance pipeline has been good to the Badgers in the past.  

Layli Ostovar to USC also made a lot of sense, as I’m assuming she wanted to play beach.  It will be interesting to see if she stays OH or plays DS/Lib for indoor.

Battle for the Big Guns:

Rumor has it there may be a battle going on for the the Top 3 remaining OH’s (Halle Thompson, Ayanna Watson and Jayden Robinson).

I know USC and Nebraska are in that battle just not sure for what two?

What a Top 10 coach told me a while ago was "There are 6 arms in this class that we feel can help us catch Texas. Texas is taking one of them and Nebraska is taking another one. That leaves everyone else to battle to get one of the remaining four."

Well that's the positioning that is happening with the big dogs right now and these first few days.

This kind of reminds me of the Cari Spears debate last year and honestly I hope it takes just as long to play out.  I hope all three of those girls take all the time and all the visits they want.

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The program that people don’t talk about is Pitt (and that is just how Pitt likes it).  They are having Select Camp today and I think that is genius (planned or not).  4 elite setters there and 8-9 other PPVs about 200 (Top 50 for you ranking buffs).  Fish wasn’t lying when he said “We are going Big Fish hunting this year” yesterday on our live show.

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Waiting for the Opposites:

The top two Opposites in this Class Sara Hickman and Nadiya Johnson are both very strong academic students and I expect both of them to take their time in assessing their options.  RS/OPP is a difficult position to recruit this year and I feel that programs in on these two are going to have to be patient, but well worth it as both of them are amazing locker room additions and obviously on-court.

Day 1 records:  I don’t have Day 1 #s for total verbals, but I do know it was much higher than last year and much, much higher than the 4 I had predicted.  I just think that this is a big flashing neon sign that the NCAA or whoever sets this recruiting calendar needs to change it and offer a communication period, visits and then commitments so athletes can actually take in the recruiting process.  I know everyone thinks going to camp is getting a feel for the program, but it isn’t.  Just ask any Sophomore in college.

A name I told you about that was way underrated was Joy Udoye. Played on a smaller club last year, first year with Austin Skyline has been impressive at NTDP. Wasn't ranked highly in other publications. Just remember the name her best volleyball is ahed of her.

STILL WAITING for that first commit to surprise everyone and say NO to a logo school and go be the star at a school on the rise. See if it happens today???

Tongue and cheek comment just want to thank the kids like Sara Snowberger and Mallory Matheny

More updates and whispers from the recruiting world today and to come on the Prospect Report.

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