Lone Star Regionals: Five Middles to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the biggest tournaments of the club season in Texas is coming to Houston this weekend as the Lone Star Regionals will held at the George R Brown Convention Center over the weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Almost 600 teams coming from everywhere around the Lone Star State will be on the court, competing in the 15s, 16s and 17s divisions. Around 150 of those teams will also be playing for the much-coveted bids to the National Championship in those age groups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Dig will be covering the event over the weekend, bringing photos and reports on the players that stand out on the court, but before it begins, let's take the time to highlight some prospects who could be poised for strong showings this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These middles will dominate the net for their teams:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["438347"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Irwin will be a force in the middle for Xcel VB 151 Adidas in the 15 Bid division this weekend. She first got into our radar in one of our showcases in Houston and has continued to developed over the next several months. Irwin plays the game with tremendous mobility and great intensity, which helps her remain active on both sides of the ball, playing a major role in whatever her team does at the net. She's very well-versed offensively and has a lot of confidence in her swings, not backing off against anyone. The middle also makes a solid impact with her blocking, moving very well at the net and playing aggressively with her arms.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662c1b85a5f85"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/kenli_irwin/status/1733703270416191594","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/kenli_irwin/status/1733703270416191594 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Aniyah Baker","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Johnson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Roots","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Baker will appear in the middle with Roots 16-1 Green in the 16 Bid division. A class of 2027 prospect playing one age group up, she's been flying under the radar a little bit, but has tremendous potential and a very high ceiling. Her physical tools make of her an ideal fit to play the position and she's quickly picking the game up and developing other skills. Baker's blocking is already very effective as, besides getting off the floor well and having long arms, she also times her jumps impressively well, coming out of nowhere to block tips and roll shots. Her offensive game is still coming together, but her high contact point gives her the edge against basically any blocker.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662c1b85a6031"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19571547/6624002fa97268bb12bac561' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662c1b85a60c0"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["318193"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Expect to see Hanson dominate in the middle for her STVA 16 Mizuno team in the 16 Bid division. Very tall and athletic, she's a handful for opposing blockers with a flawless offense that makes of her one of the team's main scoring options. Hanson's footwork is truly impressive and that puts her in a position to hit every set in the middle with tremendous efficiency. She's also able to swing with incredible power and is very solid with her decision-making. Hanson also makes a huge impact with her blocking, perfectly using her hands to take up space from opposing hitters and get stuffs.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662c1b85a610d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17227989/66169adf4c766e68409f9482' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662c1b85a612a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["218343"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Colocado and her GCVA 171 Coast team will compete in the 17 Bid division in this weekend's event. She looks a bit undersized against taller blockers, but makes up for that with an impressive vertical and tremendous effort at the net. Colocado's game stands out the most in blocking as she moves extremely well at the net and is very good at reading plays and reacting to the moves made by opposing hitters. She's not a high-scoring middle, but will get the ball down when she gets set thanks to her quick arm and excellent vision and decision-making.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662c1b85a617b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16323682/65413548b53f1708988759bd' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662c1b85a6197"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Angel Debekeme","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Tompkins","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Texas One","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Debekeme will be in action with Texas One - 17 Royal in the 17 Bid division. She's a new face with the team, coming from Katy United, and has immediately made them better at the net with her physical presence. Debekeme is very productive with her blocking, reading the game well, moving with intelligence and playing aggressively to take up space from opposing hitters. Her offense is not at the same level yet, but she has all the tools to be as good at scoring points as she is preventing them.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662c1b85a6215"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19044481/660e5c3c756764396b6c2c3e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662c1b85a6235"} /-->