Triple Crown Roundtable Preview – Austin’s Version

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The yearly NIT roundtable is back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm thrilled to once again be a part of the Triple Crown trio featuring Prep Dig's Chris Fitzgerald and Michael DeLeon. We're going to have a lot of fun covering this massive tournament from so many different angles, and a few of those perspectives will be previewed in this roundtable discussion. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's time to tackle some of the biggest looming questions heading into the weekend. Here's my take.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>18s&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What Teams Will Be Contending For a Championship On Day Three?&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll take several of the odds-on favorites: Premier Nebraska 18 Gold, Sunshine 18 LA, and COAST 18-1. While we're on a brief run of California teams, I wouldn't be surprised to see WAVE 18-Juliana make a run at the title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1495585551545683970?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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/1495585551545683970?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What Non-Power Pool Teams Could Sneak Up On People?&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dynasty 18 Black might have something to say about not being in power pools--in its own backyard, too. Kansas-bound libero Heidi Devers anchors the backcourt for 18 Black, and Pepperdine commit Brynne McGhie is getting her shot at the setter role.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What's really wild is that NKYVC 18-1 Tsunami sits alongside Dynasty in the same pool. High-flying outside hitter Sydney Nolan will lead the offense. Elsewhere, watch out for Florida's Top Select 18 Elite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1576015155292667904?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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/1576015155292667904?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What Teams Could Be The Cinderellas of the Tournament?&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watch out for MAVS KC 18-1. I've been fortunate enough to follow this group for years. While MAVS may not be the most physical bunch in KC, the team makes up for that lack of size with superior ball control and incredible pace. Tempo, tempo, tempo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MN Select 18-1 might ruffle some feathers here, too. It's a team with 2024s in nearly half of its starting lineup, but they certainly will not be intimidated by this stage. The Minnesota-bound Swenson sisters highlight this group, as well as Ohio State commit Kaia Caffee in the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1619394672740438016?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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/1619394672740438016?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Who are the big-time commits who will be having a huge impact on the tournament?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be a perfect venue to check out all the top-tier 2023 athletes who stuck around for the 18s season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm immediately drawn to ACC foes Louisville and Pitt, both of which NCAA national semifinals in Omaha last fall. Power Pool A will feature a couple of future Cardinals in Drive Nation's Reese Robins and Premier Nebraska's Alanna Bankston. Both of these athletes can dominate the frontcourt. Meanwhile, the Sunshine and soon-to-be Panther tandem of Olivia Babcock and Torrey Stafford will also pile up the highlight tape after a strong NIT showing last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A few of my other picks in this area include MAVS KC 18-1 setter Logan Jones (Arkansas), OT 18 J John middle blocker Zeta Washington (Cincinnati), and Adidas KIVA 18 Red middle blocker Nya Bunton (Texas).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1550980159708303360?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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/1550980159708303360?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1487912114425630724?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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/1487912114425630724?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>17s</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What Teams Will Be Contending For a Championship On Day Three?&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It'll be tough to keep a Texas team off the podium when you see Drive Nation 17-Red and TAV 17 Black lurking in Power Pool A. But speaking of podiums, you also have A5 17-Jing, Dynasty 17 Black, and Premier Nebraska 17 Gold in this pool after all three stood on the GJNC stage last summer. Decisions, decisions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What Non-Power Pool Teams Could Sneak Up On People?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Capitanas, of course! If you didn't see this Puerto Rican group compete in 16 Open at GJNC last year, this is your chance at redemption. It's such a fun team full of dynamic six-rotation athletes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll take Northern Lights 17-1 here, too. Maybe my recent trip to Minneapolis was a positive influence. Team Pineapple will also be dangerous from the same pool.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1543590368071094272?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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/1543590368071094272?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What Teams Could Be The Cinderellas of the Tournament?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What about Rockwood Thunder 17 Elite? Maybe it's just recency bias after watching them at NLQ, but I was glad to see Rockwood Thunder get the late nod in power pool selections. Future Ohio State libero Olivia Hasbrook is one of the most impactful defenders we'll see in the 17U field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watch for Colorado Juniors 17 Kevin to cause some havoc among the top group, too. Penn State commit Izzy Starck runs a lethal offense that features long frontcourt pin hitters like Paityn Chapman (Tennessee) and Avah Armour (Central Florida). This team is legit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1543572987567300611?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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/1543572987567300611?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Under the Radar: What Uncommitted Athletes Do Coaches and Spectators Need To Know?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I got to scout plenty of good ones from 1st Alliance 17 Gold while I was covering NLQ. Samantha Falk, Ellery Rees, and Elizabeth Sessa all come to mind as valuable contributors to this talented squad. Keep them on your recruiting radar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While we're on a run of NLQ teams, OT 17 O Felix is another team with some nice uncommitted talent. Caylan Russ has started the year strong in the libero jersey, and Luci Lippelgoos has emerged as a solid contributor in the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>More than anything, I'm ready to expand this list once Triple Crown NIT is complete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>16s</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What Teams Will Be Contending For a Championship On Day Three?&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oh, there are so many good options here. I'll start with the easy one and choose the defending champs, 1st Alliance 16 Gold. But there are so many other elite teams in here that dazzled us throughout qualifiers last year, including Houston Skyline 16 Royal, Drive Nation 16-Red, Legacy 16-1 Adidas, and Arizona Storm 16 Thunder.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1495174624803500033?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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/1495174624803500033?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1505579664403746822?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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/1505579664403746822?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What Non-Power Pool Teams Could Sneak Up On People?&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some of my personal favorite dark horse teams are in this 16U field. Tulsa Power 16-1 is a fun group that has a ton of experience in Open-level competition. The same can be said of teams like Mintonette m.61, MAVS KC 16-1, Six Pack 16, and Premier Nebraska 16 Gold.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1512874894891134984?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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/1512874894891134984?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What Teams Could Be The Cinderellas of the Tournament?&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll try to undercut Chris Fitzgerald here and go with MKE Sting 16 Gold. It would be a fun storyline to see this new-look group win it with some 2025s who are back playing 16s for a second year. Perhaps we'll see HJV 16 Elite cook up some upsets against the in-state juggernauts of Houston Skyline and Drive Nation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Under the Radar: What Athletes Do Coaches and Spectators Need To Know?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025s galore! This is a massive weekend for this group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll immediately point to Surfside 16 PV Legends, as there's a reason this group is in power pools. Outside hitter Kaci Demaria is elite. Another under-the-radar team that I'll be watching is HPSTL 16 Royal, which features standouts like Tara Greenberry in the middle and Zoe Baliva on the pin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This "need to know" list is about to inflate to wild proportions by the end of the week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1513504092865409027?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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/1513504092865409027?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>15s</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What Teams Will Be Contending For a Championship On Day Three?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I feel like I've beat this drum a thousand times: 15s are unpredictable!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That mantra is even more true in an early-season tournament where you didn't have a strong stake in who last year's big 14s frontrunners were. But I'll still take some decorated teams for this one: MadFrog 15's N Green, WAVE 15-Brennan, Legacy 15-1 Adidas, and Mintonette m.51.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What Non-Power Pool Teams Could Sneak Up On People?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll give another shoutout to my home territory and say that Premier Nebraska 15 Gold could make some noise in the final bracket. The team's opening pool offers plenty of challenges, but 15 Gold has plenty of high-end potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's also jarring to see how many other big-name clubs will have to fight from outside power pools. Keep an eye on teams like Drive Nation 15-Red, Rockwood Thunder 15 Elite, Dynasty 15 Black, and Colorado Juniors 15 Sherri.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/KingsleyATK/status/1612115690512580608?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <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/1612115690512580608?s=20u0026amp;t=1TkFQgZBjLXwM8bHy_meDw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What Teams Could Be The Cinderellas of the Tournament?&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm looking at some of the power pool teams to knock off a few of the favorites I've listed above. Look out for AZ Sky 15G, Alamo 15 Premier, and Boiler Jrs 151E Gold.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Under the Radar: What Athletes Do Coaches and Spectators Need To Know?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To be determined? It feels like an unsatisfactory answer, but we have so much still to learn about the Class of 2026. So, get back to me after I've got a full weekend of eyes on this group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->