Top 2023 Recruiting Classes – Breaking Down 1-5
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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,…
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Continue ReadingI 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.
1. Nebraska
Commits in the Top 200
Rank | First Name | Last Name | State | Height | Position | High School | Club |
2 | Harper | Murray | Michigan | 6’2″ | OH | Skyline | Legacy |
4 | Bergen | Reilly | South Dakota | 6’1″ | S | O’Gorman | Kairos |
5 | Caroline | Jurevicius | Ohio | 6’2″ | OH | NDCL | AVC |
10 | Laney | Choboy | North Carolina | 5’4″ | DS/L | Leesville Road | NC VB Academy |
42 | Andi | Jackson | Colorado | 6’2″ | MB | Brighton | The Diff |
Star studded would be an understatement. Nebraska has the top prospects at nearly every position coming in with this recruiting class. Harper Murray Harper Murray 6'2" | OH Skyline | 2023 State #2 Nation MI 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. Bergen Reilly Bergen Reilly 6'1" | S O'Gorman | 2023 #4 Nation SD 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. Laney Choboy Laney Choboy 5'4" | DS/L Leesville Road | 2023 #10 Nation NC 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. Andi Jackson Andi Jackson 6'2" | MB Brighton | 2023 #43 Nation CO looks photoshopped in some of these pictures of her blocking. The middle blocker out of Colorado has an incredibly high ceiling.
2. Texas
Commits in the Top 200
Rank | First Name | Last Name | State | Height | Position | High School | Club |
6 | Ella | Swindle | Missouri | 6’2″ | S | Rock Bridge | KC Power |
7 | Nya | Bunton | Kentucky | 6’5″ | MB | DuPont Manual | KIVA |
21 | Jordyn | Byrd | Florida | 6’4″ | RS | Cardinal Mooney | Siesta Key Juniors |
43 | Sydney | Helmers | Kentucky | 6’4″ | OH | Assumption | KIVA |
54 | Auburn | Tomkinson | California | 6’4″ | RS | Carlsbad | Wave |
This is a very “Texas” class where they have plenty of length, athleticism, and physicality – at every position. Ella Swindle Ella Swindle 6'2" | S Rock Bridge | 2023 State #6 Nation MO plays high above the net, at 6’2 she has a presence at the net and will connect well with top middle Nya Bunton Nya Bunton 6'5" | MB DuPont Manual | 2023 State #7 Nation KY out of KiVA. Jordyn Byrd Jordyn Byrd 6'4" | RS Cardinal Mooney | 2023 State #22 Nation FL , Sydney Helmers Sydney Helmers 6'4" | OH Assumption | 2023 #35 Nation KY , and Auburn Tomkinson Auburn Tomkinson 6'4" | RS Carlsbad | 2023 State #54 Nation CA 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.
3. Purdue
Commits in the Top 200
Rank | First Name | Last Name | State | Height | Position | High School | Club |
1 | Chloe | Chicoine | Indiana | 5’9″ | OH | McCutcheon | Circle City |
20 | Taylor | Anderson | Texas | 6’0″ | S | Cornerstone Christian | Alamo |
34 | Grace | Heaney | Nebraska | 6’2″ | RS | Elkhorn North | Premier 17 Gold |
64 | Kenna | Wollard | Illinois | 6’1″ | OH | Illinois Valley Central | Illini Elite |
156 | Julia | Kane | Florida | 5’10” | DS/L | Windermere Prep | Top Select |
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, Chloe Chicoine Chloe Chicoine 5'9" | OH McCutcheon | 2023 State #1 Nation IN is the top prospect in the Class of 2023 and brings a fierceness and intensity that is tough to match. Kenna Wollard Kenna Wollard 6'1" | OH Illinois Valley Central | 2023 State #64 Nation IL 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 Grace Heaney Grace Heaney 6'2" | RS Elkhorn North | 2023 State #33 Nation NE 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. Taylor Anderson Taylor Anderson 6'0" | S Cornerstone Christian | 2023 State #21 Nation TX will bring a lot of physicality to the setter position where her Alamo club team has had plenty of success in her career. Julia Kane Julia Kane 5'10" | DS/L Windermere Prep | 2023 FL will provide a spark as well as depth to the backrow.
4. Kentucky
Commits in the Top 200
Rank | First Name | Last Name | State | Height | Position | High School | Club |
14 | Ava | Sarafa | Michigan | 6’0″ | S | Marian | Michigan Elite |
31 | Brooklyn | DeLeye | Kansas | 6’2″ | OH | Washburn Rural | Topeka Impact |
38 | Molly | Tuozzo | Texas | 5’7″ | DS/L | The Woodlands | Houston Skyline |
37 | Brooke | Bultema | Ohio | 6’3″ | MB | Ursuline | Elevation |
41 | Jordyn | Dailey | North Carolina | 6’1″ | MB | NC Academy for Learning and Enrichment | CHAVBC |
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. Brooklyn DeLeye Brooklyn DeLeye 6'2" | OH Washburn Rural | 2023 State #30 Nation KS 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. Brooke Bultema Brooke Bultema 6'3" | MB Ursuline | 2023 State #36 Nation OH and Jordyn Dailey Jordyn Dailey 6'1" | MB NC Academy for Learning and Enrichment | 2023 #42 Nation NC are electirc, so fast where their ability to run the quick tempo with Sarafa will definitely turn heads. Molly Tuozzo Molly Tuozzo 5'7" | DS/L The Woodlands | 2023 State #38 Nation TX 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.
5. Pittsburgh
Commits in the Top 200
Rank | First Name | Last Name | State | Height | Position | High School | Club |
18 | Olivia | Babcock | California | 6’3″ | OH | Sierra Canyon | Sunshine |
25 | Torrey | Stafford | California | 6’0″ | OH | Marymount | Sunshine |
39 | Haiti | Tautua’a | Hawaii | 6’0″ | S/OPP | Waianae | Spike & Serve |
63 | Blaire | Bayless | Texas | 6’2″ | OH | Plano West | Madfrog |
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. Olivia Babcock Olivia Babcock 6'3" | OH Sierra Canyon | 2023 State #13 Nation CA and Torrey Stafford Torrey Stafford 6'0" | OH Marymount | 2023 State #20 Nation CA 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. Blaire Bayless Blaire Bayless 6'2" | OH Plano West | 2023 State #63 Nation TX has such a physical presence on the court and is someone who can also score points out of system as well.