Signing Day: What Recruits Can Make Immediate Impact?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Happy Signing Day! We will be taking a look at position by position of where some of the top players in the country are going. Everyone on this list is good, they are among not only the best in their state and country, but some of these athletes are among the best in the world. Who could play early? Who are the ones who can walk in and make an impact day one at their next place. We have a few ideas here! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["203840"],"_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-6914d2c81f1a4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ayanna Watson has been on the radar for a while. She is a highly touted prospect out of Las Vegas who will take her talent to Pittsburgh. Coach Dan Fisher has been able to pull top talent from across the country, especially from the West. Watson will have one year to play with Olivia Babcock who has taken Pitt to another dimension. Watson can continue the dominance of the Panthers as a national brand. She not only has made an impact for USA on the international level, but she's the type of athlete who can really cash in on NIL with her athleticism, physicality, and having a connection to West. She will also be one who can pull in other talented recruits to join her as a Panther. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["300846"],"_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-6914d2c81f21f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Plans have changed for Penn State a little bit this past year. Danielle Whitmire out of the Dallas area, staring for for one of top clubs in the country can immediately make an impact at setter for the Nittany Lions. As one of the top setters in Class of 2026, Whitmire has athleticism, physicality, and these intangibles that are just different when it comes to being a floor general. Watching her on the top open courts at the 17s level last year she had the other side of the net off balanced from the start. She remains neutral in her ability to jump set all tempos and find the favorable match up. She defends her position well at the front and backrow and can be offensive when called upon. This Class of 2026 crew that Penn State has coming in can create an immediate impact. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["323932"],"_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-6914d2c81f270"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Everything just makes sense here with Lynney Tarnow heading to Wisconsin. Wisconsin has the track record of producing some of the top middles in the country and with Tarnow down the road in Chicago from 1st Alliance it could be a promising combination. Wisconsin will be graduating middles Alicia Andrew and Carter Booth where the door is wide open for a new Badger to step up. Tarnow has all the physical tools to be an immediate impact in the Big Ten. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["196507"],"_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-6914d2c81f2bb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Minnesota suffered a huge loss this season when middle blocker Calissa Minatee suffered a season ending injury. Elena Hoecke is the hometown kid from the Twin Cities Metro area playing for MN Select. She brings speed an athleticism to the middle blocker position and is very terminal off of one foot. Minnesota has been keeping some of their top players in state and Hoecke continues that for the Gophers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["536780"],"_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-6914d2c81f305"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bellamie Beus is heading to Kentucky where they will be looking to fill the departure of All American Eva Hudson after this season due to graduation. Georgia Watson and Hannah Benjamin would be next in line to fill in that outside spot, but Beus is someone who brings so much athleticism and physicality to the court. She is electric with her ability to defend and score points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["231549"],"_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-6914d2c81f34e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This is a late pick up for Oregon and what a huge impact Laura Eichert is for the Ducks. Oregon is under new coach Trent Kersten who took over in February of 2025. With a lot of roster turnover, Kersten and staff are looking for immediate impacts. Eichert fits everything the Ducks need as a six rotation outside hitter who can score a lot of points. She's a PNW kid who has had a lot of success playing for NPJ and coach be one to draw more national talent to Eugene. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["211120"],"_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-6914d2c81f3a7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This is one example of the Big Ten expansion having ripples all the way to the Pacific Northwest. Madi Andrews our of Oregon will head to Michigan State which there is no better time than to join Sparty Nation. The top player in Oregon contacts the ball high with a variety of shots and her skill set as well as physical attributes will translate to success in the Big Ten. Head Coach Kristen Kelsay has turned plenty of heads with their performance this season. With Andrews and an already stacked Class of 2027 it could mean big things in East Lansing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["303701"],"_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-6914d2c81f3f3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Caydence Doolan will be heading from the DMV area to Milwaukee where she could be an immediate impact player for Marquette. Marquette is always one of the top programs in the Big East and Doolan has always been one of the top players for her age group at Metro who consistently makes the open field at USAV Nationals. She just packs a punch with her swing, she knows how to score points at a high level and her skill set should translate well to the Big East. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->