Rising Class of 2025 Illinois Pins
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This Illinois Class of 2025 is extremely deep. However, Illinois always is. There are some of the top players in the class who are also among the top in the country. Among these players Abby Vander Wal Abby Vander Wal…
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Continue ReadingThis Illinois Class of 2025 is extremely deep. However, Illinois always is. There are some of the top players in the class who are also among the top in the country. Among these players Abby Vander Wal Abby Vander Wal 6'3" | OH Timothy Christian | 2025 State #2 Nation IL , Georgia Watson Georgia Watson 6'3" | RS Huntley | 2025 State #96 Nation IL , and Bella Bullington Bella Bullington 6'0" | OH Marist | 2025 State #103 Nation IL are three pins who will be nationally ranked. Addy Horner is a right side/setter who has been one of the more exciting players to watch out of the Class of 2025. However, who else is in the “Land of Lincoln” on the pin who need to be on the call list when it comes to June 15 who can hammer on the pin.
Ellie Rink Ellie Rink 6'0" | OH Normal West | 2025 State #129 Nation IL – Normal West – Illini Elite
Rink was extremely impressive to watch at the Prep Dig Gauntlet where she plays up on the Illini Elite 17 Cardinal team that has so much athleticism. What Rink brings to the table is a really gritty style of play where she just finds ways to score points. She has a heavy arm where she knows how to utilize her angles and hit the open spot. She also has the ability to hit a variety of spots. I would expect a lot of the instate schools would be chatting with Rink heading into June 15. Her vibe is great on the court, she’s composed and a competitor – someone you want on your side of the net.
Ava Wysocki Ava Wysocki OH Stevenson | 2025 State IL – Stephenson – Sky High
When you watch Wysocki approach and leap it definitely makes sense. There was a tweet that showed Wysocki jumping and touching the basketball rim and after seeing her play, I was not surprised to see her do that. Her leaping ability is incredible. For Sky High , I saw her play on the outside and at the Prep Dig Gauntlet she played on the right side for Nexus United . She makes an impact, she finds a way. As she continues to develop a toolbox of various shots, it will be a really tough matchup for the other side of the net.
Sydney Buchanan Sydney Buchanan 5'11" | OH Mother McAuley | 2025 State IL – Mother McAuley – 1st Alliance
Buchanan is one of the top outside hitters for 1st Alliance 16 Silver where she was a Top Performer at the Prep Dig Gauntlet. A fast approach and violent swing, Buchanan can hit seams and use the block as well to score points in multiple ways. This 1st Alliance 16 Silver team could be a favorite heading into USAV Nationals where they will be one of the “Home” teams hosting in their backyard of Chicago. They have a balanced attack and with the likes of Buchanan to score points they always have a chance.
Tamia Maddox Tamia Maddox 5'7" | OH Lincoln Way East | 2025 State IL – Lincoln Way East – Adversity
Maddox is such an exciting player. She’s only 5’7, but she has a really insane vertical and an explosive swing where she is tough to defend. If she can get an approach and make solid hand contact – watch out. She makes for a tough matchup due to her quickness and athleticism. As her backcourt game progresses as well as her mix of shots, she is going to continue to be a tough attacker to defend.
Leah Freesemann Leah Freesemann 6'1" | OH Burlington Central | 2025 State IL – Burlington Central – Top Flight
Freeseman is very comparable to the likes of Wysocki where she is long, athletic, and a really high contact point. She is a prototypical outside hitter. I saw her last year as a 15s at a couple tournaments, but her progression into 16s has been scary good where she is hitting the ball higher and harder. What is really exciting is that there is still a high ceiling for Freeseman to reach where she is just scraping the surface of her potential. She will get seen in the June live period, get to camps, and her recruiting process could be interesting.
Amira Boone Amira Boone 5'10" | OH DePaul College Prep | 2025 State IL – De Paul College Prep – Adversity
I was able to see Boone at the Great Lakes Region Championship in early March when I was really struck by her electric approach and swing. Such an exciting player. She followed that performance up by another big weekend at the Windy City Qualifier. She is so fast to the ball where she has a big a really quick last two steps and a snap on her swing. Following this club season she will be one of the key point scorers for De Paul prep this fall. She has the speed and power, and as she continues to develop her shots and offspeed she is going to be tough to stop.