What Players Are The "X-Factors" in AAU 17 Open Gold Pools?

Day 1 kicked off with the perennial powers flexing their strength in some dominating performances at AAU Nationals. With Day 2 gold pools set, we have some athletes to keep an eye that will be potential x-factors for their team. Some are the top athletes on their teams, others can be playing a specific role that is extremely key to their team’s success in order to advance. Watch out for these X-Factors in 17 Open.   [caption id="attachment_203289" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-203289 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/06/DSC03396.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Vellucci[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="66340" first="Sarah" last="Vellucci"] - Legacy 17 Adidas Libero - Long Beach State Legacy has been a contender for a championship in every tournament they enter, they are accustomed to the target on their back. They also have one of the top players in the country in Harper Murray. However, their first contact has to be consistent and reliable which enter Sarah Velucci, Velucci has the length and range to get a touch on plenty of swings and out of system plays her way. She has a very poised demeanor where she makes everything routine. If Legacy can stay in system, they are so tough to stop and Velucci will be extremely key for the kids from Detroit.   [caption id="attachment_203288" align="alignright" width="359"]<img class="wp-image-203288" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/06/DSC04677.jpg" alt="" width="359" height="239" /> Bolles[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="73469" first="Avery" last="Bolles"] - MN Select 17-1 Outside Hitter - Colorado So solid, so poised, [player_tooltip player_id="73469" first="Avery" last="Bolles"] does a little bit for MN Select who had a huge second half to the club season. Each week they stepped on the court they became more dangerous with one of the top setters in the Class of 2024 in Stella Swenson and a whole cupboard full of attackers. Bolles can swing on the pin and uses her high IQ to score plenty of points with savvy shot selection. She also can serve receive, defend, and attack out of the backrow. She makes a solid combo with another future PAC 12 athlete in Paige Thibault at libero.   Avary Deblieck - Sky High 17 Elite Middle Blocker - Miami (FL) Sky High, coming out of the North Chicago suburbs is a real scrappy group. They were always on the fringe of breaking through to the top tier of gold pools during qualifier season and will be in the hunt the next few days in Orlando. I was able to see this team quite a bit at the Windy City Qualifier and was extremely impressed with Deblieck. Very athletic, physical, and moves really well along the front line. She has the ability to take over a match, teaming up with her high school teammate Maggie Duyos who takes on the setter role and is a major spark.   [caption id="attachment_159910" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-159910 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2021/10/DSC09676.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Woodrow[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="106669" first="Whitney" last="Woodrow"] - KiVA 17 Red Setter - Fordham Woodrow is so solid. I first took notice to Woodrow’s game at the Asics Challenge at Mother McAuley in Chicago last fall. She is an absolute floor general where she knows how to find the right matchup for her attackers. Nya Bunton is one of the top middle blockers in the country and high school teammate to Woodrow and Texas commit Sydney Helmers is always tough to stop on the pin. Plus, there’s the name KiVA that has a different ring to it when it comes to AAU nationals   [caption id="attachment_179381" align="alignright" width="335"]<img class="wp-image-179381" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/02/DSC03386.jpg" alt="" width="335" height="223" /> Hernandez[/caption] Margo Hernandez - REV 17-1 Setter - South Alabama Hernandez gets her hands on every ball. She has quick feet, efficient footwork and a smooth release. She has been key to the rise of REV throughout this season where they have been a dangerous matchup. They made it to day three gold pools at the Windy City Qualifier and are accustomed to going head to head with some of the top teams in the country.   Addison Voorhees - Illini Elite 17 Cardinal Right Side - Missouri-St Louis When Illini Elite can keep a balanced offense they can put some top teams on upset alert. Kenna Wollard and Lily Barry are the headliners for this group where they score a ton of points on the pin and handle a huge bulk of serve receive. However, Addison Voorhees was one who had a really nice weekend at the Prep Dig Gauntlet over Memorial Day. She’s long, athletic and dynamic where she continually found ways to score points.   [caption id="attachment_201780" align="alignright" width="228"]<img class="wp-image-201780" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/06/Remi-Madison-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="228" height="342" /> Madison[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="66316" first="Remi" last="Madison"] - Michigan Elite 17 Mizuno Outside Hitter - Uncommitted Madison is such an explosive athlete where she is lightning in a bottle from the pin. She is a big part of the fast tempo offense, led by Kentucky recruit Ava Sarafa. Madison can score on both pins and provides a swing out of the backrow. This is going to be a dangerous matchup for plenty of teams because when they get in system they are tough to stop.   [player_tooltip player_id="73475" first="Sydney" last="Jaynes"] - Mizuno Northern Lights 17-1 Outside Hitter - Tennessee Jaynes does it all for Northern Lights. She’s heading to Tennessee as a libero and can flip between the two positions with ease. At 5’10, Jaynes can flat out fly, she knows how to see the other side of the net and recognize the block where she can take what the other side gives her going line, cross, or a roll over the block, she can use their hands too. She is also a threat to score from the backcourt or come through the middle on a two ball and take it to the corners.   [caption id="attachment_203287" align="alignright" width="314"]<img class="wp-image-203287" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/06/DSC05310.jpg" alt="" width="314" height="209" /> Ayro[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="99583" first="Mya" last="Ayro"] - The Academy 17-1E Tsunami Outside Hitter - UCONN Explosive. Ayro is an exciting athlete where she can put so much pace on her swing. As experts say, “It sounds different” when referring to Ayro and her hand contact. She has been a solid combo with teammate, Avery Hobson who is an uncommitted 2023 outside hitter having a big 2022 season. Tsunami has had some big wins this year and they have high expectations for themselves heading into this event where they will look for a chance to go for Gold on Wednesday.     [caption id="attachment_180496" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-180496 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/02/DSC03378.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /> Fickell[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="141710" first="Luca" last="Fickell"] - Tri State Elite 17 Blue Setter - Uncommitted Fickell is a really dynamic, long, athletic setter who can do a lot of positive things for her Tri-State squad out of the Cincinnati area. At 6’1 and touching nearly ten feet, she has a physical presence on the court with how she can always be a weapon at the net offensively and defensively. She has been able to establish some solid connections with middle blocker Ivey Stocks who recently committed to Jacksonville State.