Eight Who Were Great at Atlantic Coast Grand Prix

There were a number of players who stood out at the Atlantic Coast Grand Prix. They were highlighted in a summary posted yesterday. Below is one player from eight different teams that stirred the drink. Or at least when my lens was focused on them.    Unlike many of the players on this list Anna is not a new discovery. She ranks number 30 in our class of 2028. She could move up in those rankings once she starts playing six rotations. Currently, she is a bit one dimensional with the ability to score points in bunches by hitting the ball outside.   She led Howard to their Maryland Class 3A state championship with the power she displays from the pins. She currently lists at 5'11" with a decent jump. It would not surprise me to see her rise above 6 feet. If she could acclimate her play to the back row she could contribute more to the offense with a back row attack to go along with her frontal assaults.   Overall, she finished third on the team in kills with a .245 hitting percentage.     Going to Virginia Beach allowed me to see some new faces. Isabella played well at the Gran Prix. At 5'8" she lacks height for the middle but that did not stop her from rifling quick tempo sets to the floor. She plays with great intensity letting her emotions capture the moment.   She plays both basketball and volleyball for Catholic high school. For volleyball she was second on her team in kills with a .275 hitting percentage as well as second in blocks. In addition to middle, she lists outside and opposite as positions. This makes her a very versatile player.   For basketball she played guard this past season on the junior varsity basketball team that went undefeated.     Mackenzie currently ranks number 177 in our class of 2028. if you watched her at the tournament she did not play like someone ranked 177. She was first spotted at a DMV showcase which resulted in her debut in the rankings.   In the first tournament of the year she was noticed for her vicious serve that accumulated a number of aces. For this tournament she stood out more for her libero play. She has the ability to stay low to get to short passes and tips.   Mackenzie has a good chance for making the varsity roster for Gainesville this year.     At first gaze your thought is that Maliyah is a bit undersized for a middle. Then you realize she is playing a grade up as a class of 2030 playing with the 15 team. For this tournament she was actually playing two grades up since the 15 team was playing in the 16U division. Maliyah held her own, appearing to be the offensive catalyst for the team.   She had back to back kills in the middle to finish off their first set with a 26-24 win. Later, in a match against 757 Black she ended a rally with a block then went back to serve to end the set with an ace.   Next year she will attend high school but this year she is getting great experience playing against high school players in club. And dominating in the process.     At this stage of the game she is a bit raw. Her swing does not yet carry a lot of explosiveness, but she does stand 6'3". She also has the ability to get her hands high above the net to intimidate the hitter with a block.   While Washington high school finished with a losing record last season Emmalea carried the second best hitting percentage on the team at .129. She also clearly led the team in blocks, with more than twice the second place finisher.   As I stated she will be an interesting player to follow. If she can improve her arm swing to generate greater velocity on her hits she could move up quickly. A lot of that has to do with transitioning to get in the proper position to hit.     Another player not yet in high school but when she arrives next year she could team with [player_tooltip player_id='755134' first='Ava' last='Ewald']. That could make a dangerous pair. Last year Kettle Run fell just short of winning a state championship. Sydney needs to build a little bit of growth to be effective in the front row. Currently, she hits the ball well from the left side, but as she will find out in high school the blocking will form at a higher level.   She clearly stands out as the offensive weapon for the American 14 team. They have qualified to compete in Junior Nationals in the American Division.     Itziar has some height and a left handed swing that could make her dominant from the right side. She brings good arm extension to her hits making it difficult for this age group to block her. As she rises to high school the blocking will show greater elevation so she may have to adjust a bit.   Looking forward to following her ascendancy through the volleyball ranks.    Reagan Bothof libero (757 Black) - Her libero play impressed me before I even knew who she was. At the time she was just a number on the court making some fantastic plays. When I got back to my room to link who wore that jersey I was surprised to see the name Reagan Bothof. I'm assuming her sister is [player_tooltip player_id='471714' first='Ryann' last='Bothof']. She ranks number 24 in our class of 2027, the fourth ranked libero in the class. Ole Miss has already snagged a commitment from her. What is even more impressive about Reagan is that she belongs to the class of 2031. I have yet to create a class of 2031. She smothers the back court, making a number of tough digs. Still not as vocal as her older sister but she certainly has the skills. When she gets older she will begin to open up.

There were a number of players who stood out at the Atlantic Coast Grand Prix. They were highlighted in a summary posted yesterday. Below is one player from eight different teams that stirred the drink. Or at least when my lens was focused on them.