Recruiting Update: North Platte’s Peyton Neff

<p>Some college coach out there somewhere is going to get charged with felony theft whenever North Platte sophomore setter Peyton Neff commits to a college, because she is going to be a big-time steal for someone.</p> <p>That might sound strange to say considering she is the #12 overall prospect in the Nebraska class of 2021 and the fourth-best available player overall - including the best uncommitted setter in the class. In a loaded recruiting class at setter that also includes Wahoo's Elle Glock (USC), Skutt Catholic's Allison Gray (Arizona State) and Diller-Odell's Addison Heidemann (Iowa State), Neff also possesses a Division I skill set but is flying under the radar nationally.</p> <p>Unlike the other three setters that have already committed to major programs, Neff doesn't play for a club volleyball program that attracts a lot of attention and doesn't play in major tournaments across the country. Plus, being in North Platte, she isn't exactly a house-hold name throughout the state.</p> <p>But, trust me, the multi-sport Neff is big-time legit. Although she is 5'8, she plays the position like a 6-footer thanks to her explosive athleticism and leaping ability. </p> <p>"With track season just getting over, I was a pretty busy. This last year I have taken one official visit with Hastings College, when (Matt) Buttermore was still coaching there. To be quite honest, he was one of the main reasons I visited because I had watched him coach at Nationals a few years ago and when I went to his camps I really liked the way he ran things," Neff said. "I am still looking into more schools to visit, but I am going to attend a lot of camps this summer to narrow down what schools I’m really interested in."</p> <p>Neff is also a rare breed in that she understands the concept of not being laser-focused on trying to play at a Division I school, even though she easily could. She knows there is a lot of great volleyball at all levels and she wants to make sure she goes to a competitive program, regardless of its size.</p> <p>"I am looking into some small D1 schools and competitive D2 schools as well. But I don’t want to rule out any NAIA schools because there are a ton of those that are really competitive as well. I am thinking of majoring in psychology, so that’s going to be one of the main things I look for," Neff said. "I also want to be able to play at a school that I can have quite a bit of playing time, which is why I’m looking at a range of different levels. I would prefer to play closer to home, so somewhere in the central states around Nebraska, but I wouldn’t turn down something a little further away either."</p> <p>Neff is also doing the wise thing of being selective about what summer camps she attends, making sure she gets on campus and in front of coaches at schools that she's interested in so that she can work directly with the coaching staffs of those schools and get a feel for what the programs are like.</p> <p>"The recruiting process is going pretty well, I have been setting up accounts and making videos, and have also attended some camps at some schools I’m interested in. This summer is going to be really important for recruiting purposes because of the camps I am planning to go to," Neff said. "A few I am planning right now are ones at UNK, University of Northern Colorado, University of Colorado at Boulder, and definitely UNO, all of those schools are some of the front runners right now.</p> <p>"With Coach Buttermore getting his new job (at Omaha), I am still really interested. I attended a camp a few weeks ago and really liked it. They did just sign a 2020 setter, so I don’t know what exactly will happen there. A few other schools I have thought about are Fort Hays, Central Missouri, Augustana, and University of Sioux Falls."</p> <p>The new recruiting rules that went into effect May 1 have put the brakes on some of Neff's recruiting at the moment, but it should pick-up again in mid-June when coaches can start contacting incoming high school juniors and seniors.</p> <p>"I am still starting off with the recruiting, so I know there are a lot more schools I’ll be looking at and considering. I will know a lot more in a few months after seeing these schools and being able to contact more coaches after June 15th," she said. "Overall, I am still looking at a variety of different schools and I am hoping to find a school that gives me everything I want. I will for sure being playing volleyball in college and am ready to find a good fit."</p>