McKinney North vs. Wakeland – Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school season is officially underway in the state of Texas and we've started giving you the best coverage of everything that's happening across the Lone Star State between now and November.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are, as usual, centering our coverage around promoting the most intriguing prospects around the state with articles that will highlight their standout performances and statistical milestones and also team features.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As much as possible, we'll also try to every Tuesday and Friday preview an interesting match that's set to happen around the state, pointing out the most impressive prospects that will be on the court in that encounter. For Friday, August 26, the matchup we'll be looking for will be the one reuniting the McKinney North Bulldogs (8-4) and the Wakeland Wolverines (10-4), which will begin at 6.30 PM in the North Dallas area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>McKinney North</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6306400a8373d","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Natalie Hughes","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"McKinney North","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Madfrog","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Originally listed as a middle, Hughes has been everywhere for the Lady Bulldogs this season. A powerful hitter, the 6'4u0022 prospect has been lethal from the middle, the left and right, playing in a role that gives her the freedom to explore her strengths. She's also an excellent blocker and has been in the way of opposing hitters frequently. Hughes leads McKinney North in kills with 137 and ranks second in blocks with 26.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_6306418e8373e","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13059845/62f5d9e890f94305bc9041d4' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_630641948373f","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["122897"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"An athletic and technically-gifted setter, Nicholson has also been performing a lot of different roles for her team this season. She's been great with her playmaking, but has also been using her 5'11u0022 frame and tremendous firepower to be on the end of offensive plays, scoring a lot of points for the Lady Bulldogs. Nicholson leads the team in assists (203) and aces (19) and ranks second in kills (109) and digs (116), being heavily involved with everything they do on the court.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_6306429983740","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13025323/62fa8cba9a925f097c46228a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6306453283741","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Gabi Rodriguez","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"McKinney North","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Madfrog","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A freshman, Rodriguez has managed to make an immediate impact on the team with her excellent backcourt skills. She's been playing as a defensive specialist alongside team libero [player_tooltip player_id='141136' first='Tinley' last='Merder'] and their partnership has been extremely beneficial to the Lady Bulldogs. Rodriguez is thriving in each of her duties, leading the team in passes (213) and ranking third in digs (113) and aces (14).","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_6306467683742","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18004961/630102749a912006805a52a9' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>Wakeland</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6306477883743","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["141128"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The 6'2u0022 Pfiffner has been a force in the middle for Wakeland this season. With her long frame and quick feet, she's been extremely productive at the net, be it hitting the slide set with tremendous efficiency or stopping opposing hitters. Pfiffner's game is very smooth and she's big that plays like a smaller player in terms of quickness and skills. She ranks first with the team in kills (94) and second in blocks (35).","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_6306490183744","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15035194/6305afd65ef6530500f9a92c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6306491383745","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["141134"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"One of the top setters in the entire state and a national champion in 2021, Clark has been using the excellent group of hitters she has at Wakeland extremely well. Very intelligent with her distribution, the 5'10u0022 ball-handler is making the most of her hitters and raising the team's level. Besides leading the Wolverines in assists (261), she also ranks first in aces (16) and third in digs (68).","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_63064a4883746","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15035787/62fef1a0bed7e80398529480' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63064a4e83747","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["178685"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"A dynamic and reliable prospect, Jones has been a solid presence in the middle for Wakeland. The 6'2u0022 prospect is very well-versed in the two areas of the game a middle needs to thrive - hitting and blocking. Her offense is very diversified and her ability to stop opponents at the net is among the best in the entire state. She leads the Wolverines' blocking efforts with 64 points and is the team's third most effective hitter with 72 kills.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"id":"block_63064de083748","name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16319813/630151885cb2ed0b74089385' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->