Deck’s December Deep Dive (Free Report)
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My last report was a Thanksgiving-themed one in which I listed some things I was thankful for.
On my way back from a Thanksgiving trip to Detroit, Michigan, my life flashed before my eyes as I bounced my car off a concrete highway barrier in Illinois on Saturday morning.
This past Saturday, more than 400 crashes took place during an Illinois Winter Storm. I was involved in one of those accidents. I'm grateful for my life and for the opportunity to write this report.
Luckily, I was able to walk away uninjured, while, according to the Illinois state police, 66 other people were not so fortunate during their accidents. (The number of accidents came from a report on NBC Chicago's website.)
It's the third snow-related vehicle accident I have been in during my almost 49 years on the planet. In fact, the only vehicle-related accidents I have had were during inclement driving conditions.
Anyway, I am not sharing this story to scare anyone, for free "how to drive in snow advice," or to receive a bunch of sympathy emails; please think of it as a public service announcement. I want to encourage parents and athletes to be careful this winter as they travel to volleyball club events and high school basketball games. Also, always wear your seatbelts. I am positive that my seat belt saved me from being seriously injured when my Ford Escape slammed into that highway barrier.
I also want people to understand some of the self-imposed travel restrictions I place on myself during the winter months. The 2024 winter in Kansas was one of the worst I can recall, and it did impact my work travel last season. I don't travel as much in the winter, despite heading to Detroit.
A Thanksgiving Day game in the Motor City has been a "Bucket List Item" for me for years, but I kept putting it off because I was leery of driving there during November.
So after surviving that scary moment, here are a few more items I am thankful for. I don't want them to go unsaid, because you never know when your last day might come.
I am thankful for the kind stranger who stopped to check on me after the collision. He told me where the closest town was, so that I could find a hotel to stay at for the night.
I am thankful for the management at the Green Acres Hotel in Pittsfield, Illinois, for allowing me to check in before Noon on Saturday.
I am thankful to the manager and staff at Fishbones in Detroit. They found the check card I left at my table after my first meal in Detroit. They called my hotel room so I could retrieve it. Losing that card would have made for a miserable trip! She also made me laugh when she said she couldn't believe I hadn't gotten beaten up wearing Chicago Cubs, Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Buffalo Bills gear while I was visiting Detroit.
I am thankful for the parent who gifted me a personalized T-shirt for the holiday! It came in the mail while I was out of town.
I am thankful for the recent emails of encouragement and appreciation from parents and athletes regarding the continued coverage of athletes on Prep Dig, Prep Redzone, and Prep Girls Hoops. It means a lot.
Most of all, I am thankful for my wife. I worried her to death when I called from the road, looking for weather updates, and later to let her know about the accident. I also wanted to give her a shoutout for letting her hard-headed husband drive to Detroit for an NFL and two NHL games in November, of all times.
I had a great time at the two Red Wings games and the one Lions game. I made some new acquaintances at all three events. Strangers are always surprised and intrigued when they discover I scout high school athletes to make a living.
Ford Field was the loudest NFL Stadium I have been in, and Lions and Packers fans are special breeds. Both groups were nice to this Bills and Cowboys fan from Kansas.
I think I will wait until spring or summer for a return trip to Detroit. Comerica Park is one of the four remaining MLB stadiums I have yet to visit for a game. I know I will be staying at the Atheneum Suite Hotel during my next visit. I have stayed there twice now, and it is a grand place to stay if you are in Detroit.
Now, down to brass tacks.
December will be a slow month for me in terms of live scouting. However, I do have a couple of weekend club trips to Lawrence on my calendar, depending on the weather.
On December 9, a rankings update for the Kansas Class of 2027 is scheduled for publication. That class will now have a total of 300 ranked athletes and feature more than 20 new athletes.
On December 14, the Prep Dig Exposure Tour will stop in Kansas City, Kansas. Registration for the event is still open. I plan on attending the event to scout the Kansas High School talent in attendance. Use the Coupon Code DeckardPD25 to save $10 off the cost.
The Kansas Classes of 2028 and 2029 will be the next two classes for updated rankings after the first of the year.
Here is a quick look at five athletes who have recently reached out. I thank each of them for sharing information with me and for understanding how Prep Dig can help with their recruitment and exposure.
Accidents can happen, but please be careful traveling this winter for your holiday and athletic events. I have made this a Free Report, so please share it on social media if you find that it resonates. Readers will not need a subscription to access it.
If you are still looking for a holiday gift, a subscription to a Prep Network Kansas site would be a great one and much appreciated. Use the Coupon Code Deckard30 to save 30 percent off a new subscription at the Kansas Prep Dig, Prep Redzone, or Prep Girls Hoops sites.
I hope everyone had a pleasant Thanksgiving Holiday.
McCune is ranked No. 74 overall by Prep Dig Kansas. She sent me a nice email in November. In a pleasant, delightful, and not-so-subtle email, she wanted to make sure I had not forgotten about her after an injury-shortened season. I loved it! If you don't put your name out there and put some skin in the game, you can't expect to get rewarded for nothing. She gave a ton of credit to her Prep Dig-ranked teammates for her continued improvement and shared her club schedule. She also updated me on college programs that have shown interest in her skills, which helps me through the rankings process down the line. She will be playing for the Topeka Fury 16-1 squad this season.
Highlights
In my five years of scouting, up until recently, I had never received an email from an athlete apologizing for not being able to attend a Prep Dig Showcase. Yet, that's what I got from Livermore. What a classy gesture! The Kapaun prospect had planned to come to the Prep Dig Exposure Tour in Kansas City, Kansas, on December 14, but a recent scheduling conflict arose. So she let me know she would be missing it and sent me some possible dates when I could catch her play this club season. I am not sure I will be able to see her this winter, but I will try. That kind of email is how you network and build relationships, my friends. Livermore is ranked No. 1 overall in the Kansas Class of 2029.
Highlights
Gilmore is ranked No. 77 overall in the Kansas Class of 2028. She sent me her HUDL highlights, which is always advisable. She has a big swing and can make the ball scream when she gets on top of it. She was nice enough to include in her email that her school changed state classifications, another spot on inclusion by her. Gilmore has posted back-to-back seasons with 200-plus kills. She finished with 290 during her sophomore campaign and has 514 career kills and 170 career blocks. She was among the state leaders in blocks with 98 last season for the Eagles.
Highlights
Winter was another athlete who emailed updates on her season. I scouted her and the state champion Andale Indians at the state tournament in Hutchinson. Even though I missed seeing Andale play during the regular season, the fact that she emailed me reminded me that I would get to see her play in Hutch. She had an awesome season and earned an honorable mention spot on the 2027 All-Deck Team. She finished her junior season with 176 kills and 57 total blocks. Winter is ranked No. 20 overall by Prep Dig Kansas.
Highlights
Asmann reached out via email in November. She shared her stats and reminded me that she had attended a club event I scouted last season. Both are solid reasons to reach out to me, especially when I did not make it to the Wichita area this past fall and missed watching the Panthers play. Her sophomore season stat line included 286 kills, 216 digs, 52 blocks, and 45 aces. She will be playing for the Showtime 16-1 team that is under the Kansas Networks Volleyball Club umbrella. Asmann is ranked No. 200 overall in the Class of 2028.
