The Prep Dig AZ Ranking Formula: What Actually Matters

We've been getting a lot of questions about how we here at Prep Dig AZ come up with the rankings. Since we are less than a year old, we've been figuring it out as we go, and making adaptions where we see necessarily fit. Rankings always spark conversation—and that's a good thing. At Prep Dig Arizona, our goal isn't just to stack names on a list, it's to accurately reflect impact, project potential, and highlight the athletes who are truly moving the needle across the state. Every ranking is built through a combination of live evaluations, film review, and constant comparison across events and competition levels.

When ranking volleyball athletes, we look far beyond just who had the most kills or blocks in one match. Our evaluations are built around current performance, long-term potential, and how a player's skills project to the next level.

So what actually matters when we build these lists? It goes far beyond stats and box scores. We're looking at how athletes influence the match, how they perform under pressure, how they adapt, and how consistently they show up over time. This isn't about one good weekend—it's about the full body of work.

Here's a look inside the formula and what separates players as we evaluate and rank the best talent in Arizona.

One of the biggest factors in our rankings is understanding the difference between school season and club season—and how an athlete's role can change between the two. During the fall, fo example, we may see a freshman starting on varsity and playing a major role, which gives us a strong sample size and can positively impact their early ranking. On the flip side, club season can introduce athletes we didn't get to evaluate as much during high school—especially those “JV standouts” who weren't in varsity lineups yet but are now competing on top club teams.

Since we launched in September, our initial evaluations were heavily based on school season, but now, with nearly a full club season under our belt, we're able to balance both. As a result, rankings will continue to shift depending on the season, role, and level of competition we're seeing in real time.

When we evaluate current performance, we're looking at more than production—we're evaluating consistency under pressure, efficiency, decision-making, and how an athlete impacts winning against quality opponents. Versatility matters too. Athletes who can contribute across multiple rotations often bring more overall value than those limited to a single role.

Availability is another major factor that can influence rankings. Athletes who consistently compete, stay healthy, and are visible in major events (playing time) give us more opportunities to evaluate them. Missing large stretches of time due to injury or limited tournament availability can make projection harder.

Playing time adds important context. Not every athlete has the same opportunity to showcase their full game, and we take that into account. Yes, we consider how much a player is on the court—but more importantly, what they do with the time they get. Six-rotation players naturally have more chances to impact both the front and back row, which can make them easier to evaluate over time. That said, we're just as impressed by athletes in more limited roles—like a middle back DS or situational sub—who maximize every rep and make a clear impact in shorter stretches.

You can't always control when a scout is watching, and sometimes a player who hasn't seen much court time all season gets their opportunity—and takes full advantage of it. That's how new names get on the radar and start to climb.

This is also where Prep Dig Showcases play a big role. They allow us to evaluate athletes outside of their current team role and see their full skill set in a neutral environment. At the same time, timing is part of the process.

Another key piece of our evaluation is looking ahead—what an athlete can become and how they project at the next level. We're not just ranking players based on current performance, but also considering long-term upside, physical development, and how their game translates to college volleyball. Factors like size, athletic ceiling, positional fit, and versatility all come into play. We also look at how a player competes against high-level opponents and whether their skill set aligns with what college programs are seeking. It's about identifying not only who is performing now, but who has the tools to succeed and continue developing beyond the high school and club level.

Another factor is long-term potential and this is one of the biggest separators in rankings. Physical tools such as size, length, explosiveness, speed, and coordination matter because they can raise an athlete's ceiling over time. Growth potential, work ethic, coach-ability, competitiveness, and willingness to improve are just as important, since many athletes develop significantly between years. A player who may be slightly raw today but has elite tools and a strong mindset can rank highly because of what they may become in the future.

There's a ton of volleyball happening across Arizona at all times, with multiple levels of competition. Because of that, we have to be intentional about what we prioritize. As we continue to grow, the goal is to expand our coverage and be everywhere—but this club season, our primary focus has been the Open division.

We're looking closely at athletes competing at the highest levels—those attending National Qualifiers, playing in Open, and consistently going head-to-head with top talent in their class. Performance matters, but context matters more. Strong, consistent showings against elite competition will always carry more weight than dominant numbers against weaker fields.

Our goal is to balance both sides of the evaluation—an athlete's best moments and their full match performance. Highlights are valuable. They show ceiling, athleticism, and the plays an athlete is capable of making at a high level. They're often the first way a player gets on our radar—and a great way to stay there.

That said, we don't base rankings on highlights alone. Live evaluation is where we see the complete picture—consistency, decision-making, effort between plays, and how an athlete impacts the match over time. The best evaluations come from blending both: the flashes that show potential, and the real-time performance that proves it.

It's not just about skill—we're evaluating the intangibles, too. Energy and body language tell us a lot about a player. How you respond to mistakes, how you interact with teammates, and how you carry yourself in pressure moments all matter. The athletes who stay engaged, communicate, and bring consistent effort—regardless of the score—stand out just as much as those making big plays.

Those who are able to make a big difference in pressure moments, tend to get an edge when it comes to rankings.

We spend countless hours in gyms, and we're constantly connecting with coaches and club directors to better understand both their athletes and the bigger picture of Arizona volleyball. The ones who truly care about the growth of the game don't just advocate for their own players—they share insight on talent across clubs and help point us toward athletes we need to see. That's what makes the AZ volleyball community special. There's a shared commitment to elevating the game and making sure the right players get seen.

Once we've evaluated all of those factors, we move into the actual ranking process. We don't rank all 150–200 athletes at once—instead, we break the list into tiers and build it out step by step. Typically, we start with the top group (1–15), then move to 16–35, 35–60, and continue working our way down. This allows us to stay intentional and make more accurate comparisons within each range.

Each scout submits their own rankings independently, and every voice carries equal weight. From there, we compile the lists and take a cumulative average to establish an initial order. It looks something like this:

From there, we sort by average to create a working list—but that's not the final step. If anything looks off, if there's a tie, or if context needs to be revisited, we go back and have detailed discussions. This is where film, live evaluations, and deeper context come back into play. We repeat this process tier by tier until we've built out the full class to a number we feel confident in. It's a collaborative process that blends data, evaluation, and honest conversation to get the most accurate rankings possible.

Focus on your POSITION RANKING
The overall ranking list is there yes, and you have a number. But really, you have a positional number too. Filter it out by position and you'll see where you rank amongst people in our specific area of expertise (we take whatever position is listed first as your primary position so make sure that is up to date).

Bring Energy and Compete
You just truly never know who's watching. Club directors, coaches, scouts-- the intangibles matter just as much as your skill.

Create/ Update Your FREE Prep Dig Profile
This gives college coaches and our scouts an updated version of who you are and what you're up to. It will tell the story of who you are as a player over time, and helps our staff find you quicker.

Say Hello When You See Us
Don't hesitate to introduce yourself when you see us in the gym. Putting a face to a name—and to the player we're watching—goes a long way. We genuinely enjoy getting to know athletes and following their journeys. A quick introduction helps us connect the dots, remember you, and stay engaged with your progress.

Send Highlights
We absolutely love to see your best moment and it is one of the many factors that give us what we need to make the rankings possible.

Put Yourself In Front of Us
Be proactive about your exposure. Attend showcases, tag us in your highlights, and send your schedules so we know where to find you. We can't be everywhere, so the more you put yourself out there, the better. And most importantly—this should come from you. Taking ownership of your recruiting journey speaks volumes.

DONT'S

Don't rely only on stats
Numbers alone don't tell the full story. Stats can be helpful, but without context—level of competition, role, and match situation—they don't capture true impact. We're evaluating how you influence the game: decision-making, consistency, and performance in key moments—not just what shows up on the stat sheet.

Focus on Comparison
Constantly comparing yourself to others is one of the quickest ways to lose confidence and stall your growth. Rankings are not permanent—they're fluid, updated multiple times a year, and meant to reflect a moment in time, not define you as a player. Focus on your development, your consistency, and your impact. That's what ultimately moves the needle.

Let Your Parents do all the Talking
We want to hear from you. While parent support is great, your voice matters most in your recruiting journey. When athletes reach out themselves—sharing schedules, highlights, or simply introducing who they are—it shows ownership, maturity, and real investment in their path. That initiative stands out and tells us you're serious about your development and future.

Let One Tournament (or Day) Define You
Good or bad, one weekend doesn't make or break a ranking. It's about the body of work over time, and we know that and take that into consideration when formulating the rankings.

Assume We've seen You
We work hard to cover as much as possible, but there's a lot of volleyball happening across Arizona. It might feel surprising if we haven't seen you yet—but visibility matters. Have you put yourself in front of us? Sent your schedule, tagged us in highlights, or attended events where we're present? The more intentional you are about being seen, the better chance we have to evaluate you.

Everything we do starts with our subscribers. Your support allows us to be in the gyms, cover events, evaluate talent, and make sure Arizona athletes are getting the exposure they deserve. The more our community grows, the more we're able to expand coverage, see more players, and tell more stories across the state.

If you believe in growing the game and helping athletes get seen, becoming a subscriber directly supports that mission. You're not just gaining access to rankings, analysis, and exclusive content—you're helping create more opportunities for players across Arizona.

Join us and be part of what's building here.

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