Recruiting Update: Elkhorn South’s Kylie Weeks
The Class of 2022 recruiting was stopped right in it’s tracks on May 1, 2019. Colleges had been able to contact potential recruits in the class of 2022, through their club or high school coaches. That is no longer allowed. …
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Continue ReadingThe Class of 2022 recruiting was stopped right in it’s tracks on May 1, 2019. Colleges had been able to contact potential recruits in the class of 2022, through their club or high school coaches. That is no longer allowed.
New Rules:
June 15th– after student-athletes sophomore year coaches can communicate through phone, emails, text etc directly to the student. They can also send recruiting materials.
August 1st — before Junior year student-athletes can now take official visits. Unofficial visits are allowed after June 15th, but now they can go ahead and meet with coaches and athletic staff. Coaches can also have off-campus contact with potential recruits.
Kylie Weeks
Kylie
Weeks
5'7" | OH
Elkhorn South | 2022
State
#151
Nation
NE
Class of 2022, Elkhorn South HS, Nebraska Elite 161 Kekona
Outside Hitter/Libero
Explain where you were in the recruiting process before the rule changes for D1 schools on May 1st? College visits, etc.
Before the D1 rule change last May, I had a few good relationships built with college coaches. I also went to some day camps and did an Elite Camp at an SEC school that I felt went really well. It was a lot of fun and the athletes obviously get treated well-they had great facilities, nice locker rooms, great food, the coaches were fun, their fan base was crazy committed to the athletic program, etc! That being said, I still need to get on a few more campuses to see what else is out there.
How did the changes that were made affect your recruiting process you had started? Do you agree with the rule changes?
Our class (2022) is kind of the guinea pig of the rule change and when you think about the NCAA recruiting restrictions, along with our current club season being sort of up in the air with the COVID-19 restrictions, it kind of stinks that our recruiting process and relationship-building are on hold. You don’t know where you stand when you haven’t had direct contact or conversations with coaches in several months. I do understand why the rules changed, though. I mean, it’s hard to make big decisions at any age, and when you’ve barely started high school, making a college commitment is tough, and things can change so much between age 14 and age 18. Coaching changes can happen, too, so sometimes an athlete may commit to a school early like freshman year, but then the coach is gone by the time she is ready to go to college so then the search has to start all over again.
What are you looking for in a school academically? What is your major if known?
Academically, I am looking for a college that will be challenging and have a good program for future teachers. Right now, I see myself as an Elementary School Teacher or a Special Education Teacher or maybe studying something related to kids, like Speech Pathology. I think there are a lot of good options for me academically.
How do you decide which schools you are interested in and playing volleyball for? What is most important to you? What are you looking for in a volleyball program and coach?
I think when you go to a college campus, you know pretty fast if the school could be a good fit for you. I want to go to a school with school spirit, a school that values integrity, and a place where I can play on a team that wants to compete at a high level. I also want to play for a coach who has a good sense of humor and is relatable, but also holds the team and the staff to a high standard.
It’s funny because last year and in 8th grade, I was interested in all of the schools who showed interest in me so I’d get a letter or email from a school and tell my parents “It’d be kind of fun to go to that school” but now that I am a little older, I know myself and my goals a little bit better so I have done more research and I now know that not every school is a good fit.
I have also had coaches who ask me about my position. I know that I am very “under-sized” for an outside hitter and most likely will end up playing defense, but coaches do ask me a lot if I want to hit or if I want to be a defender in college. It is a blessing and a curse to be asked that. When I first started the sport, I was even a setter, so I think it helps that I have seen the game from different angles. I have played beach each summer, too, and that has also helped me develop a strong all-around game. Most of the coaches I’ve played for would say I have a high volleyball IQ and it’s because I value every single touch on the court. I don’t really care what position I play in college, I just want to play for a coaching staff who will value what I can contribute to the team and to the program.
What schools have you made visits to before the rule changes? Are there any frontrunners?—
I’d hate to mention any particular schools because I don’t want to jinx anything but there are definitely about 5-6 schools that I have serious interest in.
How important is geographic location in your choice of school?
I don’t really know for sure if I want to be close to home or if I want to be a 6-8 hour drive or even a flight away from home. I have some relatives on the east coast so there was a time that I considered looking that way. I plan to spend some time this summer figuring out what location suits me. A few of the schools I am really interested in are 6-8 hours away, but there are also a few that are closer. I know I need to get on more campuses so I can figure out the answer to this question
Are you interested in beach volleyball in college?
I really enjoy playing Beach. I want to play Indoor in college but I wouldn’t rule out playing both, if that opportunity was presented.
Did you have any offers before the rules changes and did the rule changes affect your decision to hold off on committing?
I know I said this before but committing early would not have been a good option for me. The rule change definitely affected recruiting efforts for me. I was injured at the beginning of last (15s) club season so I didn’t really start having conversations with coaches until late March/early April so I would not have been making an informed decision by committing before May 1st.
One thing I want to say is that I am super thankful for all of the coaches I have played for. Our high school coaches do a great job of being there for us and helping us grow not just as volleyball players but also as young ladies. The club coaches I have had, well, they have literally watched me grow up and have helped me become the player and the person I am today. No matter where I end up for college, I will always be in debt to all of the coaches, my supportive family and friends, and of course my teammates, who have been with me along the way. I am lucky to be surrounded by a lot of incredible people to help me through my journey.
Thanks for the interview Kylie and looking forward to following your recruiting journey!