Uncommitted Athletes You Need Know Playing Up An Age Level

When covering the first month of tournaments, I start to familiarize myself with athletes across the country.  For most events I go in with a pretty clean slate so I can just watch athletes and take notes with how I see the players as they are - set aside the accolades they've received, the email parents have sent, and all the outside noise ,I like to go to a clean slate.  When I go back through notes and start writing  looking into some background information on the player I see they are playing an age group up.  I know this is always a debate and each club has a different philosophy when to bring an athlete up.  I'm not here to judge on when an athlete should play up, but I know these athletes are doing well if the age division that doesn't match their graduating class.  *These are just a few of many athletes playing in a different graduating class than their age group.  *At Prep Dig National, we do not report on 14s or Class of 2026.  I know there are many athletes who are in the Class of 2026 that are playing up, their time will come, but right now we are focusing on the Class of 2022-2025.  [caption id="attachment_117121" align="aligncenter" width="468"]<img class="wp-image-117121" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/11/Autumn-Flynn.jpg" alt="" width="468" height="312"> Flynn[/caption] FC Elite 18 Navy  Autumn Flynn - Class of 2023 Ella Demetrician - Class of 2024 Brynn Janke - Class of 2024  FC Elite 18 Navy out of Appleton, WI have established themselves as a 18 Open contender.  A runner up finish in Chicago, with their only loss to Sunshine out of California and a final four finish at NLQ in Omaha, they are continuing to turn heads.  Many of their athletes are under the 18s age group.  Saige Damrow (Wisconsin), Kennedy Martin (Florida), and Kyla Dunaway (Alabama) are all from the Class of 2023 and would be able to play 17s.  They do have other underclassmen on this team, led by Ella Demetrician, one of the top 2024's in Wisconsin as a six rotation outside.  Autumn Flynn is a 2023 middle who is full of power, really effective off one foot.  Brynn Janke is part of their 6-2 scheme where she is a 2024 backrow setter.    Zoey Dood - MVA 17 Black  Class of 2024 I saw Dood briefly last season and she definitely stood out, and then I found out she was playing up an age group.  Dude is a long, athletic setter who has to be touching near 10 feet.  She is able to get her feet to the ball, receive the ball high and knows how to run the show as a 5-1 setter.  With her length, she is a force at the net blocking and can be offensive when she needs to.     <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Kennedy Louisell of <a href="https://x.com/FHNorthernHigh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FHNorthernHigh</a> having a strong showing at Beast of the East <a href="https://t.co/ygr94oWDvF">pic.x.com/ygr94oWDvF</a> — Prep Dig Michigan (@PrepDigMI) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigMI/status/1449437980259725320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2021</a></blockquote> Kennedy Louisell - FaR Out 18 Black  Class of 2023 I saw Louisell at Beast of the East, one of the largest high school tournaments in Michigan and Louisell put on a show.  She is a six rotation pure scorer, extremely explosive from the pin or from middle back.  She can attack from multiple spots on the court and hit a variety of tables.  She's playing with a smile on her face and has such great intangibles as well.  She is playing up an age group with FaR Out 18 Black, but she is one who is uncommitted and would be a huge pick up at the next level.    Mehl Hansen - FaR Out 17 Black  Class of 2022 This is a little different.  Hansen is able to play an age group down and is an uncommitted 2022 setter.  A Class of 2022 prospect, she is accustomed to top training, has great disciplined, and knows how to command a court.  Seeing her this past weekend at Central Zone, her maturity on the court really shows where she is always engaged with the rest of her team always making eye contact, and connecting with each athlete.    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 15s and 16s finishing round one of power pools, 17s staring gold bracket play, more names to know from <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/centralzone?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#centralzone</a> Natalie Powers - <a href="https://x.com/stingvb1988?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@stingvb1988</a> 15 Gold Macy Hinshaw - <a href="https://x.com/circlecityvbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@circlecityvbc</a> 17 Purple Allie Shondell - <a href="https://x.com/BoilerJuniorsVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BoilerJuniorsVB</a> 16 Gold Riley Whitlock - <a href="https://x.com/BoilerJuniorsVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BoilerJuniorsVB</a> — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1487791824915898377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2022</a></blockquote> Macy Hinshaw - Circle City 17 Purple  Class of 2024 Hinshaw makes it happen.  Circle City 17 Purple will be a heavy favorite all season.  Chloe Chicoine is going to be a household volleyball name, but this team still has plenty of attackers and solid defense.  Hinshaw maintains a balanced offense and works extremely hard to get her hands on the ball.  The energy of this team is contagious where they talk, consistently bring energy, and are ready to compete.  It's still hard to believe that Hinshaw is only in her sophomore year of high school.    [caption id="attachment_140031" align="aligncenter" width="229"]<img class="wp-image-140031" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/04/43_Johnson_Julia-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="229" height="344"> Johnson[/caption] Julia Johnson - Boiler Juniors 17 Gold  Class of 2024 This past fall, Johnson was used as a middle blocker when her high school team won a Class 1A state championship in Illinois.  Johnson is now setting for the Boiler Juniors 17 Gold team.  This past fall gave Johnson a lot of experience being physical at the net which translates to her defensive game at the net.  With her size and athleticism, she is one you can't let slip through the cracks with a huge upside at the next level.    Madison Quest and Gabriella Pitcel - MKE Sting 16 Gold  Class of 2025 These two athletes were a key piece to the Sting 14 Gold final four finish in 2021 and their skill set complements the talent that has been a core group of these athletes playing for Sting 16 Gold.  Pitcel jumps like a deer, she is extremely active along the net and is continuing to improve while adjusting to a fast paced tempo.  Her upside is extremely high.  Quest is a special athlete, she also brings a high volleyball IQ to her skill set.  She knows how to score points, but is a really solid defender as well.  <img class="size-medium wp-image-117117 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2020/11/Andi-Spies-e1614875970960-300x264.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="264"> Andi Spies - Capital 17 Adidas  Class of 2024 Spies plays for Capital out of Madison, Wi and is a really solid setter/right side combo.  Her future at the college level is most likely as a setter, but for now her all around game can be utilized in a variety of ways.  She moves extremely well around the cour to get her hands on the ball and has great footwork to get herself in position to put her hitters in a position to score. She connects with a fast tempo ball extremely well with her middles.    Stella Swenson and Olivia Swenson - MN Select 17-1  Class of 2024 The Swenson Twins!  The top two players in the Class of 2024 in Minnesota.  Stella was most recently named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Minnesota as a setter while Olivia is a very physical front line player.  They are playing for MN Select 17-1 who had a top ten finish at NLQ in Omaha this weekend.  This team will be fired up for the next chance to compete after having a rough day three at NLQ.  They are a squad who will always be in the hunt.    Cy Rae Campbell and Heidi Devers - Dynasty 17 Black  Class of 2024 Campbell is a very physical middle who commands the front row while Devers is a libero/ds who will be essential to the ball control of Dynasty 17 Black.  This team just finished outside of grabbing a bid at NLQ in Omaha, but I have a feeling they will be an Open qualifier where they can make a run.  Campbell and Devers will be looking forward to getting in front of more college coaches at Triple Crown in just over two weeks!    Saida Jacobs, Abigail Mullen, Reese Messer - Dynasty 16 Black  Class of 2025 They are your reigning national champions.  Dynasty 16 Black won the 15 Open title last year in Vegas and will have a target on their back heading into 2022.  They have a team loaded with size, athleticism, and a ton of talent.  Mullen was a key player for 15 Black last year and will be a key player once again.  However, all these athletes still have another year plus before they can talk to college coaches June 15, 2023.