Top 2023 Recruiting Classes – Breaking Down 1-5

<p>I thought there would be a mathematical formula to figure out the top recruiting class. Coming from a background where numbers have to be attached to everything to prove if something is working, not working, changes need to be made, goals met/not met (can you tell I was in education?). I decided to blend a few numbers with the eye test in regards to coming up with the top ten recruiting classes. What was interesting was not the recruiting classes of the top ten, but the ones who are building a ton of momentum that maybe aren't the obvious programs (more on that later). Let's take a look at part one of the top ten recruiting classes with 6-10 from the Class of 2023 Recruiting Rankings. </p>   <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>1. Nebraska</strong></p>   <p>Commits in the Top 200 </p>   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>First Name</td><td>Last Name</td><td>State</td><td>Height</td><td>Position</td><td>High School</td><td>Club</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Harper</td><td>Murray</td><td>Michigan</td><td>6'2"</td><td>OH</td><td>Skyline</td><td>Legacy</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Bergen</td><td>Reilly</td><td>South Dakota</td><td>6'1"</td><td>S</td><td>O'Gorman</td><td>Kairos</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Caroline</td><td>Jurevicius</td><td>Ohio</td><td>6'2"</td><td>OH</td><td>NDCL</td><td>AVC</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Laney</td><td>Choboy</td><td>North Carolina</td><td>5'4"</td><td>DS/L</td><td>Leesville Road</td><td>NC VB Academy</td></tr><tr><td>42</td><td>Andi</td><td>Jackson</td><td>Colorado</td><td>6'2"</td><td>MB</td><td>Brighton</td><td>The Diff</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   <p>Star studded would be an understatement. Nebraska has the top prospects at nearly every position coming in with this recruiting class. [player_tooltip player_id='66319' first='Harper' last='Murray'] has been one of the top players since she stepped on the court as a 15s and will have a chance to have an instant impact at Nebraska. [player_tooltip player_id='195471' first='Bergen' last='Reilly'] has been successful on the international stage, setting for the Youth National team and even the Senior National team earlier this fall. Caroline Jurevicious is an extremely physical attacker and the top player out of Ohio. She can play on either pin. [player_tooltip player_id='195469' first='Laney' last='Choboy'] plays with a ton of fire on the court. She is the top libero in 2023 and was an original commit to Minnesota, she puts the bow on this class. [player_tooltip player_id='195499' first='Andi' last='Jackson'] looks photoshopped in some of these pictures of her blocking. The middle blocker out of Colorado has an incredibly high ceiling. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1549192669552906240?s=20&t=zxzi9Yx0kHSPR-TilZFUzQ </div></figure>   <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>2. Texas</strong></p>   <p>Commits in the Top 200 </p>   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>First Name</td><td>Last Name</td><td>State</td><td>Height</td><td>Position</td><td>High School</td><td>Club</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Ella</td><td>Swindle</td><td>Missouri</td><td>6'2"</td><td>S</td><td>Rock Bridge</td><td>KC Power</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Nya</td><td>Bunton</td><td>Kentucky</td><td>6'5"</td><td>MB</td><td>DuPont Manual</td><td>KIVA</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>Jordyn</td><td>Byrd</td><td>Florida</td><td>6'4"</td><td>RS</td><td>Cardinal Mooney</td><td>Siesta Key Juniors</td></tr><tr><td>43</td><td>Sydney</td><td>Helmers</td><td>Kentucky</td><td>6'4"</td><td>OH</td><td>Assumption</td><td>KIVA</td></tr><tr><td>54</td><td>Auburn</td><td>Tomkinson</td><td>California</td><td>6'4"</td><td>RS</td><td>Carlsbad</td><td>Wave</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   <p>This is a very “Texas” class where they have plenty of length, athleticism, and physicality - at every position.  [player_tooltip player_id='101566' first='Ella' last='Swindle'] plays high above the net, at 6'2 she has a presence at the net and will connect well with top middle [player_tooltip player_id='106665' first='Nya' last='Bunton'] out of KiVA.  [player_tooltip player_id='98983' first='Jordyn' last='Byrd'], [player_tooltip player_id='106668' first='Sydney' last='Helmers'], and [player_tooltip player_id='160346' first='Auburn' last='Tomkinson'] all bring a lot of power to the front line.  They contact the ball high and their swing has plenty of pop where its tough to keep in system.  Texas has had great success out of the transfer portal this past season which works well with the class coming in for their top athletes who will be playing their final postseason. </p>   <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>3. Purdue</strong></p>   <p>Commits in the Top 200</p>   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>First Name</td><td>Last Name</td><td>State</td><td>Height</td><td>Position</td><td>High School</td><td>Club</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Chloe</td><td>Chicoine</td><td>Indiana</td><td>5'9"</td><td>OH</td><td>McCutcheon</td><td>Circle City</td></tr><tr><td>20</td><td>Taylor</td><td>Anderson</td><td>Texas</td><td>6'0"</td><td>S</td><td>Cornerstone Christian</td><td>Alamo</td></tr><tr><td>34</td><td>Grace</td><td>Heaney</td><td>Nebraska</td><td>6'2"</td><td>RS</td><td>Elkhorn North</td><td>Premier 17 Gold</td></tr><tr><td>64</td><td>Kenna</td><td>Wollard</td><td>Illinois</td><td>6'1"</td><td>OH</td><td>Illinois Valley Central</td><td>Illini Elite</td></tr><tr><td>156</td><td>Julia</td><td>Kane</td><td>Florida</td><td>5'10"</td><td>DS/L</td><td>Windermere Prep</td><td>Top Select</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   <p>This is a big class and they are all talented. Purdue has some big time pieces returning for 2023, but this class could have an instant impact in West LaFayette. On the outside, [player_tooltip player_id='85895' first='Chloe' last='Chicoine'] is the top prospect in the Class of 2023 and brings a fierceness and intensity that is tough to match. [player_tooltip player_id='138657' first='Kenna' last='Wollard'] out of Illinois is a pure six rotation outside. She can serve receive, pass to attack, and watching her live gives a glimpse of how she can take what the defense gives her. A big time shot maker and knows how to use the block. The same can be said about [player_tooltip player_id='59201' first='Grace' last='Heaney'] who is one of the top players out of Nebraska in the Class of 2023. Extremely springy on the rightside with a big left handed swing. [player_tooltip player_id='87532' first='Taylor' last='Anderson'] will bring a lot of physicality to the setter position where her Alamo club team has had plenty of success in her career. [player_tooltip player_id='251222' first='Julia' last='Kane'] will provide a spark as well as depth to the backrow. </p>   <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/1530615067653378049?s=20&t=zxzi9Yx0kHSPR-TilZFUzQ </div></figure>   <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>4. Kentucky</strong></p>   <p>Commits in the Top 200</p>   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>First Name</td><td>Last Name</td><td>State</td><td>Height</td><td>Position</td><td>High School</td><td>Club</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Ava</td><td>Sarafa</td><td>Michigan</td><td>6'0"</td><td>S</td><td>Marian</td><td>Michigan Elite</td></tr><tr><td>31</td><td>Brooklyn</td><td>DeLeye</td><td>Kansas</td><td>6'2"</td><td>OH</td><td>Washburn Rural</td><td>Topeka Impact</td></tr><tr><td>38</td><td>Molly</td><td>Tuozzo</td><td>Texas</td><td>5'7"</td><td>DS/L</td><td>The Woodlands</td><td>Houston Skyline</td></tr><tr><td>37</td><td>Brooke</td><td>Bultema</td><td>Ohio</td><td>6'3"</td><td>MB</td><td>Ursuline</td><td>Elevation</td></tr><tr><td>41</td><td>Jordyn</td><td>Dailey</td><td>North Carolina</td><td>6'1"</td><td>MB</td><td>NC Academy for Learning and Enrichment</td><td>CHAVBC</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   <p>This is a very dangerous class coming into the SEC where this group is athletic and dynamic. Ava Sarafa has rewritten the record books when it comes to setters in Michigan. She has over 5,000 assists and has won two back to back state titles for Marian, one of the top high school programs in the country. [player_tooltip player_id='120008' first='Brooklyn' last='DeLeye'] is the top player coming out of Kansas where she is a six rotation gem that can score and pass with the best of them. [player_tooltip player_id='114516' first='Brooke' last='Bultema'] and [player_tooltip player_id='195477' first='Jordyn' last='Dailey'] are electirc, so fast where their ability to run the quick tempo with Sarafa will definitely turn heads. [player_tooltip player_id='195826' first='Molly' last='Tuozzo'] out of the Dallas area is a hidden gem that needs to no longer be hidden as one of the top liberos out of Texas coming to Lexington. This class will have their eyes on the prize where they look to continue their reign in the SEC as well as getting back to the Final Four and beyond. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/Hudl/status/1565113418310459392?s=20&t=mWqMLyT5vGgXNkHkLW5GSg </div></figure>   <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>5. Pittsburgh </strong></p>   <p>Commits in the Top 200</p>   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>First Name</td><td>Last Name</td><td>State</td><td>Height</td><td>Position</td><td>High School</td><td>Club</td></tr><tr><td>18</td><td>Olivia</td><td>Babcock</td><td>California</td><td>6'3"</td><td>OH</td><td>Sierra Canyon</td><td>Sunshine</td></tr><tr><td>25</td><td>Torrey</td><td>Stafford</td><td>California</td><td>6'0"</td><td>OH</td><td>Marymount</td><td>Sunshine</td></tr><tr><td>39</td><td>Haiti</td><td>Tautua'a</td><td>Hawaii</td><td>6'0"</td><td>S/OPP</td><td>Waianae</td><td>Spike &amp; Serve</td></tr><tr><td>63</td><td>Blaire</td><td>Bayless</td><td>Texas</td><td>6'2"</td><td>OH</td><td>Plano West</td><td>Madfrog</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   <p>There's a West Coast vibe heading to the East with athletes out of California, Hawaii, and Texas going to Pittsburgh. With the recent success of the Panthers with a final four in 2021, their level of recruiting has skyrocketed. These athletes are listed as outside hitters, but they are so dynamic they can play anywhere, especially either pin. [player_tooltip player_id='160313' first='Olivia' last='Babcock'] and [player_tooltip player_id='159523' first='Torrey' last='Stafford'] have teamed up for Sunshine and can score points as will. I've seen them play where they put pressure on with their serve, they can swing on the right side, out of the middle, and blast away from the outside. Tautua'a is another well rounded athlete where she can push the ball anywhere making it look easy as a setter. [player_tooltip player_id='176663' first='Blaire' last='Bayless'] has such a physical presence on the court and is someone who can also score points out of system as well. </p>   <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/1515331608013938691?s=20&t=zxzi9Yx0kHSPR-TilZFUzQ </div></figure>

I thought there would be a mathematical formula to figure out the top recruiting class. Coming from a background where numbers have to be attached to everything to prove if something is working, not working, changes need to be made, goals met/not met (can you tell I was in education?). I decided to blend a few numbers with the eye test in regards to coming up with the top ten recruiting classes. What was interesting was not the recruiting classes of the top ten, but the ones who are building a ton of momentum that maybe aren't the obvious programs (more on that later). Let's take a look at part one of the top ten recruiting classes with 6-10 from the Class of 2023 Recruiting Rankings.