Part 5 Of Our Michigan Freshman Showcase Evaluations
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The Michigan Freshman Showcase featured a lot of impressive 2027 talents. This prospect group is sure to make a big impact in the years to come. Each participant brought their own strengths to the table last Saturday. Here’s the final…
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Continue ReadingThe Michigan Freshman Showcase featured a lot of impressive 2027 talents.
This prospect group is sure to make a big impact in the years to come.
Each participant brought their own strengths to the table last Saturday.
Here’s the final part of our series of the player evaluations from this showcase.
Marlie Smith Marlie Smith 5'10" | S Clarkston | 2027 State MI , S Clarkston/Legacy
Smith has all the characteristics of a veteran player despite being an incoming freshman. She’s been around the game enough to know what it takes to succeed and applies that on the court. As a setter, her touch and locations are hard to compete with. She’s also got the athleticism to make difficult sets look easy, while being able to also put a powerful swing on the ball herself. Smith’s court IQ is up there with anyone in the class and she displays the on-court leadership you seek in a setter.
Cydnee Speights, OH Royal Oak
Speights was a late addition to the showcase, but she made sure to make an impact. A quiet presence when not on the floor, she turned up the intensity once she started taking part in drills. She was able to seamlessly dial up some real power on her serves and attacks without having to exert much energy. A quick arm, but smooth stroke made her very dangerous from anywhere on the floor. It also allowed her stay patient because she could wait a little longer for the ball and still bring the heat.
Addison Stepp Addison Stepp 5'8" | DS/L South Lyon East | 2027 MI , DS/L South Lyon East/Legacy
Stepp is a very polished defender for her age. She covers a lot of ground and does it with relative ease. She never allows herself to get caught out of position or watching the play. Stepp stays active on her feet, while making sure every step is for a good reason. She stays squared up to the ball and does a good job of anticipating where her hitters need her for backup.
Avery Stepp Avery Stepp 5'8" | S South Lyon East | 2027 MI , S South Lyon East/Legacy
Stepp has really good natural instincts as a defender to go with her setting ability. Her form is technically sound and she gives a good pass to her teammates, whether it be the setter or an out-of-system ball to the hitters. As a setter, Stepp looks very relaxed and puts a nice, easy touch on the ball. She never shows any sort of panic on the floor, no matter what the point calls for her to do.
Avery Thorp Avery Thorp 6'1" | MB Plainwell | 2027 State MI , MB Plainwell/Dead Frog
Another of the 6-foot middles that were on hand in Pontiac, Thorp shows a lot of promise as well. Her reach is very long and she can hang off the floor to play well above the net. In some heated points, Thorp showed a lot of alert playmaking ability. She had a good feel for how things were developing and used her footwork to be in position to finish off points. Plainwell should be excited for the potential she has to be an elite player.
Amelia Vogelheim Amelia Vogelheim 5'7" | DS/L Brighton | 2027 MI , DS/L Brighton/L2
Vogelheim always seems to be seeing the play slightly ahead of everyone else, as if she’s about five seconds ahead of us. She seems to be in great position to take on a swing each time, no matter where it is going. That kind of anticipation allows her to make a lot of smooth passes and easy digs. It also allows her to dig out some really violent attacks without having to make a late sprawl. Her serve receive is also steady as she keeps her form simple and effective.
Eleanor Williams Eleanor Williams 5'11" | RS Romeo | 2027 State MI , RS Romeo/Michigan Elite
Williams was a very consistent and steady presence on the floor in all aspects of the game. She had great control on her passing and serve receive, while avoiding attack errors on her swings and consistently putting good velocity on her attacks. On top of all that, Williams also had a challenging serve that gave her peers difficulty handling. Williams always looked very calm and in control, which speaks to her ability to perform in a high-pressure setting.