Eyes On Five Ranked Private School Kansas Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I woke up feeling froggy this morning, so let's see what size Hornet's Nest this report might turn over.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I often avoid most debates about, well, just about anything, especially when it comes to the Private versus Public School debate in Kansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is out there, I see it on social media way too often, and it always comes up during state championship season in all sports.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the way young athletes in Kansas City, Topeka, and Wichita change schools like "transfer portal athletes," is there really still a debate?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Also, some athletes change club teams as often as I change my mind about which flavor of cone I want at Pineapple Dream.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, I am always looking to find new themes for reports or ways to organize them. Therefore, in an unprecedented move for me, here is a report featuring five athletes from private school programs who could use some Prep Dig love.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's not too late for coaches, parents, and athletes to send me varsity schedules, although I would say my planned schedule for matches this fall is about 75 percent locked in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Feel free to reach out with a schedule or a team prospectus at deckscoutks@gmail.com or DM on X @KSScoutDeck. I will begin working on a few team previews to close out the month of August.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But remember, don't expect a response from a negative or whiny message.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are five private school prospects ranked by Prep Dig Kansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["222090"],"_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-689e02b1cdb5a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Vaeth is ranked No. 39 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026 and arguably does not get enough coverage. She finished her junior season with 1,026 assists for the Saints. With a healthy senior season, she should reach 2,000 career assists, if not 2,500. She is the sixth-ranked setter by Prep Dig Kansas and, to my knowledge, is still uncommitted.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["489787"],"_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-689e02b1cdbc1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bishop Carroll's Smith is a prospect I have not seen much of, but she posted solid numbers as a junior. She is ranked No. 72 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026 rankings. Smith recorded 192 kills and 73 blocks for the Golden Eagles last season. She led Bishop Carroll in hitting percentage last season as well as blocks. She is primarily a front-row rotation athlete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["446320"],"_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-689e02b1cdc1c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Etler is currenlty the top-ranked athlete from a private school in the Kansas Class of 2027. She is ranked No. 14 overall by Prep Dig Kansas. She finished third in kills for the Thunder last season. She registered 195 kills in 71 sets played. Etler led St. James Academy in blocks as a sophomore with 58. She will be leaned on to increase those numbers as the Thunder lost Reese Messer's 56 blocks to graduation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["518978"],"_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-689e02b1cdc69"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The two top-ranked athletes in the Kansas Class of 2028, [player_tooltip player_id='513606' first='Hailey' last='Schmidtlein'] (Hayden) and [player_tooltip player_id='518353' first='Mya' last='Lee'] (St. James Academy) attend private schools, but another athlete from Bishop Miege is worthy of some headlines. Morrison is ranked No. 44 overall by Prep Dig Kansas. She finished third in digs for the Stags last season. As a freshman, she recorded 224 digs in 74 sets played.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["747422"],"_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-689e02b1cdcb4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One private school freshman I will be on my radar is Kapaun Mt. Carmel's Livermore. She is currently the No. 1-ranked athlete in the Kansas Class of 2029. I scouted her this summer during the club season and was taken aback by how advanced her game is at such an early age. She is a graceful and physical attacker who has the skills to set some school records for the Crusaders. The key question heading into the season is how much varsity playing time she will get on an experienced and deep Kapaun squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->