The 2028 All-Deck Team: Nine I Would Like To Coach

While scouting the Class 4A State Tournament this past weekend, I got asked a question I sometimes get but had not heard in quite some time.   “Deck, you got any interest in getting back into coaching?”   For the first time, I really did not hesitate in my response of "not really."   It was a great volleyball season, and I like the freedom I get as a scout.   Yet, I do still think about creating a lineup with the players I scout. Just like I once imagined what I would do with an offense that had Troy Aikman, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith. Chris Carter, Jerry Rice, and Tony Gonzalez.   This is the third of three All-Deck teams, featuring athletes from the Kansas Class of 2028.   It's made up of players who would make me think twice about coming back to coaching.   In case you missed them, here are links to reports on the Class of 2026 and 2027 All-Deck Teams.   <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/11/following-tradition-the-2026-all-deck-prep-team/">2026 All-Deck Team</a>   <a href="https://prepdig.com/2025/11/walking-in-maddens-shoes-the-2027-all-deck-prep-team/">2027 All-Deck Team</a>   I only made two rules for myself, first I limited the roster to nine players, and secondly, for a player to be eligible, I had to see them play in person at some point during the season.   Even those basic parameters made it difficult to make choices between some gifted and talented players. While I did see several schools play this season, there were a handful that I usually watch that I missed this season, plus there is never enough time to scout every school I would like to.   This team is comprised of players who have just completed their sophomore seasons. Rankings and stats do not really play much of a factor in the selection process. If I were to return to coaching, this is the team I would want to go to battle with.   I have featured all of them in scouting reports this season, and again, I don't want to dwell on stats or rankings, just what they bring to the court.   Here is the 2028 All-Deck team listed in alphabetical order.   [player_tooltip player_id='567485' first='Khloe' last='Black'], 5'7”, OH, Holton, '28   Black was named to the Class 3A KVCA All-Tournament Team. Here is one more accolade for her, as I would make her the captain of the All-Deck 2028 team. She had a great year for Holton. Black first got on my radar this past summer, scouting the MOKAN Tournament at Washburn. She impressed me back then, and she impressed me the two times I watched her compete this season. She is a six-rotation athlete who will only get better as a player as her skills and physical strength evolve. Holton finished as runner-up at the state tournament in Hutchinson.   [player_tooltip player_id='503697' first='Emmie' last='Dean'], 5'6”, OH/DS, Jefferson West, '28   Dean has an infectious personality and is another six-rotation athlete. The combination of her and Black would allow me to be flexible with my roster. She hits the ball hard and has cat-like quick skills. She is one of two athletes on this roster who did not get the advantage of playing on the State Tournament Court. I know that will be one of her goals next prep season.   [player_tooltip player_id='884058' first='Ellen' last='Dorsey'], 5'6”, S, St. James Academy, '28   Like my 2007 All-Deck Team, I am going to carry three setters on this squad and work hard to keep them all happy. Dorsey helped lead St. James to the Class 5A State Tournament. She is a quality setter with a lot of experience at an early age. There is a solid chance this could be her first of many appearances on this squad, if I get to scout them the next two years.   [player_tooltip player_id='532772' first='Sage' last='Illian'], 6'1”, OH, Maize South, '28   This team will lack a true middle hitter, but will feature a trio of hitters that I would stack up against either one of the All-Deck teams and any state tournament qualifying team in the Sunflower State. Illian is super dangerous as a hitter and can play defense as well as Black and Dean. Illian helped the Mavericks reach the Class 5A State Tournament. I saw her play twice this season. She had a breakout season, and I only expect her to get better.   [player_tooltip player_id='518353' first='Mya' last='Lee'], 6'1”, OH, St. James Academy, '28   Lee is one of the most explosive hitters in Kansas. She already has a relationship on the court with Dorsey. I did not even realize until I started writing the final draft of this report that I have two setter and hitter pairs. As much as I would like to put all three of my best hitters next to each other, I would probably pair up Dorsey with Lee, and pair up the two members of this squad from Hayden.   [player_tooltip player_id='518977' first='Landry' last='Litton'], 5'10”, OH/DS, Beloit, ‘28   Beloit's Litton will play libero on this roster since I don't have a true libero on this roster. She is the second athlete whose prep team's season ended at Regionals. She is a clutch athlete who plays with grit. I have no doubt she will get opportunities to play volleyball at the college level. She is a multiple-sport prospect who is the daughter of a coach and lives in an athletic family. That extra competitive drive will serve well on this roster of All-Stars.   [player_tooltip player_id='513606' first='Hailey' last='Schmidtlein'], 6'0”, OH, Hayden, '28   This team is not about the Prep Dig rankings, but I could flip a coin over and over again attempting to decide between Lee, Illian, and Schmidtlein to determine which one has the highest ceiling. Schmidtlein dominated Clay Center in the Class 4A State Tournament. For two years, I have felt like she is one of the best athletes in Kansas right now, and not just on the volleyball court. She is also ranked in the Top 10 on Prep Girls Hoops Kansas. After playing in the final four two years in a row, Schmidtlein and the Wildcats will be out for blood next fall. I would also pay money just to watch Illian, Lee, and Schmidtlein have a jump-off and would love to put a radar gun on their attacks.   [player_tooltip player_id='556362' first='Mette' last='Maxwell'], 5'7”, S, Ellinwood, ‘28   Maxwell earned the final slot on the squad over three other super-talented athletes, and it was not an easy choice. Maxwell shared the setting duties on the only undefeated team in Kansas and would be comfortable playing in an offense with two setters. She also has a dangerous serve, and I could use her as a hitter or a defensive specialist. The biggest challenge for sure on this squad will be getting them all enough playing time.   [player_tooltip player_id='503124' first='Blakely' last='Walter'], 5'9”, S, Hayden, '28   Walter already has over 2,000 kills and has made two all-state tournament teams, so the offense starts and stops with her. Like Schmidtlein, she is a multi-sport prospect. She has an incredible vertical and moves like the Flash on the court. What impressed me most about her this season was that her defensive plays continue to improve. With her Dean and Litton on the team, there would never be a dull moment at practice, and there would be fines for frowning, and I'm pretty sure this old man would be getting punked every day.   Please see below a list of 27 athletes on my honorable mention list. I do want to give a little extra love to three players, who would be the next three up if the roster expanded to 12 or if I needed fill-ins for injured players. They were three tough cuts!   [player_tooltip player_id='883036' first='Meg' last='Honeyman'], [player_tooltip player_id='513601' first='Karis' last='KiWe Miller'], and [player_tooltip player_id='570438' first='Sophia' last='Wichman'], it was my honor to watch you play this season.   Honorable Mention: [player_tooltip player_id='774923' first='Kaylee' last='Ballard'], Bishop Miege; [player_tooltip player_id='885601' first='Evie' last='Banks'], Manhattan; [player_tooltip player_id='814649' first='Kaelyn' last='Boss'], Osage City; [player_tooltip player_id='574151' first='Emani' last='Clifton'], Olathe South; [player_tooltip player_id='845699' first='Karys' last='Deiter'], Silver Lake; [player_tooltip player_id='883036' first='Meg' last='Honeyman'], Nemaha Central; Macie Holthaus, Nemaha Central; [player_tooltip player_id='795042' first='Josie' last='Keener'], Abilene; [player_tooltip player_id='899913' first='Addyson' last='Keller'], Buhler; [player_tooltip player_id='899028' first='Olivia' last='Johnson'], Trinity Academy; [player_tooltip player_id='834448' first='Kynlee' last='King'], Riverton; [player_tooltip player_id='523960' first='Raicee' last='Lipker'], Clay Center; [player_tooltip player_id='704339' first='Kendall' last='Mayer'], Wamego; [player_tooltip player_id='883483' first='Aubrey' last='Mccarn'], Rock Creek; [player_tooltip player_id='562034' first='Braydee' last='Miller'], Eudora; [player_tooltip player_id='513601' first='Karis' last='KiWe Miller'], Royal Valley; [player_tooltip player_id='828564' first='Mia' last='Montgomery'], Olathe South; [player_tooltip player_id='834296' first='Kinly' last='Place'], Ellsworth; [player_tooltip player_id='809536' first='Ayla' last='Ritchie'], Ellinwood; [player_tooltip player_id='883481' first='Maci' last='Rhodes'], Hesston; [player_tooltip player_id='883482' first='Kylie' last='Warden'], Hesston; [player_tooltip player_id='807184' first='Rorey' last='Waldren'], Buhler; Kenley Weber, Silver Lake; [player_tooltip player_id='570438' first='Sophia' last='Wichman'], Hayden; [player_tooltip player_id='624612' first='Brynn' last='Widener'], Ellinwood; Abigail Winter, Andale; [player_tooltip player_id='883486' first='Leah' last='Winter'], Wamego.

While scouting the Class 4A State Tournament this past weekend, I got asked a question I sometimes get but had not heard in quite some time.