Top Talent on the 2025 Watch List

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025 watch list is live. It is a long time coming, and I am very excited about it. There are many incredible athletes on the list, over 100. Despite still having several years of club and high school left in their youth careers, these athletes play with experience and maturity. Here are some of the top athletes who made the 2025 watch list. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["203428"],"_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":"Abby stands out as one of the top athletes not only in Illinois, but in the country. She made all tournament team at USAV GJNC 15 Open last season and has participated in several National Team Development Program camps. On the court Abby is explosive and efficient. She is simply impressive to watch. Her high volleyball IQ and elite level play makes her a top recruit and a lethal opponent.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["311420"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Lauren is a 6'3u0022 lefty pin who is fast and effective on the court. She swings high and can mix up her shots. Lauren also puts up an insanely clean block that makes it hard for opposing pins to find the court. Lauren is a high-level athlete who is disciplined and will find ways to manufacture points against any team.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["311405"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Alison is a setter who runs the court efficiently. She never misses a beat or is afraid to make tough choices. Alison has a lot of grit and communicates well with her teammates. She balances feeding her hot hitter and moving the ball around the court. Alison is a setter who is hard for opposing blockers to read when she is in the front row and an athlete and leader with a lot of potential.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["288628"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Katherine is a high flying pin with a quick snap and huge vertical. She never misses an opportunity to manufacture points on the court. Her court awareness and ability to make quick decisions set her apart. She is a reliable hitter who gets the job done and earns some pretty incredible kills for her team.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["260949"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"LaDonna has the potential to be a truly elite player. She is dynamic, has a huge vertical, and can power a ball anywhere on the court. She is engaged on every point and puts up a massive block. LaDonna is a middle who is also a talented passer with good ball control. She is an athlete you want on the court as much as possible because when she is out there she is making a positive impact.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["288626"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"You can't talk about explosive pins in Illinois without bringing up [player_tooltip player_id='288626' first='Tamia' last='Maddox']. She takes a massive approach and a bigger swing. Her ability to manufacture points is impressive. Tamia has an insane amount of athletic talent and she uses every ounce of it to put down massive kills on the pin.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["304531"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Siena is a powerhouse middle who always makes herself an option on offense. She has a powerful approach and is explosive on offense and defense. Siena has a quick arm swing and beats a lot of blocks with her speed and power. She has a lot of potential and is already a dynamic and impactful athlete. She is the full package as a middle and one I can't wait to see continue to dominate out on the court.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["260952"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Leah is a high-level pin hitter who can swing across the net. She is versatile with her shots and disciplined in her form. Leah is a powerhouse pin who can rip a ball over a lot of blocks. Her pass to attack is nearly clinical in its precision which sets her up for a lot of success. Leah is fast, athletic, and a big presence at the net. She is an athlete to watch in this class. Not only is her offense next level, but also her serve is competitive, and she puts up a nearly impenetrable block.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["219110"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Jorah is a gritty setter who just makes plays work. It can be hard to describe setters like Jorah because she is simply a gamer. She steps onto the court and steps up for her team. Jorah isn't afraid to take risks and make hard sets. She knows when to be aggressive and holds opposing blockers when she is in the front row. Her ability to make good sets on tough plays keeps her team alive in matches.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["288647"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Aniya is a libero who can't be stopped. She is fearless on the court and pursues every ball that comes over the net. Her serve receive is consistent, and she uses simple, disciplined movements to give her team a great pass. Aniya is reliable in the back row and runs the backcourt incredibly well. She has great court awareness and is as impressive in her intangibles as she is athletically talented.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63e293494788e"} /-->