The Debate of #1 in the Class of 2026
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No, Prep Dig National Rankings for the Class of 2026 are not out. We release those at the end of qualifier season, leading up to the June 15 contact period. However, we are starting to watch a lot of athletes…
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Continue ReadingNo, Prep Dig National Rankings for the Class of 2026 are not out. We release those at the end of qualifier season, leading up to the June 15 contact period. However, we are starting to watch a lot of athletes from the Class of 2026 and there is no better place to do that than at Triple Crown. The best of the best coming to play in Kansas City where they get a chance to go head to head, making a statement to college coaches. Here are some athletes who will make a case for #1 in the Class of 2026.
Henley Anderson – Houston Skyline 16 Royal
I think what was most impressive about Anderson was not what I saw her do from the outside, but what she did from the backrow. The force and power she was attacking from out of the backrow was extremely impressive. Elite level. All of these athletes are elite, but she is definitely one where I could say “Wow”. There is still so much upside to her game. She will continue to develop a backcourt game and every pin is going to look to improve on serve receive. She has physical tools that few have and will continue to be on the radar of the tops in the Class of 2026 and even the USAV Youth Pipeline.
Bellamie Beus – Idaho Crush 17 Bower
Beus has always played an age group up with a really talented Idaho Crush team that has always been a top competitor in the “Open” level. I had seen her play when this group was 16s last year, but I didn’t realize she was younger. Seeing her live at the Northern Lights Qualifier at the end of January was impressive. Her explosion off the ground and violent arm swing made her one of the top outside hitters in a loaded 17s field with some of the top 2025s. Aside from her athleticism, physicality, and skill she plays with a fiery intensity where she can will her team to a win. Just a fun athlete that has earned a spot among the best in 2026.
Gabby DiVita – Legacy 16 Adidas
I remember first watching DiVita play up an age group with the Legacy team that won a 15 Open AAU National Title in 2022. She was an 8th grader playing with Nebraska commit Campbell Flynn as her setter. She is now playing with her age group with the 16s and is coming off a Triple Crown 16 Elite title. DiVita has the length on the pin, is so solid in serve receive and defense, and is always a threat to score from the backrow. Above all, she is a pure winner – she just gets it done. She plays with a winning edge and intensity that shows maturity beyond her years. I know there isn’t a metric to measure that, but she steps up when it matters most for her team.
Audrey Flanagan – SCVC 16 Roxy
So smooth. Flanagan glides on the court as a six rotation outside where some of the skills she has shown looks effortless. She is doing really difficult things and is making them look easy. Her skillset is really polished. Teams will attack her in serve receive and she has no problem putting up a three point pass. Defensively, she is so solid in middle back where she can transition to attack from there as well. On the outside, she can set a strong block, and the attacking speaks for itself. I watch the SCVC vs. Houston Skyline match at Triple Crown and Flanagan just found a way to score points. She knows when to use the roll shot to the middle of the court or blast away going for the hands or the open spot on the court.
Kayla Nwabueze – Legacy 16 Adidas
The debate for a middle blocker to be number one in a class is tough. They only get three rotations compared to a lot of these other athletes who are playing six. However, for Kayla Nwabueze, her impact in her three rotations changes the entire match. When Legacy is in system, forget about it. Nwabueze is the top middle in the Class of 2026. The speed and athleticism she plays with is far beyond someone at the 16s level. She hits the ball so square and essentially takes the ball out of the setters hands and hits some gnarly angles. Her counterpart on her team in Ella Andrews is right there with her. They will be prime targets in Big Ten Country.
Layli Ostovar – Mizuno Long Beach 17G Rockstar
Ostovar is another one who plays an age group up on the 17s for Mizuno Long Beach where she is one of the top outsides in California for her class. She has a really well rounded game where her defensive skills are elite and she can really pack a punch on the outside. This past high school season, she collected almost every high school award possible, including the Max Preps Sophomore of the year. Ostovar has been part of the NTDP Beach program as well as indoor. Her beach skills are apparent on the hardcourt with her ability to create shots, defend, and has very little weakness. Another Mizuno Long Beach athlete who is similar to Ostovar is Babi Gubbins who was really impressive on the indoor game and will now focus on beach when she heads to Stanford. What route will Ostovar take?
Jayden Robinson – Houston Skyline 16 Royal
Watching Houston Skyline vs SCVC at Triple Crown was a real treat with multiple athletes who will be among the top ten of the Class of 2026. Robinson is someone who can terminate on either pin. She has a strong block, touches extremely high, and is such a terminator where she is a human highlight. Houston Skyline is going to play in a lot of big time matches this upcoming season and Robinson will be relied upon heavily to come up with some big kills. Her ceiling is incredibly high.
Halle Thompson – Houston Skyline 16 Royal
The length of Halle Thompson on the outside is different. She has a high contact point where she is hitting over the block. She plays with a fire and passion where she wants the ball in big moments. Watching her play against SCVC she had some big kills in a set two come from behind win. Those kills were coming out of the backrow. She can handle a high volume of serve receive and swings. Again, she wants the ball in the big moment and has a very high motor that is contagious for the rest of her teammates.
Ayanna Watson – Vegas Aces 16 Under Armour
Ayanna Watson was playing up an age group in 2023 for Vegas Aces where this year she has rejoined her graduation class playing for the 16s in 2024. There is a powerful, physical part of her game on the outside that is just different compared to other attackers in her class. She has really square hand contact and when she can get a clean swing, it is so tough for the other side to keep in system. She can attack from various parts of the court and is always a threat out of system.