Class of 2024 Has Been Released! Here Are The New Additions
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We’ve finally released the class of ’24 updated rankings, and there are certainly plenty of new athletes to this list. Here are the top five we’re noticing as “new”. Marlina Anderson Marlina Anderson 6'0" | MB North Central | 2024…
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Continue ReadingWe’ve finally released the class of ’24 updated rankings, and there are certainly plenty of new athletes to this list. Here are the top five we’re noticing as “new”.
Marlina Anderson Marlina Anderson 6'0" | MB North Central | 2024 State IN , 5-10 MB, North Central
Super athletic and very fast, Marlina can be an M1 or an M2 for any team right now. She’s a dynamic athlete that can attack from in front of the setter just as well as behind, and does it with a strength not normally seen from this class in the middle. I like her fire, her relentlessness, and her ability to make a positive play out of anything thrown at her. This Academy-trained kid should make waves not only in high school this fall, but in club next spring. Watch out.
Lilly Merk Lilly Merk 6'0" | MB Terre Haute South Vigo | 2024 State IN , 6-0 MB, Terre Haute South
COA, located in the western part of Indiana, has a tendency to pump out a few big time athletes. Lilly has the potential to do as such for THS this fall. Her length makes her seem taller than six feet, she’s fast and athletic, and can attack both in front of and behind the setter with ease. For the majority of her club season, she ran one-tempo and two-tempo balls in the middle, sort of like what Western Kentucky does. The advantage? It gives Miss Merk the ability to hit around or over anything in front of her. She’s also a plus-defender, and I would not be surprised if the next level looks at her as a possible third middle playing the right side.
MaKenzie Chivington MaKenzie Chivington 5'8" | RS Warsaw | 2024 State IN , 5-8 RS, Warsaw
Also capable of setting, MaKenzie can put balls away regularly from either pin. An unorthodox approach to attacking is actually her advantage; she hangs in the air and uses her length to attack high and put balls away. She can hit multiple shots and is smart, both on and off the court—she’s looking to study something in the medical field after her time at Warsaw and Empowered.
Zyon Francis Zyon Francis 5'10" | MB Franklin Central | 2024 State IN , 6-0 MB, Franklin Central
Leaving Zyon off of this list initially is a complete gaffe on my part. She has fully recovered from her knee issue, and should be a factor in Franklin Central’s success this fall. Her club team winning the Triple Crown NIT in 15 Open certainly doesn’t hurt, and her athleticism alone can carry a program. I like her strength and length, and as she gets stronger, her shots will be as well. I’m looking forward to all that she’s learned this past club season, and her drive to improve despite her setbacks.
Meredith Slaton Meredith Slaton 5'7" | S Scottsburg | 2024 State IN , 5-6 S, Scottsburg
A Union-trained kid, I’ll take the blame for this oversight as well, as I don’t make it south of Seymour often. Her hands are high and accurate, she’s always making a bad pass better, and better passes make it to her hitter’s respective wheelhouses. Defensively, she’s above average for setters in this class—a trait not normally seen in setters at this age. I hope to see more of her as the fall season begins, as Scottsburg is improving with each passing season.