Breaking Down the Updated Nebraska 2027 Watch List
Our biggest expansion yet. We knew we had a lot of discoveries to make for Nebraska’s Class of 2027 watch list. The 2024 club season would be the perfect opportunity to find those new names, with many 2027s showcasing their…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingOur biggest expansion yet.
We knew we had a lot of discoveries to make for Nebraska’s Class of 2027 watch list. The 2024 club season would be the perfect opportunity to find those new names, with many 2027s showcasing their skills to us for the first time. The 15s campaign has already seen its share of high-profile events, including Triple Crown NIT, the Northern Lights Qualifier, and multiple waves of the Midwest Power League. All of that has allowed us to make our biggest database expansion yet for the Class of 2027.
This latest update brings several dozen new names to the watch list. We almost hit triple digits. It’s a culmination of what we’ve learned so far this year, but we also recognize that there’s more to see in the coming weeks and months. Big events are coming up, and the list will grow with it.
So, here’s our intro piece for the new Nebraska 2027 watch list. We’re exploring numbers, trends, and what’s next.
No Numerical Rankings…Yet
Once again, the Class of 2027 is still on the watch list stage. This means players are only listed in alphabetical order by last name, so keep that in mind as you’re scrolling.
We’re close to having some initial rankings. The size of that first list is unclear, but past iterations have been between 20 and 30. Of course, initial rankings are hardly set in stone. It’s more of a reflection of the select few players who have made the biggest early impression on Nebraska’s prep scene.
So, why are we waiting? The simplest explanation is that we still have several major club events left on the schedule. Many of those are quickly approaching. We’ll have our eyes on the Show Me Qualifier, Great Plains Regional Championships, and the Great Plains Region Bid Tournament. A few other qualifiers are on the docket, too. These big stages will allow top-tier players to separate themselves against the best of the best. This will give us a ton of info for our rankings and the next wave of new additions.
Our next 2027 update should come close to the end of the club season. By then, we’ll likely have a top group. Buckle up.
Where is Everyone Coming From?
Our huge list of new additions is powered by all the observations we’ve made during the club season. We’ve got a good list of clubs here, too.
Clubs in our rankings include Premier Nebraska, Nebraska Elite, Nebraska ONE , Nebraska Juniors, VCNebraska , River City Jrs , Club Legacy, Banzai VBC, and MVP United . These groups have been prominent at many of the events we’ve visited. The Midwest Power League has been particularly helpful in expanding our scope in the Great Plains Region. Plus, it helps that so many of Nebraska’s 15s teams came out of the gates quickly at January’s Northern Lights Qualifier.
But there’s always room for more. The small-town clubs are in our crosshairs over the next few weeks. As we saw with last year’s talented South Central NE 15 Black team, Nebraska will always bring out hidden gems from every corner of the state. Our work is far from over.
Positions by the Numbers
Here’s a breakdown of the 2027 watch list by how many players occupy each position:
DS/L – 36
MB – 37
OH – 59
RS – 23
S – 35
What’s the takeaway here? First, I think we need more middle blockers. Every starting lineup has two, regardless of which system the team deploys. Most teams have more middle blockers on the roster than setters, for example. The proportions need some tweaking.
Outside hitters lead the way, but that’s nothing new. We’re excited about the strong contingent of liberos we have plugged into the watch list, and there’s more to come in the next update. We have to remember that last year’s high school season plays a part in the current watch list, and freshman liberos were a big storyline in late 2023. It shows up in the numbers.
We’ll also reiterate a trend that holds in any class: some players are not tethered to one position. We encountered several 2027s who flip between two (or more) spots, making it difficult to designate one. Middle-opposite hybrids are popular, which might hold some bearing in the lack of middles in our watch list.
This positional adaptability reminds us that the 2027s are just starting their prep journey. Part of player development involves experimentation to find the best position for the future. This has implications for our watch list, too, and it’s another reason why we haven’t ranked this class yet. It’s early. Athletes are about to make massive improvements in the months ahead, and we might as well sit back and watch it unfold.
I hope you’ll join us.