Prep Dig MN Prospect Draft: Round 5

<p>We reach the midpoint of the prospect draft and shake things up a bit for Rounds 5 &amp; 6. Prep Dig MN scouts will be selecting athletes outside the top 50 to help build rosters in consideration of the great depth of talent from across the state. Check out the Round 5 selections below.</p> <p><strong>"The pick is in."</strong></p> <p><strong>ROUND 5</strong></p> <div class="gmail_default"><strong>1. [player_tooltip player_id="58104" first="Claire" last="Vekich"] - 2021 | 5'10 | MB/OH | Greenway | Prep Dig #58</strong><br /> A class A all-state selection in 2019, Vekich can score points. She carried a big offensive load for Greenway last season helping guide them to the state tournament. She has ability to terminate from any location with a keen sense of timing and lift based on the height and tempo of the set. Upon elevation she unloads a fast and heavy arm that gets the ball to the floor quickly. Even knowing Vekich may likely get the set when she is in the front row, opposing defenses still have difficulty slowing her down. She is another versatile athlete for this Team Red roster that has a lot of flexibility in how they use their personnel.</div> <div> </div> <ul> <li><em><strong>Team Red roster after five rounds: [player_tooltip player_id="10105" first="Kennedi" last="Orr"], [player_tooltip player_id="71942" first="Lauren" last="Crowl"], [player_tooltip player_id="10088" first="Kira" last="Fallert"], [player_tooltip player_id="58018" first="Skylar" last="Gray"], [player_tooltip player_id="58104" first="Claire" last="Vekich"]</strong></em></li> </ul> <div class="gmail_default"><strong>2. [player_tooltip player_id="58061" first="Abbey" last="Milner"] - 2021 | 6'3 | MB | Lakeville North | Prep Dig #60<br /> </strong>Milner has continued to make steady progress in the middle as she has looked for confident and assertive in what she provides for her team both offensively and defensively. One of the biggest gains is the increased fluidity and her movement around the floor. She prepares well on both sides of the ball and has good eyework to make the right read and reaction during the flow of the point. She gets her elbows above the tape when blocking and has advanced her spacing and timing with her setter on offense to be a bigger impact with her arm. Her overall improvement will be big upon her return to Lakeville North as they bring back a great offensive core as they seek a return trip to the state tournament. <strong><br /> <br /> </strong></div> <ul> <li><em><strong>Team Orange roster after five rounds: [player_tooltip player_id="58016" first="Erin" last="Lamb"], [player_tooltip player_id="71945" first="Abby" last="Stark"], [player_tooltip player_id="72776" first="Elle" last="Cotton"], [player_tooltip player_id="58020" first="Elizabeth" last="Dille"], [player_tooltip player_id="58061" first="Abbey" last="Milner"]</strong></em></li> </ul> <div class="gmail_default"><strong>3. [player_tooltip player_id="84487" first="Ella" last="Wheatcraft"] - 2021 | 5'8 | L | Lakeville North | Prep Dig #67</strong></div> <div>Wheatcraft brings such a steady presence to the floor as a libero. She communicates well, provides consistent effort, and is engaged throughout the flow of the full point. Her ball control starts with good patience and balance and finishes without wasting much movement and with great platform work and angles. Her movement around the floor is intentional and dynamic. Combined with her vision and quickness she creates good range defensively. She will be a big factor for Lakeville North in 2020 as they will be among the favorites from the start to get to the state tournament. Her stock is rising as she could make a big jump in the next 2021 prospect rankings. </div> <div> </div> <ul> <li><em><strong>Team Yellow roster after five rounds: [player_tooltip player_id="31583" first="Sienna" last="Ifill"], [player_tooltip player_id="57498" first="Megan" last="Reilly"], [player_tooltip player_id="72060" first="Emma" last="VanHeel"], [player_tooltip player_id="58022" first="Ryley" last="Frye"], [player_tooltip player_id="84487" first="Ella" last="Wheatcraft"]</strong></em></li> </ul> <div class="gmail_default"><strong>4. [player_tooltip player_id="58083" first="Bryn" last="Hoekman"], 2021 | 6'1 | MB/RS | Murray County Central | Prep Dig #65</strong><br /> Hoekman is one of the more prolific arms from the Southwest part of the state. She is long, rangy, and versatile as she can score from the middle and on the pins with good heat. She creates great torque in her upper body during her approach work that helps generate power and movement that can put a lot of pressure on opponents. She has good physicality defensively as well and can get up and over quickly as a blocker. She is an all-conference selection from 2019 and will return for her senior season and what should showcase her best production yet. </div> <div> </div> <ul> <li><em><strong>Team Green roster after five rounds: [player_tooltip player_id="10110" first="Emma" last="Torstenson"], [player_tooltip player_id="58014" first="Sophie" last="Jesewitz"], [player_tooltip player_id="71946" first="Lauren" last="Galvin"], [player_tooltip player_id="71950" first="Brooke" last="Weichbrodt"], [player_tooltip player_id="58083" first="Bryn" last="Hoekman"]</strong></em></li> </ul> <div class="gmail_default"><strong>5. [player_tooltip player_id="31579" first="Sierra" last="Moore"] - 2022 | 5'11 | OH | Wayzata | Prep Dig #57</strong></div> <div>Moore is definitely a rising prospect as she continues to develop into a terminator on the left pin. Her approach footwork gets her to the ball well but it is in the control and speed of her arm that creates big results for her offensively. As she can score through a variety of attack points, Moore also has good vision and awareness to swing through all zones on the opponent's side of the court. The other part of her game that is such a huge asset on the court is her ball control and defense. She has great length to cover a lot of court while understanding angle development to put the ball in a good zone for her setter. With the graduation of some key elements from Wayzata's 2019 class 3A state championship season, Moore could see some good varsity opportunity during her junior season this fall. </div> <div> </div> <ul> <li><em><strong>Team Blue roster after five rounds: [player_tooltip player_id="71941" first="Ava" last="Moes"], [player_tooltip player_id="10109" first="Paige" last="Thibault"], [player_tooltip player_id="71948" first="Madelyn" last="Hornyak"], [player_tooltip player_id="72761" first="Keya" last="Luta Win Hunt"], [player_tooltip player_id="31579" first="Sierra" last="Moore"]</strong></em></li> </ul> <div class="gmail_default">6. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="71964" first="Kelly" last="McArthur"] - 2021 6'2 | S | Jefferson | Prep Dig #53</strong><br /> McArthur brings great size to the right side of the court and has improved in all areas of her game. It starts with her mobility and footwork as she has shown upgrades in her movement around the floor to get her hands on the ball at a high point of contact. Her extension and release have also improved as she has the ability to involve the full range of offense with good location and tempo. She is a stock riser that has some great tools for this roster and the next level. Her length creates a big block and allows her to swing on a second contact to keep the defense off-balance. Her Bloomington Jefferson has some good athleticism, which should make for a competitive season for them in 2020.</div> <div> </div> <ul> <li><em><strong>Team Indigo roster after five rounds: [player_tooltip player_id="31577" first="Julia" last="Hanson"], [player_tooltip player_id="58029" first="Kali" last="Engeman"], [player_tooltip player_id="71943" first="Jasmine" last="Weidemann"], [player_tooltip player_id="71959" first="Jadyn" last="Garrison"], [player_tooltip player_id="71964" first="Kelly" last="McArthur"]</strong></em></li> </ul> <div class="gmail_default"><strong>7. [player_tooltip player_id="71970" first="Aleah" last="Zieske"] - 2021 | 5'10 | OH/Opp | New London-Spicer | Prep Dig #62</strong><br /> Zieske brings a full range of skills to the floor. She can serve, pass, and terminate from both sides of the court. She has good footwork and momentum in her approach work and can swing aggressively and with good movement that can generate good power through the deeper zones of the opponent's court. She was a big reason for New London-Spicer's success last season and is part of a core group that will return in attempt to get further in the section playoffs. Zieske has developed great competitive experience and brings a court presence and work ethic that elevates her team's overall level of play. </div> <div> </div> <ul> <li><em><strong>Team Violet roster after five rounds: [player_tooltip player_id="31585" first="Kendal" last="Kemp"], [player_tooltip player_id="58032" first="Teagan" last="Starkey"], [player_tooltip player_id="31616" first="Lilly" last="Wachholz"], [player_tooltip player_id="72760" first="Simara" last="Amador"], [player_tooltip player_id="71970" first="Aleah" last="Zieske"]</strong></em></li> </ul> <div class="gmail_default"><strong>8. [player_tooltip player_id="71956" first="Toryn" last="Richards"] - 2021 | 5'11 | OH | Waterville-Elysian-Morristown | Prep Dig #57</strong><br /> Richards is an athlete. Her offensive skills made a big impact for WEM in 2019 as they advanced to the class 1A state championship match earning a runner-up finish, earning her all-tournament recognition. She elevates well and has developed a good range of offense as she can score from multiple attack points, which makes her difficult to track and defend. She has a nice arm and can generate good pace to combine with the range of movement and control in her placement. WEM returns the bulk of their roster and Richards will undoubtedly be a key threat for them at the net once again as they push for another state tournament opportunity.</div> <div> </div> <ul> <li><em><strong>Team Pink roster after five rounds: [player_tooltip player_id="58017" first="Payton" last="Evenstad"], [player_tooltip player_id="72767" first="Britt" last="Carlson"], [player_tooltip player_id="84909" first="Sylvia" last="Koenig"], [player_tooltip player_id="71951" first="Kiya" last="Durant"], [player_tooltip player_id="71956" first="Toryn" last="Richards"]</strong></em></li> </ul>