2027 Rankings Released: The Top Ten

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Dig Kansas published the initial Class of 2027 rankings this morning and the past “watch list” now includes 110 ranked athletes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Athletes, parents, and coaches can click on the “How We Rank” story under the “Rankings” menu to learn more about the process of ranking players.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The key factor in this particular set of rankings is the athletes in this class are still quite young. Many of them, will decide they would rather play basketball, softball, or a different competitive sport in college. Some of them will get burned out and not want to play at the college level at all. They are teenagers and could change their minds about their futures a dozen times or more in the next couple of years. There will be athletes who see their position in the rankings rise or fall until they make their graduation walks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are limited statistics available for this class and there are athletes in the Class of 2027 who have still not stepped onto a varsity high school court. This class will double or even triple in size by the time they are seniors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While I strive for perfection, I also understand that mistakes and typos happen. If you have questions about the rankings or see a mistake please feel free to DM me on social media @KSScoutDeck or email me at deckscoutks@gmail.com.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Remember you attract more bees with honey than you do vinegar.  If you send me a negative or rude email do not expect a reply. Also, keep in mind we do not update rankings on a week-to-week basis. Once an athlete is ranked in a spot, they stay there until the next round of rankings. We do attempt to update the rankings three to four times a year. This class might not be updated until next fall depending on the number of athletes I see in summer league or camp action. High School and Club Coaches who want to make suggestions for players to be added can send me information at the above email and social media account.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at the initial top 10-ranked athletes in the Kansas Class of 2027 rankings. Keep visiting Prep Dig this week to read more reports on this class. Next week Prep Dig Kansas will release the first rankings for the Kansas Class of 2028.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='434374' first='Kya' last='Behr']</strong>, 5'9”, S/DS, Great Bend</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Behr is ranked No. 1 overall and is the top-ranked setter. She is by far the most well-rounded player I saw play club ball this season. She is poised beyond her years and could very well find a home in the top ten of these rankings for the entirety of her high school career. As a freshman, she posted a stat line that included 589 assists, 159 kills, and 309 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='480396' first='Peyton' last='Kubick']</strong>, 6'1”, OH, Blue Valley West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kubick is ranked No. 2 overall and is the top-ranked outside hitter. Kubick can hit the stuffing out of a Tachikara. She finished her freshman season with an eye-popping kill total of 407 in 98 sets. She could be a six-rotation option for college coaches as her career advances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='436201' first='Riley' last='Riggs']</strong>, 6'0”, OH, Mill Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riggs is ranked No. 3 overall and is the second-ranked outside hitter. Riggs has the advantage of playing for both competitive high school and club programs. She is also a solid self-promoter on social media which will aid her recruitment. This is a huge compliment as volleyball players as a whole still don't use social media to its full potential for recruiting purposes. She finished with 299 kills in 97 sets played for Mill Valley as a freshman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483915' first='Bella' last='Cook']</strong>, 6'1”, MB, Campus</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cook is ranked No. 4 overall and is the top-ranked middle blocker. Cook is a big-league blocker who I saw play this past club season. She finished her freshman season with 104 total blocks and 208 kills. She has a combination of size and speed that makes plenty of opposing players jealous.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483890' first='Lily' last='Edwards']</strong>, 5'10”, OH, Clay Center</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Edwards is ranked No. 5 overall and is the third-ranked outside hitter. Edwards is a versatile athlete who can play multiple positions which will help her get recruited. Her bulky stat line for the Tigers last season included 382 kills, 355 digs, 560 serve receptions, and 30 total blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='456247' first='Halle' last='Laincz']</strong>, 5'11”, RS, Lansing</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lansing's Laincz is ranked No. 6 overall and is the top-ranked right-side hitter. The young Lansing Lion might be the most dangerous net player in the Top Ten. In 99 sets played as a freshman, she finished with 50 blocks and 248 kills. She is an athlete I saw play several times last season. If she dedicates herself to getting stronger, faster, and meaner, she will be a slam-dunk college prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='446320' first='Madeline' last='Etler']</strong>, 6'0”, MB, St. James Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Etler is ranked No. 7 overall and is the second-ranked middle blocker. She has a huge upside in a high school program that regularly competes for state titles.  Etler also plays for [program_tooltip program_id='430200' first='KC' last='Power'] a club that produces high-level college prospects.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483894' first='Sofia' last='Simic']</strong>, 6'0”, OH, Hoisington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hoisington's Simic is ranked No. 8 overall and is the fourth-ranked outside hitter. Simic is a big-time jumper with a nasty serve. She finished her freshman season with 339 kills and 73 aces in 77 sets played for the Hoisington Cardinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483934' first='Presley' last='Kreter']</strong>, 6'1”, MB, St. Thomas Aquinas</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kreter debuts in the rankings at No. 9 overall and is the third-ranked middle blocker. Kreter was among the top blockers last season in the freshman class. She recorded 89 total blocks and 137 kills in 94 sets played for the St. Thomas Aquinas Saints.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='446316' first='Cayten' last='Cummings']</strong>, 5'9”, OH, Yates Center</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cummings rounds out the Top 10 and is the fifth outside hitter ranked in the top tier to open the rankings. Cummings is a grinder. I first noticed her during a team camp hosted by Pittsburg State University. Her freshman stat line included 264 assists, 229 digs, 178 kills, and 49 aces. She is a dedicated athlete who travels long distances to play for competitive club teams. She will be hampered by playing for a small school in terms of college exposure. She is the type of athlete who keeps me in the scouting business and why Prep Dig exists. Cummings will need a big sophomore season to hold onto her place in the Top Ten.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->