What PD National 2023 Recruits Are Heading To The SEC?

The SEC has been building each year and the Class of 2023 is right there among the best when it comes to commits heading to the Southeast. Plenty of these programs are capitalizing on the athletes from the Midwest, these athletes are more than happy to play volleyball, get an education, and get a scholarship on top of all of that. The following athletes are going to the SEC and will be looking to take their program to the next step.   Arkansas #50 - [player_tooltip player_id="101701" first="Logan" last="Jones"] - Setter - Carl Junction (MO) - MAVS KC 17-1 (Title Photo) Jones is the type of athlete I’m going to pick no matter what game we are playing. She plays with a fire in her eye where she is going to find a way to win. She might not be the setter who plays high above the net, but don’t let her 5’9 stature fool you. She has a physical presence at the net and isn’t afraid to go head to head with top front line players. The MAVS KC 17-1 squad she sets for has been making it a habit to be playing for Gold on day three of major events. She knows how to run and extremely quick tempo and put her attackers in a position to terminate. Her presence at Arkansas fits their scheme where they are making improvements with athletes who aren’t afraid to play smash mouth, scrappy volleyball.   Auburn #53 - [player_tooltip player_id="195487" first="Lakin" last="Laurendine"] - OH - Clinton (MS) - Infinity Be ready for a lot of athleticism coming from Laurendine. The outside hitter was named the Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year as a Junior and will take her talents to Auburn. She has the type of game where she makes something out of nothing and is always a threat out of system as well. With a heavy swing, she makes it tough for the other side of the net to keep it in system. She is also a threat to score out of the backrow. She has a really high ceiling and definitely has the athleticism and potential to be an elite SEC player. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Always fun to see recruiting classes come together. Watching Future <a href="https://x.com/GatorsVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GatorsVB</a> - [player_tooltip player_id="195936" first="Kira" last="Hutson"] just had the kill to clinch set one of the semifinals for <a href="https://x.com/meteagirlsvb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@meteagirlsvb</a> Also got to watch [player_tooltip player_id="119394" first="Kennedy" last="Martin"] of <a href="https://x.com/anorth_vb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@anorth_vb</a> play at the Wisconsin state tournament. — Chris Fitzgerald (@PrepDigChris) <a href="https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1459356605468790786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Florida #18 - [player_tooltip player_id="119394" first="Kennedy" last="Martin"] - OH/RS - Appleton North (WI) - FC Elite #21 - [player_tooltip player_id="195936" first="Kira" last="Hutson"] - OH - Metea Valley (IL) - Club One I have had the privilege of watching these two athletes compete on some of the larger high school and club volleyball stages this past year. [player_tooltip player_id="119394" first="Kennedy" last="Martin"] was part of the FC Elite 18 Elite team that finished in the 18 Open Final Four at USAV Nationals, earning All Tournament honors. Hutson was an integral part of the Metea Valley’s state championship team in 2021 in Iarge class of Illinois. She took over the match with big swings from everywhere, especially out of middle back. Martin, who has touched 10’6 was tough to stop on the right side for FC Elite where she is hitting at angles that are tough to stop. When Martin brings the thunder, Hutson will have the lightning with a fast arm and a variety of shots to score a lot of points. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This weekend was amazing! Thank U <a href="https://x.com/usavolleyball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@usavolleyball</a>, the coaches & the players for the opp to learn from & compete with the best! ❤️getting on the court with my future <a href="https://x.com/KentuckyVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KentuckyVB</a> teammate <a href="https://x.com/brooke_bultema?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@brooke_bultema</a>!! Go USA!! 🏐🇺🇸 <a href="https://x.com/mariezidek?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mariezidek</a> <a href="https://x.com/DScottArruda?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DScottArruda</a> <a href="https://x.com/MIEliteVB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MIEliteVB</a> <a href="https://x.com/marianathletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@marianathletics</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/BBN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BBN</a> <a href="https://t.co/yM7GOWHWcL">pic.x.com/yM7GOWHWcL</a> — [player_tooltip player_id="66328" first="Ava" last="Sarafa"] (@ava_sarafa) <a href="https://x.com/ava_sarafa/status/1523770942518075392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Kentucky 15 – [player_tooltip player_id="66328" first="Ava" last="Sarafa"] – Setter – Marian (MI) – Michigan Elite 40 – Brooklyn DeLeye – OH – Washburn Rural (KS) – Topeka Impact 45 – [player_tooltip player_id="114516" first="Brooke" last="Bultema"] – MB – Ursuline (OH) – Elevation 52 – [player_tooltip player_id="195477" first="Jordyn" last="Dailey"] – MB – NC Academy L&R (NC) – CHAVC There is definitely a common theme among the commits that are heading to Lexington, Kentucky and that is speed and athleticism. Seeing all these athletes live over the past year has been special where they have shown their athleticism and ability to contribute at a high level for their team. [player_tooltip player_id="66328" first="Ava" last="Sarafa"] is out of the Detroit area where she ran the show for one of the top high school programs in the country in Marian Catholic. Her hands are high and she is one of the best at running her middles even when she is pulled off the net, a definitely playmaker. DeLeye plays for one of the top high schools in Kansas and is lightning in a bottle with the way she can violently attack from anyone on the court, a real exciting athlete to watch. Bultema and Dailey will be a great combo with Sarafa where they love to score points off a quick tempo. They are also the type of athletes who can score off one foot and being able to run in front and behind the setter to score will be really key at the next level. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://x.com/a5volleyball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@a5volleyball</a> takes the first! [player_tooltip player_id="195475" first="Jurnee" last="Robinson"] is going OFF. <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/TCVolleyballNIT?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TCVolleyballNIT</a> <a href="https://t.co/Qdam20cm7C">pic.x.com/Qdam20cm7C</a> — Austin Kingsley (@KingsleyATK) <a href="https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1495866502809100295?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> LSU #12 [player_tooltip player_id="195475" first="Jurnee" last="Robinson"] - OH - Mauldin (SC) - A5 I saw Jurnee Robinsin at Central Zone in January and then again at Triple Crown in February where A5 took home the title in a dramatic title match over Drive Nation. Robinson came up with big swing after big swing, playing with so much fire and intensity you couldn’t help but feel that from her on the sideline. Her addition to A5 has been a much added pick up as they are now one of the top 17s teams in the country. She will head to LSU as they will be under the direction of new head coach, Tanya Johnson. With an athlete like Robinson coming into Baton Rouge, the Tigers will have a big time scorer to build around which could be exciting for the SEC West.   Mississippi State #93 - [player_tooltip player_id="87548" first="Arissa" last="Smith"] - MB - Ridge Point (TX) - Houston Juniors #96 - [player_tooltip player_id="66313" first="Erin" last="Kline"] - S - Mercy (MI) - Legacy Mississippi State will be looking to build off the successful season of 2021 with some high caliber commits in Smith and Kline, both coming from high powered club programs. Smith commands the middle with her speed and athleticism. She can close from pin to pin while transitioning quickly to be available to attack. She is a flyer with a quick snap of an arm swing to score points. Kline is a setter for one of the top 17s programs in the country out of the Detroit Metro. Her club team won the 2020 Triple Crown as 15s and have consistently been one of the top teams in their age group. She is long, athletic, and can hold her own in the frontline as well.   Ole Miss<img class=" wp-image-197040 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/05/Kennedy-Wagner.jpeg" alt="" width="414" height="276" /> #19 - [player_tooltip player_id="156466" first="Kennedy" last="Wagner"] - OH - Valparaiso (IN) - 1st Alliance Wagner is lightning in a bottle, an expression I like to use for the pins who can fly high, score points, and get their teammates hyped on every point. That’s just [player_tooltip player_id="156466" first="Kennedy" last="Wagner"] who is on one of the top 17s teams in the country in 1st Alliance 17 Gold. She makes quite the combo on the outside with Grace Egan, an Ohio State commit. Wagner can do it all from being able to handle a high volume of serve receiving and is able to score from anywhere on the court. Ole Miss, under the direction of Kayla Banwarth is a team that is one the rise and has picked up some big time recruits and transfers where they will continue to be a threat in the SEC.   Tennessee #42 - [player_tooltip player_id="73475" first="Sydney" last="Jaynes"] - DS/L - Northfield (MN) - Northern Lights Syndey Jaynes is a bit of a swiss army knife type player where she can contribute in so many ways for her team. She has has the ability to play on the outside and be a key contributor on the pin for her high school and club team, but can pass nails as well. She will head to Tennessee where she will join another Northern Lights alum in Ava Moes. Jaynes will be the type of dynamic athlete that will raise the level of play in the Tennessee gym as they look to breakthrough into the sweet sixteen after losing to Ohio State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2021.   Texas A&M<img class=" wp-image-176624 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/01/DSC08043.jpg" alt="" width="381" height="254" /> #96 - [player_tooltip player_id="122202" first="Alayna" last="Pearson"] - DS/L - Blue Valley Northwest (KS) - KC Power Having one of the most athletic players on the court be your libero is never a bad thing. Pearson commands the backrow where she can make the plays out of range and will make the others look routine. She provides the first contact for the top setter in the Class of 2023 in Ella Swindle who is heading to Texas. The two will reunite when Texas heads into the SEC in two seasons. Pearson and Swindle will look to finish their club season with a bang for KC Power who has plenty of athletes year in and year out who are some of the top recruits in the country.