A New Number One? On The Rise? Who Is Best Available?

<p>The 2024 National Rankings have been updated. When separating these top players, It is splitting hairs. These athletes are committed to the top programs in the country and some have worn USA on their jersey. We'll take a look at our new number one prospect in the Class of 2024 as well as the ones who have risen among the ranks. I have spent a lot of time on the 17s courts where many of these 2024s have been playing as well as some of the 18s courts where there are 2024s playing up. We have a network of Prep Dig scouts I can check in with in regards to top players in their region, as well as getting a few takes from club coaches around the country. Who is number one? Who is on the rise? We have it here! </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/1643634039402758145?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong>The New Number One - [player_tooltip player_id='201010' first='Izzy' last='Starck'] </strong></p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='201010' first='Izzy' last='Starck'] of Rampart High School and Colorado Juniors is the new number one prospect in the Class of 2024. The Penn State commit is a 6'2 setter/pin combo player that can do a little bit of everything for her Colorado Juniors squad located just North of Colorado Springs. Starck was part of a 2021 Rampart High School state championship team in Colorado's largest class, has led her club team to 5th place finish in 16 Open in 2022, and finished the summer by competing on the USA U19 National Team where she won the Pan American Gold Cup. </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/1590860286785093632?s=20 </div></figure>   <p>What makes her number one? She is one of the top setters in the country as well as one of the most dynamic attackers, one of the best in all facets of the game.  I saw Starck at Triple Crown, USAV 16 Open Nationals, and at the Colorado State Tournament in 2022.  Rampart was one of the top high school teams in Colorado's largest class where she was named Gatorade State Player of the Year.  However, watching her in 2023 with her Colorado Juniors 17 Kevin team, she's elevated her game.  The intangibles are through the roof with how she can command her team from a leadership perspective.  She knows how to keep positive, calm body language when things get tight.  Her athletic ability is just different from how high she plays above the net, yet plays an incredible backrow where she can defend and serve receive.  Colorado Juniors 17 Kevin finished 5th at Triple Crown, went 10-0 winning the Mideast 17 Open Qualifier, and most recently had a final four finish at Big South in Atlanta.  She wins.  She is heading to Penn State where they have picked up some of the top recruits in the country from the Class of 2024.  She won a state title with her sister Anjelina Starck and will look to pick up some more hardware at Penn State where Anjelina is currently finishing her sophomore year.  But first, Starck will train again with the USA U19 team where 20 athletes will look to compete for a spot on the team where they will compete at the 2023 NORCECA Pan Am Cup in Puerto Rico and look for a national title with her Colorado Junior team at USAV Nationals in Chicago in July. </p>   <p><strong>Who Is On The Rise? </strong></p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='180288' first='Emerson' last='Sellman'] for Metro 17 Travel out of the DC area was ranked in the 40s in the initial 2024 national rankings. Seeing her this qualifier season has been eye opening with her ability to fly and attack. She has been on the radar for USAV Youth National teams with invites to NTDP and the U19 Training Team in 2022. She was named the Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year this past fall. What makes her different is how dynamic she can be as an attacker with hitting all the angles and taking what the defense gives her (especially when the defense is scheming specifically against her). She has given her verbal commitment to Ohio State. </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/1636731861484335109?s=20 </div></figure>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='359342' first='Hannah' last='Benjamin'] of A5 wasn't ranked in our Class of 2024 initial rankings.  That is a HUGE swing and miss on our part.  Seeing her compete with her A5 squad this season, there is a huge emphasis on “compete” with Benjamin.  She is a gritty competitor who wants the ball when it matters most.  Seeing her at Triple Crown was a treat, she plays extremely fast and knows how to use her angles when attacking extremely well.  She will fit in really well at Kentucky with their Class of 2023 thats coming in along with fellow 2024 commit Asia Thigpen who is very similar with her ability to step up when it matters most. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/DSC09927.jpg?w=1024" alt="Favor Anyawu " class="wp-image-334035" width="461" height="307"/></figure>   <p>The TAV and USC duo of [player_tooltip player_id='142201' first='Jadyn' last='Livings'] and [player_tooltip player_id='142220' first='Favor' last='Anyanwu'] have moved up in the rankings where they have really shown what they can do on a big time national stage. The two will be continuing their careers at USC who is building some big time recruiting classes where they will have one of the top classes in 2024. Livings is a six rotation outside hitter who hits an extremely heavy ball with a ton of pace while Anyawu has a blend of power and quickness along the front line where she can close the block and transition quickly to attack and score points. </p>   <p><strong>The Top Uncommitted</strong></p>   <p>Lizzy [player_tooltip player_id='201074' first='Elizabeth' last='Andrew'] out of Ridgefield, Washington and Athena Volleyball Club is a 6'5 middle blocker who I would compare to the likes of Dana Rettke.  She is long, agile, and can hit some wild angles in front of the setter, on the slide, or anywhere off one foot.  This is all speculation, but I have to think she would be really high on the radar of Stanford and Wisconsin.  Both programs have a great track record of developing middle blockers and Andrew could be the next big name out of any of those programs. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='124103' first='Vivian' last='Parker'] out of Drive Nation in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area has been a steady six rotation attacker her whole career. She can score points, serve receive, defend, and do a little bit of everything to help her team. She might be one of the most efficient players in the country. </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/1627098162233212933?s=20 </div></figure>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='359350' first='Kiki' last='Horne'] out of Triangle Volleyball in North Carolina is scary good.  The 6'2 outside hitter was the North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year and has been a key player for Triangle who has locked in an open bid and plenty of top finishes at big time events.  The way Horne can elevate from anywhere on the court to score points is what sets her apart.  There isn't a spot where she can't terminate. With Horne and Thigpen, this offense is never out of system.  They will be in the hunt when it comes to USAV 17 Open which is going to be a gauntlet of high powered teams from coast to coast. </p>

The 2024 National Rankings have been updated. When separating these top players, It is splitting hairs. These athletes are committed to the top programs in the country and some have worn USA on their jersey. We'll take a look at our new number one prospect in the Class of 2024 as well as the ones who have risen among the ranks. I have spent a lot of time on the 17s courts where many of these 2024s have been playing as well as some of the 18s courts where there are 2024s playing up. We have a network of Prep Dig scouts I can check in with in regards to top players in their region, as well as getting a few takes from club coaches around the country. Who is number one? Who is on the rise? We have it here!