20+ 2025's Impressive Live Eye Performances - CO, IA, IL, and WI

The high school season is complete.  After watching athletes in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, it's time to debrief and reflect on some top players, especially at the state tournaments that I was able to see in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Colorado.  This is going to be an exciting year for these athletes who will be gearing up for a big year of recruiting.  Good news college coaches, the Class of 2025 is stacked and will be so fun to watch this upcoming club season.  Here are ones who I saw live, and need to be on the radar.    <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/09/DSC07321.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-228028" width="386" height="258"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Quest</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='178033' first='Madison' last='Quest'] - Divine Savior Holy Angels (WI)    Quest is the top player in the Class of 2025 in Wisconsin.  She had a big time performance in the state title match where DSHA won Wisconsin's largest class against the defending champions, Oconomowoc, in set five 15-13.  Quest brings a lot of athleticism and physicality to every rotation.  Teams will target her in serve receive, but she can give the offense plenty of two and three point passes.  She can also attack out of the backrow and always has her side of the net in system.  She's a Big Ten type player, she can perform big in big moments which adds to an already big time skill set.    [player_tooltip player_id='246946' first='Jordan' last='Czajkowski'] and [player_tooltip player_id='178026' first='Olivia' last='Durst'] - Divine Savior Holy Angels (WI)    DSHA has quite a sophomore class with plenty of big time athletes that includes Quest, Czajkowski, Durst.  Czajkowski was the quarterback of the offense this past fall showing she could run a 5-1, getting her attackers all involved and finding the hot hand at the right time.  I was really impressed with her blocking ability where she was up against some of the top attackers in the state.  Durst is an electric outside hitter, but her ability to pass and serve receive is special.  These two were part of plenty of contacts enroute to their state title.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1588240205462392833?s=20u0026t=ygZb7EWbzcJkWUlEyt9zCQ </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='178352' first='Madison' last='Daley'] - Xavier (WI)    Xavier out of Appleton, Wisconsin won the D2 state title, the second largest class in the state.  Daley was a key performer for the Hawks where she scored plenty of points on the right side and was a big time block.  She brings a lot of physicality to the front line, but is also a solid passer as well, a really strong all around skill set.  She will be playing up on the FC Elite 17 Navy squad this club season where they will be returning a core of athletes from their title in the 16 National Division in 2022.    [player_tooltip player_id='178024' first='Kati' last='Berezowitz'] - Burlington (WI)    So solid.  Berezowitz thrives in the big moment where her Burlington squad finished in the final four of the D1 state tournament.  A gritty libero, Berezowitz has the lineage with her older sisters having success as well with the oldest, Maddie, finishing her career at Kentucky, and next oldest Molly Berezowitz recently signing to play at Marquette.  Kati has a great fundamental foundation with her platform.  Burlington and head coach Teri Little know how to teach defense as numerous players have gone on to successful collegiate careers, especially liberos.  Kati is in the right place and will continue to thrive.    <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/11/DSC07664-scaled-e1668630566374-1024x989.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-247042" width="222" height="215"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Warren</figcaption></figure>   Aniya Warren and Audrey Asleson - Benet Academy (IL)    Warren commands the backrow as a libero and Asleson runs the show for Benet as their 5-1 setter.  They were key parts of a team who finished second in the largest class in Illinois. Warren is so athletic where her quickness and anticipation are a great blend, however she is so under control with her platform.  She makes the tough plays look routine.  Asleson is very much the same at the setter position.  Athleticism and finesse are part of her game where she knows how to adjust to what the defense is giving her.  Take a ball over for an attack on the second contact? No problem.  Set a quick tempo side - that too.  She is going to have a big time club season where she will be a big time setting recruit out of the Illinois Class of 2025.      [player_tooltip player_id='207810' first='Georgia' last='Watson'] - Huntley (IL)    Watson may be a little bit under the radar, but she has some physical tools that few others have.  Seeing her take a big swing for a kill out of system on the right side was what sold it for me.  Watson is long and athletic where she will be able to swing anywhere along the front row.  Her upside is way up there.  She will be fun to watch as she expands her skillset and what her potential will bring.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1578527942132789249?s=20u0026t=ysDjSliKQLx5aoLGW6t1Vw </div></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='215406' first='Abbey' last='Hayes'] - North Scott (IA)    <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/11/DSC07894.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-247043" width="476" height="317"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hayes</figcaption></figure>   I saw Hayes last club season for Six Pack out of the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area where they earned an open bid to USAV at Windy City.  She has followed up with a big time high school season where she was one of the top attackers in Iowa regardless of class.  Her style of play shows that she can create a lot of havoc on the outside and is now developing the ability to be a primary scorer out of the back row.  An electric overall athlete, she is a big time point scorer.    [player_tooltip player_id='215385' first='Chloe' last='Meester'] - Mount Vernon (IA)    Meester is scary good, and has the ability to be one of the best players out of the Class of 2025 in Iowa.  She puts a ton of pace on the ball where its tough for the other side of the net to receive.  At 6'1, long, and strong - Meister was a 1st Team All State pick for Mount Vernon who was in the final four of Class 3A.     [player_tooltip player_id='215392' first='Libby' last='Fandel'] - Xavier (IA)    Fandel is a D1 athlete, its just a matter of what sport she chooses.  A top prospect in the Class of 2025 for volleyball and basketball, Fandel was named captain of the Class 4A All Tournament team where Xavier won the title.  Fandel is very explosive where she makes swinging on the pin look easy.  Her athleticism allows her to make plays in multiple ways.  She can defend, serve receive, and score - her and Meister were quite the combo last club season where Adrenaline out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa won a 15 American title at USAV in Indy this past July.    <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/11/DSC08016.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-247044" width="374" height="250"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Schubert</figcaption></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='215761' first='Ellie' last='Schubert'] - Assumption (IA)    Schubert is on the rise in the Class of 2025 in Iowa.  She is coming off of a big time state tournament where Assumption High School out of Davenport won a Class 3A state championship.  She set a record of 63 assists in a four set, quarterfinal win against Osage.  I was at this match and seeing Schubert run the show was a treat.  Her favorite target would be her older sister, Ava Schubert who is committed to Tennessee Tech, but in this match there were four attackers with double digit kills.  She is great with her feet with smooth hands and a high IQ which makes for a great combination of skills for a setter.    Kaitlin Smith - University High (CO)    Another really smooth player who plays with a high IQ is Kaitlin Smith out of University High School in Greeley, Colorado.  I saw her in action this past weekend at the state tournament in Denver and she played like a veteran.  A great feel for the game as well as a great defender.   She plays libero during the club season for NORCO.  Definitely one to star coming up this club season.    Erika Sayer - Discovery Canyon (CO)    <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/11/DSC08391.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-247046" width="396" height="264"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Erika Sayer</figcaption></figure>   I saw Sayer last summer at USAV in Indy and seeing her jump and swing this past weekend in Colorado was a treat.  She is touching over ten feet and is the quick twitch type of middle hitter who can move really well from pin to pin.  When it comes to attacking off one foot?  Forget about it, she is going to score points.  When college coaches see her take the club court in 2023, it will be exciting.  She also has all the intangibles where she has a high motor and great energy on the court.    Zoey Lenth - Chaparral - (CO)    Lenth was another sophomore who caught my eye in the Class 5A playing for Chapparal, a perennial big school power out of the Denver area.  What was impressive about Lenth's game is how she can score off one foot.  She has a really strong upside where she will be one to watch with her length and speed out of the middle.    Annabelle DeJager - Eaton (CO)    Eaton had a tough semifinal loss in the Class 3A state tournament, but one of the more impressive athletes on their team was Annabelle DeJager.  Watching her approach and swing makes you go “Whoa”.  She has a high contact point where she can take it down the line, hard cross, or even a roll - she can find multiple ways to score.  She teams up with Kaitlin Smith at NORCO out of Loveland, Colorado.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/PrepDigChris/status/1591205138961944578?s=20u0026t=ygZb7EWbzcJkWUlEyt9zCQ </div></figure>   Tatum Sharp, Avery Gibbs, Ashlyn Tafoya, and Kayla Kauffman - Thompson Valley (CO)    So impressive.  This group of sophomores is impressive and they are building a dynasty at Thompson Valley out of Loveland, Colorado.  Sharp and Kauffman control the middle where Ashlyn Tafoya can set them with any tempo.  With their pinpoint passing, Tafoya is able to find her open attackers who have a ton of power.  Watchout for Avery Gibbs.  There were a few times where I thought she was going to break a finger (or nose) on the block or dig.  She is so physical where she can swing from the outside or the right side.    Mia Hansen - Palmer Ridge (CO)    What I noticed about a lot of these Colorado middles was how much speed they played and how they utilized the slide extremely well.  Hansen was quietly effective all tournament where setter, Kyra Kisting found her in multiple ways.  It could have been a quick tempo in front or a slide behind and Hansen was extremely efficient and terminal.    <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pd/uploads/2022/11/DSC08616.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-247047" width="465" height="310"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Elarton</figcaption></figure>   Chloe Elarton - Valor Christian (CO)    The quarterback for the top team in the state.  Valor Christian capped off an undefeated season in Colorado's largest class.  Elarton plays like a veteran where she has the length and physicality to control the net.  She was absolute money when setting her middles.  She has two middles who in Sasha Cohen (UCF) and Grace Langer (West Virginia) where this was the fastest offense I saw all season.  Elarton will switch jerseys and play for Colorado Juniors where she will be making those connections with Erika Sayer where they could have quite the season at the 16s level nationally.

The high school season is complete. After watching athletes in Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, it's time to debrief and reflect on some top players, especially at the state tournaments that I was able to see in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Colorado. This is going to be an exciting year for these athletes who will be gearing up for a big year of recruiting. Good news college coaches, the Class of 2025 is stacked and will be so fun to watch this upcoming club season. Here are ones who I saw live, and need to be on the radar.