Deck’s Deep Dive: Five Impressive 2026 Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I am not going to lie, 2025 is off to a weird start.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winter weather has impacted the winter prep sports schedule and has slowed down my planned travel for the month.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So since I have not left the house to scout this month, I plan to shoot from the hip this week and share some tips on ways coaches and athletes can assist with increased coverage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since the prep season wrapped up, each set of Prep Dig Kansas class rankings has been updated, and a deep dive into statistical leaders for all four of the current prep classes has been completed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Depending on the weather, I hope to get out and watch some 14U club ball this weekend, but until then, I will feature five athletes at a time who impressed me last fall and who might not have received as much coverage as they deserved.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Athletes selected this week have two things in common. First, they have all claimed their Prep Dig profiles, which makes life easier for me and for the college coaches who subscribe to our site. Secondly, each athlete has stats publicly available on Max Preps. I can't say it often enough, but it sure is helpful and appreciated when athletes claim their profiles and high school coaches post stats publicly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Also, I appreciate the invites I have received to attend club events, but want to reiterate once against that I am primarily planning to scout the 16U-14U age ranges on weekends. I also would encourage club representatives to email me roster information for their squads. I can access rosters on the HOA website for names, but that does me no good without heights, positions, club jersey numbers, and the high school they attend. Club roster information can be sent to deckscoutks@gmail.com for any age group from 18U-14U.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I will start this week's coverage featuring five athletes in the Kansas Class of 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["554328"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6784564755b4b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Langvardt is an athlete I watched compete last summer in Abilene but unfortunately was unable to catch during the prep season. She is a physical and strong athlete who is dangerous at the net. She finished with 294 kills during her junior campaign and has 587 kills in three years for Wamego. Langvardt has posted 60-plus block seasons and is among the top ten-ranked middles in the Kansas Class of 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["474147"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6784547dd571c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hastert plays on a high school team that often gets overlooked in Topeka. Yet, like the town of Overbook, you don't want to overlook her. She is a gifted athlete who finished her junior season with 365 kills and 85 blocks. If she played for state powerhouses like Seaman and Washburn Rural she would be more well-known. College coaches should check out her game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["222087"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678457a589e28"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I first noticed Pandjaris at a club event in Lawrence quite some time ago. She was playing as a hitter back then but has transitioned to back-row defensive specialist for Blue Valley West. During her junior season, she collected 154 digs and 363 serve receptions with just 15 reception errors. She can still get up and hit and is a solid college prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["460352"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-678458c159d9c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hitters often get the bulk of headlines and attention, but one of my favorite liberos in Kansas is Hayden's Foster. Hayden was loaded with hitting talent last fall, so it was easy to overlook Foster's importance and leadership. Hayden does not qualify and finish third at state without Foster serving as the defensive backbone for a young squad. She is a member of the 1,000-dig club after recording a junior season with 455 digs. She has registered back-to-back seasons with more than 400 digs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["571405"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67845ab36fed0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">So in case you have been living under a snowbank, Mill Valley has won back-to-back state championships and loaded with veteran talent. Nzioki is a prospect who could be the No. 1 attacker for many of the prep programs in the Metro area but has had to share time and wait for the spotlight at Mill Valley. She had 63 kills and 30 blocks last season as a role player. College coaches should look to see how her role evolves as a senior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->