Tuesday’s Tea: Flipped Commits, Who’s Next, and March Forecast
February is like starting a campfire in the world of volleyball recruiting. A time for gathering all materials like the small sticks, the kindling, messages sent out to people about this bond fire to attend. It starts with a spark…
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Continue ReadingFebruary is like starting a campfire in the world of volleyball recruiting. A time for gathering all materials like the small sticks, the kindling, messages sent out to people about this bond fire to attend. It starts with a spark and by the end of February, this campfire of recruiting is roaring with flames, it’s hot as it moves into March where we will see more college commits and bids to be earned! Here are some quick newsworthy notes and a forecast heading into March.
Flipped Commits
Looking at the recruiting landscape, I’m going to stick to straight facts, eliminating the hearsay by the volleyball world. There have been two big time prospects in the Big Ten that flipped their commits to other Big Ten schools, ones that have major connections to their future programs.
Chloe Chicoine, one of the top 2023 players in the country, of McCutcheon HIgh School (IN) and Circle City committed to Penn State in the summer of 2021. She has now switched her commitment to Purdue where she is minutes from the Purdue campus (McCutcheon is on the Southside of Lafayette/West Lafayette). Chicoine is a special athlete who can do it all. She won a state title this fall and was key in the US Youth National Team winning a bronze medal in the FIVB U19 World Championships. Purdue has a passionate fan base and adding a playing like Chicoine is a little like pouring gas on the fire for Purdue who is coming off a huge season. She is flat out electric.
Katie Hurta of Nazareth Academy and Adversity out of the Chicagoland area has been committed to Indiana before any of the drastic rule changes happened in the world of recruiting back in 2019. Hurta committed to Indiana her freshman year and will now be heading to Penn State. She will join another Illinois standout and Adversity alum in Rachel Muisenga who will be entering her third year at Penn State. Hurta will bring a dynamic skill set to Happy Valley where she can set or swing. Her athleticism allows her to do a lot of special things, but her all around skill set and training puts her in an elite group.
Please welcome Katie Hurta to Happy Valley!
She was the 2021-22 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year.#WeAre pic.twitter.com/sqEATBIiyP
— Penn State Women’s Volleyball (@PennStateVBALL) March 1, 2022
Who’s Next?
A lot of eyes were on the Class of 2022 outside Hitter Eva Hudson out of Munciana. Her 18 Samurai team was lights out and in true Munciana fashion they would just find a gritty way to win. Hudson can score points from anywhere on the court, she’s an outlet in the backrow and can score out of system. Hudson was originally committed to Notre Dame, but is now open again. Whoever lands Hudson is potentially getting an instant impact type athlete with her ability to pass, serve receive, and score points at a high level.
@MuncianaVB 18 Samurai is moving on to Monday’s Elite bracket!
One of the strongest, most cohesive teams in the gym this weekend. #TCVolleyballNIT pic.twitter.com/V1fSLSfM2M
— Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) February 20, 2022
Who Else Could Be Next?
There are a lot of really good athletes from the Class of 2023 that are still available. A5 won the 17 Elite title and has plenty of high level (and available) talent on their squad. Middle Blockers Milana Thornton and Iyanna Garvin are so athletic and physical, they would be a huge pick I’m at the next level. Kamryn Chaney of 1st Alliance had Highlight after Highlight where she was showcasing her power from both pins.
March Forecast
March will feature regional qualifiers, national qualifiers, and more eyes on the 17s with coaches hoping to solidify their 2023 class and start tagging 2024s.
Part 1: New 16s Age Group Athletes To Tag On UA
Part 2: More, New 16s Age Group Athletes To Tag On UA
Qualifiers In March:
March 5-7 and 11-13 – Salt Lake City Showdown
March 11-13 – Northeast Qualfier – Philadelphia
March 11-13 – MidEast Qualifier- Week One – St. Louis
March 18-20 and 25-27 – Northern Lights Qualifier – Minneapolis
March 25-27 – MidEast Qualifier – Week Two – Indianapolis
March 25-27 – Pacific Northwest Qualifier – Spokane
18s With an Open Bid (usavolleyball.com)
A5 Mizuno Volleyball Club |
A5 Mizuno 18- Marc |
Absolute Volleyball Club |
Absolute Black 18-1 |
Adidas Team Dynasty |
DYNASTY 18 Black |
Adversity |
Adversity G18 Adidas |
AZ East Valley Juniors |
AZ EVJ 18N1-Tempe |
Club V Volleyball |
Club V 18 Ren Reed |
EXCEL Volleyball Club |
EXCEL 18 National Red |
Fox Cities Elite |
FC Elite 18 Elite |
Houston Skyline |
H Skyline 18 Royal |
Mad FROG |
Mad Frog 18 National Green |
Metro Volleyball Club of Washington DC |
Metro 18 Travel |
Mizuno Northern Lights |
Mizuno Northern Lights 18-1 |
NC Volleyball Academy |
Academy 18 Diamond |
OTVA Volleyball Academy |
OT 18 O Felix |
Premier Volleyball |
Premier Nebraska 18 Gold |
PVA |
PVA 18 ELITE |
Rockwood Thunder VBC |
Rockwood Thunder 18 Elite |
Skyline Juniors |
Skyline 18 Royal |
Sunshine Volleyball Club |
Sunshine 18 LA |
Wave Volleyball Club |
Wave 18 Kevin |
1st Alliance VBC |
1st Alliance 18 Gold |
Arizona Sky Volleyball Club |
AZ Sky 18 Gold |
Team Indiana |
TI Elite 18.1 |