Elite Basketball Prospects Take On State Volleyball

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fun fact, Prep Dig and Prep Girls Hoops are kind of like siblings, we're under the same umbrella of Prep Network.&nbsp; We get along, of course I'm going to want all the top athletes to be volleyball players, but I do love to see kids succeed at everything they do.&nbsp; For some of these athletes, they are receiving very high level offers for basketball and are standouts on the volleyball court as well.&nbsp; I know there are a lot of athletes who do both, but there were a few on day one of the state tournament that are elite at both.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":476276,"width":"465px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/11/137A0388.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-476276" style="width:465px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ankeny Centennial's [player_tooltip player_id='215425' first='Jaeden' last='Pratt'] attacks at the state tournament. (Rob Howe/PD) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='215425' first='Jaeden' last='Pratt'] - Ankeny Centennial&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Committed to Illinois State for basketball</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pratt has been part of plenty of state tournaments for Ankeny Centennial.&nbsp; She averaged 12.7 points per game in 2024 for the Jags who advanced to the state quarterfinals for basketball.&nbsp; On the volleyball court I saw her as a sophomore middle blocker take over a match where she was causing a lot of problems for the opposing side with her ability to block and score points.&nbsp; The past two seasons she has been a six rotation outside hitter where she plays with such intensity and physicality.&nbsp; She has nearly 300 kills on the season along with 275 digs.&nbsp; She reminds me so much of former Centennial standout Kenna Sauer who always found a way to end her season on the big stage.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":243190,"width":"498px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/11/137A9274.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-243190" style="width:498px;height:auto"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">'25 Cedar Rapids (IA) Xavier High OH [player_tooltip player_id='215392' first='Libby' last='Fandel']. (Rob Howe/PrepDig.com) </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='215392' first='Libby' last='Fandel'] - Xavier&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Committed to Kansas&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I remember watching Fandel when she was a 15s player when she teamed up with [player_tooltip player_id='215385' first='Chloe' last='Meester'] and company for Adrenaline Volleyball Club out of Cedar Rapids.&nbsp; Fandel has been part of very successful volleyball teams for club and high school, but as the number four prospect in the Class of 2025 in Iowa, she will be continuing her career in hoops at Kansas.&nbsp; She averaged 24.4 points per game in basketball, leading Xavier to the regional final.&nbsp; On the volleyball court Fandel just moves differently than other athletes.&nbsp; She anticipates well, she glides, and her leaping ability is special.&nbsp; She can attack and score points from the outside or the backrow.&nbsp; This season she has 375 kills, hitting .305, and over 200 digs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='389933' first='Ellie' last='Muller'] - Dowling Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Muller is one of the top players in Iowa from the Class of 2026.&nbsp; She is currently uncommitted, but is a top 100 player nationally and recently took an unofficial visit to Iowa where she was able to get some pictures with Caitlin Clark (via Twitter).&nbsp; At 6'3,&nbsp; Muller has the length and physicality where when she goes to attack its like she's getting a rebound.&nbsp; She can attack in front of the setter or she can run a slide (much like a layup) as well.&nbsp; Her presence alone will make the opposing outside think twice when they swing.&nbsp; In 2023, Muller averaged a double-double in points and rebounds while Dowling were the Class 5A state runner up.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='493980' first='Melina' last='Snoozy'] - Bishop Heelan&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From Prep Girls Hoops Iowa, Snoozy is the top ranked player from the Class of 2027.&nbsp; She is making noise with offers from the likes of NDSU and South Dakota along with an unofficial to Drake (via Twitter).&nbsp; She was named to the Class 4A All Tournament Team in basketball where Heelan where they advanced to the state semifinals. On the season she averaged 18 points per game.&nbsp; Her setter on the volleyball team, [player_tooltip player_id='215460' first='Maddie' last='Lafleur'] was also part of the basketball team.&nbsp; On the volleyball court, Snoozy shows her athleticism by being able to attack from any position.&nbsp; She sees the court extremely well, finding the deep corner and has a great connection with Lafleur.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":471288,"width":"545px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/10/DSC07947.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-471288" style="width:545px;height:auto"/></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='361168' first='Averie' last='Lower'] - Clear Creek-Amana</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What an athlete.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='361168' first='Averie' last='Lower'] just soars out of the back row on an attack where it looks like she is going to dunk over the net. &nbsp; She brings another level of intensity for CCA where just is so scrappy on defense and is a pure point scorer.&nbsp; I've never see Lower play basketball, but I can only assume this translates to the basketball court.&nbsp; Lower was named to the Class 4A All Tournament team where the Clippers won the state title this past March.&nbsp; She is one of the top forwards in Iowa from the Class of 2026 and will be playing her AAU ball for North Tartan out of the Twin Cities.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->