The All-Deck Team: 2027 Top Performers From Stock Up Showcase

Two hours is not nearly enough time to fairly analyze more than 100 athletes competing on multiple courts, but that was my task on August 3, at the Prep Dig Stock Up Showcase in Kansas City, Kansas.   Today on Prep Dig I have put together three All-Deck teams from the more than 70 Kansas High School Athletes who competed at the Missouri/Kansas Showcase.   The second edition includes six athletes from the classes of 2027. This class was the most represented at the Showcase and thus was one of the toughest All-Star teams form.   The first three athletes on this team were slam dunk selections, but after that, I had to make some tough choices.   [player_tooltip player_id='434374' first='Kya' last='Behr'] 5'10, S, Great Bend, ‘27   The Great Bend setter is the No. 1 overall ranked Kansas prospect in the class of 2027. She reminds me of the WWE Star from the 1990s Razor Ramon as she "oozes with machismo." Her on-court confidence is sky-high! The difference with her is she does not let her skills inflate her ego. She is the consummate team player and was helping athletes in her group. She played with reckless abandon like a state title was on the line. Give me a team of six with the polished skills and athleticism of Behr and I will bring home Olympic Gold. Behr is currently ranked No. 1 overall in the Kansas Class of 2027.   [player_tooltip player_id='512867' first='Amaya' last='Thi'], 5'6”, S, Shawnee Mission North, ‘27   The biggest surprise prospect of the showcase was Shawnee Mission North's Thi. She is super versatile and has excellent defensive skills. She competed with her energy locked in overdrive. I had not seen Thi play in person and she took full advantage of the opportunity. She is currently ranked No. 109 overall by Prep Dig. She could however make the most significant jump up the rankings of anyone who competed at the event.   [player_tooltip player_id='446251' first='Kylee' last='Webb'], 6'1”, OH, Olathe West, ‘27   Webb is another prospect who posted a performance that stood out from the group. She has a big reach and is a jumper. The young talent will have to wait her turn to post large numbers at the varsity level. Olathe West is one of about six Kansas High Schools that stock the club scene with talent. Another reason that club volleyball has grown on me is I can run into young talent who could play varsity ball at hundreds of high schools, but have a tough time sniffing the court for their school. Webb falls into that category, but this youngster is a difference-maker who hits with authority. Webb is currently ranked No. 11 in the Kansas Class of 2027.   [player_tooltip player_id='553788' first='Courtney' last='Stallbaumer'], 5'9, MB, Nemaha Central, ‘27   Stallbaumer is currently ranked No. 135 overall. I wrote before the showcase that I was excited to see the small-school prospect compete against athletes from larger schools. Stallbaumer stepped up her game and was not at all intimidated by the atmosphere. She is a dangerous threat to dominate the net as a blocker and attacker. She will receive exceptional coaching at Nemaha Central and I am positive her skills will continue to evolve.   [player_tooltip player_id='446313' first='Benya' last='Kitchaiya'], 5'8”, DS/L, Blue Valley Northwest, ‘27   Kitchaiya is currently ranked No. 56 overall in the class of 2027. She reminded me of a quiet assassin. She just went about her business and played her game during the event. She has a quiet receiving platform and made consistent passes in the defensive drills I watched. She is quick and worked well with every partner during the drills. I would like to see her be more vocal on the court and have a little more fun, but some of the best players are super-focused, and she was.   [player_tooltip player_id='403611' first='Olivia' last='(Liv) Holthaus'], 5'7, OH, Shawnee Mission Northwest, ‘27   Holthaus earned the final spot in this particular group and it was her energy that gave her the edge over the last couple of options. Holthaus was not the hardest hitter or the highest jumper, but she had a couple of key intangibles. She never took a play-off and was dialed in during the entire showcase. She was hustling and laid out for balls, while a couple of higher-ranked prospects let up on plays or were not engaged when not on the court. Holthaus can have an impact playing back row or at the net. The Shawnee Mission Northwest prospect is currently ranked No. 44 overall in the class of 2027.

Two hours is not nearly enough time to fairly analyze more than 100 athletes competing on multiple courts, but that was my task on August 3, at the Prep Dig Stock Up Showcase in Kansas City, Kansas.