When Top Prospects Stay Close To Home - Class of '25 Edition

Chloe Chicoine is staying home at Purdue, Anna DeBeer staying home at Louisville has worked out pretty well for her, Minnesota has always kept top in state talent close, the list goes on in regards to athletes staying close to home where they have won titles, played in front of friends and family, and have probably earned some money in the process.  Even in the softball world, Jordy Bahl who has won two national championships for Oklahoma has recently said she will be transferring back home in order to grow the game in Nebraska.  Staying close to home could also have big implications in regards to NIL deals.  Everyone roots for the hometown kid and wants to see them succeed.   Here is a glance at what it would look like if top prospects stayed close to home.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/02/1Feature.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-322557"/></figure>   Illinois   This 2025 Class in Illinois is deep and there are plenty of high level prospects coming out of the 1st Alliance gym. [player_tooltip player_id='203428' first='Abby' last='Vander Wal'], Addy Horner, [player_tooltip player_id='288647' first='Aniya' last='Warren'], and [player_tooltip player_id='288634' first='Hannah' last='Kenny'] are all nationally ranked in Prep Dig's initial 2025 national rankings. These athletes will be a priority for Northwestern and Illinois. 1st Alliance has 2023 graduate Gigi Navarette, one of the top liberos in the country heading to Northwestern and I'm sure she would be happy to host any of these athletes on a visit. Northwestern also has one of the top Illinois pins in the Class of 2024 in Ava Pratt who plays club at Adversity. Illinois has a couple alums who know what a gold medal feels like and have been able to bring in some really physical middle blockers. I'm sure [player_tooltip player_id='207810' first='Georgia' last='Watson'], a 6'4 middle blocker who plays for Mission 17 Elite would be a welcome addition to the Illini. [player_tooltip player_id='311415' first='Bella' last='Bullington'] is another high level outside hitter from Sports Performance who could be on the radar as well. A prospect that is really intriguing to me is [player_tooltip player_id='392702' first='Alyssa' last='Koerkenmeier'] who plays high school at Breese Mater Dei and club for HP Illinois. She's 6'6 and has a huge upside to her game out of the middle. Is she the sleeper in this class? She could be a steal for the Valley schools or even the OVC. Same goes for [player_tooltip player_id='320126' first='Ellie' last='Rink'] for Illini Elite. A big time point scorer on the outside who I'm sure will be targeted from the likes of Illinois State, Southern Illinois, and OVC squads.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/11/DSC07894-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-247043"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='215406' first='Abbey' last='Hayes']</figcaption></figure>   Iowa   The state of Iowa has always done a great job of keeping the top in state talent close to home. Northern Iowa has always had a roster full of Iowa athletes, the top two ranked pins in Iowa's Class of 2023, Lily Dykstra and Cassidy Hartman will be Panthers this fall. Drake finished second in the Valley behind UNI and has picked up some big time local talent in Macy Daufeldt from the Class of 2022 and will have Bliss Beck coming out of the Class of 2024. In this upcoming Class of 2025, the top two prospects that have emerged are [player_tooltip player_id='215385' first='Chloe' last='Meester'] (Mount Vernon/Adrenaline) and [player_tooltip player_id='215406' first='Abbey' last='Hayes'] (North Scott/Six Pack). [player_tooltip player_id='215385' first='Chloe' last='Meester'] is in the backyard of the University of Iowa where she would be a homerun commit for the Hawks. Hayes was at the Iowa Elite prospect camp this week and she could be a big instate name as well. Iowa State and Coach Christy Johnson have taken some top Iowa athletes and molded them into high level volleyball players. Meester and Hayes would also be ones who could make a big impact in the Big 12.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/01/DSC09339.jpg?w=1024" alt="[player_tooltip player_id='152943' first='Logan' last='Bell']" class="wp-image-306556"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='152943' first='Logan' last='Bell']</figcaption></figure>   Indiana   Yikes, where do I even start? I mean that in a really great way because Indiana is always loaded with talent and there are plenty of in-state D1 schools. Purdue has been keeping top Indiana (specifically hometown Lafayette) athletes close to home and IU has been cashing in from the Indianapolis area. The state of Indiana will produce over 30 D1 athletes a year. [player_tooltip player_id='152944' first='Charlotte' last='Vinson'] from Munciana, [player_tooltip player_id='152943' first='Logan' last='Bell'] of Circle City, and [player_tooltip player_id='173248' first='Reese' last='Dunkle'] are the top three prospects out of Indiana this year. They will have their pick of schools. I think what the big story or at least what I'm looking forward to the most is how the new coaching staff at Butler under the direction of Kyle Shondell. He's part of Indiana's first family of volleyball and could really build up that program with athletes out of the Indy area. Ball State continues to be a contender for NCAA appearances and MAC Championships. If they can continue to keep top talent in the state like they have, they will continue to rise.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/DSC09502.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-333915"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='154041' first='Logan' last='Parks']</figcaption></figure>   Kansas   I'm going to include Kansas City Metro in with Kansas for this due to proximity of KU and K-State. KU has a top five nationally recruiting class of 2024s that consist of high level pins and middles. What would go really well with that? A setter. [player_tooltip player_id='154039' first='Reese' last='Messer'] of Dynasty and [player_tooltip player_id='154041' first='Logan' last='Parks'] of MAVS are two of the top setters in the country. If they stay close to home, that would be a huge get for the Jayhawks. [player_tooltip player_id='153930' first='Abigail' last='Mullen'] of Dynasty has been on the radar since she was 14 and will be fun to see what her recruiting journey looks like. Mullen's older sister, [player_tooltip player_id='99216' first='Ashley' last='Mullen'], will be a freshman setter at UCLA and her parents were athletes at Iowa - she's got Big Ten in her blood. [player_tooltip player_id='153937' first='Alea' last='Goolsby'] of KC Power has a ton of power on the pin playing up on the KC Power 17s who has an open bid to USAV. She would be a huge get for K-State who has a new staff and will be looking to make a statement with a high level in-state commit. Same can be said for [player_tooltip player_id='153936' first='Jillian' last='Gregory'] who is from the Wichita area. Does she stay close to home and commit to Wichita State? That would be huge for the Shockers.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/mckenna-payne.jpeg?w=1024" alt="[player_tooltip player_id='156321' first='McKenna' last='Payne']" class="wp-image-354132"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='156321' first='McKenna' last='Payne']</figcaption></figure>   Michigan   Michigan State and coach Leah Johnson are heading into their second year of recruiting sophomores and Michigan, under new coach Erin Virtue will have their first crack at a June 15 recruiting craze. [player_tooltip player_id='156295' first='Campbell' last='Flynn'] of Mercy HS/Legacy is going to be the prized recruit this summer. She is a Big Ten type player with her size, athleticism, and physicality at the setter position. She would draw other top recruits to whatever school she chooses. [player_tooltip player_id='156343' first='Navea' last='Gauthier'] is an electric outside hitter for FaR Out out of the Grand Rapids area. Her athleticism is big time. Michigan State has developed a pipeline to the West side of the state with the likes of Maradith O'Gorman and Evie Doezema on the roster. Michigan Elite 16 Mizuno has quite the roster of 2025s. Michigan has plenty of MAC schools with the likes of Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, and Western Michigan who would love to have the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='156287' first='Isabelle' last='Busignani'], [player_tooltip player_id='156321' first='McKenna' last='Payne'], and [player_tooltip player_id='156293' first='Ella' last='Craggs'].   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/DSC09527-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-354361"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='177424' first='Keira' last='Schmidt']</figcaption></figure>   Minnesota   This will be interesting to monitor with this being the first recruiting cycle for new head coach Keegan Cook and his staff for the Gophers talking to athletes who just finished their sophomore year on June 15. [player_tooltip player_id='191402' first='Carly' last='Gilk'] (Champlin Park/MN Select) was just named to the U19 training team and will be on the radar for the Gophers. As a six rotation, left handed right side, she brings such a unique skill set to the table. Minnesota has traditionally gotten the top players from MN Select and Northern Lights. Another couple athletes who will be high on the list are [player_tooltip player_id='117880' first='Mesaiya' last='Bettis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='177424' first='Keira' last='Schmidt']. They have been dominant for the Northern Lights 16-1 squad this club season. Bettis is an electric outside hitter who can score at will where Schmidt has really elevated her speed and physicality out of the middle. St. Thomas will be entering their third year of D1 competition in the Summit League. They are bringing in a large 2023 class consisting of Wisconsin athletes, but they are a sleeping giant who could be making major recruiting waves in the state the next couple of years.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/03/DSC00025.jpg?w=1024" alt="[player_tooltip player_id='153933' first='Jordan' last='Smith']" class="wp-image-333962"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='153933' first='Jordan' last='Smith']</figcaption></figure>   Missouri   Dawn Sullivan is the new head coach at Mizzou, she's won everywhere she has been as an assistant at Iowa State and head coach at UNLV. The staff might be spending quite a bit of time in the St. Louis area where there are plenty of top prospects. From Rockwood Thunder 17 Elite are [player_tooltip player_id='153929' first='Maya' last='Witherspoon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='153933' first='Jordan' last='Smith']. I have been able to see these athletes live and they pack a major punch along the front line where they bring size, physicality, and athleticism scoring points from the right side or outside. Across town at HPSTL, [player_tooltip player_id='168035' first='Reagan' last='Nelson'], [player_tooltip player_id='169895' first='Tara' last='Greenberry'], and [player_tooltip player_id='168037' first='Hannah' last='Leftridge'] have been having a big time season and will be on the radar to plenty of instate schools.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/01/DSC09284.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-306549"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='178289' first='Rebecca' last='Ring']</figcaption></figure>   Wisconsin   [player_tooltip player_id='178033' first='Madison' last='Quest'] and [player_tooltip player_id='178034' first='Gabriella' last='Pitcel'] are the leaders among the top prospects in Wisconsin. Wisconsin traditionally has not carried many instate athletes, however they do have Saige Damrow coming in who is the most recent Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year. Quest has family ties to Wisconsin as her mom was a former Badger under John Cook. Marquette has reached a new level of success as they hosted an NCAA Regional and made their way to the Sweet Sixteen. They have a strong foundation of in-state talent. One athlete they will want to keep close to home is [player_tooltip player_id='178289' first='Rebecca' last='Ring'] who plays for Edgewood HS out of Madison and VC United. Her older sister Natalie is entering her sophomore year as an outside hitter at Marquette.

Chloe Chicoine is staying home at Purdue, Anna DeBeer staying home at Louisville has worked out pretty well for her, Minnesota has always kept top in state talent close, the list goes on in regards to athletes staying close to home where they have won titles, played in front of friends and family, and have probably earned some money in the process. Even in the softball world, Jordy Bahl who has won two national championships for Oklahoma has recently said she will be transferring back home in order to grow the game in Nebraska. Staying close to home could also have big implications in regards to NIL deals. Everyone roots for the hometown kid and wants to see them succeed.