Emerging Programs Picking Up Top 2028 Talent

There are some “newish” names when it comes to the recruiting world with college program picking up multiple nationally ranked athletes.  We are a week into 2028s officially being recruited and patterns are starting to come together.  What are we seeing?  Who is making waves?  How one athlete can change the direction of a program before they even step foot on campus.    South Carolina already has five in their class and this is an athletic crew that is going to lead a new era of Gamecocks.  Watch for Jada Skinner.  She has been one to watch for Houston Skyline where she is a top six rotation outside hitter who can serve receive, defend and score points.  This will translate well to the next level.    UCLA has had an exciting few months since new head coach Matt Werle, brining in Ava Sarafa and Ava Utterback out of the transfer portal.  They will welcome Ava's sister in Audrey Utterback out of Circle City.  These two have been tearing up the courts in Indianapolis for years.  They will also bring in Stella Hamood from Circle.  That Indy grit looks good in LA.  Lola Schumacher, the current libero is also an Indiana product.    Coach Kristen Kelsay has been building something special in East Lansing,  Michigan.  She got two of the top players out of Minnesota last year with setter Ellery DeBoer and libero Cora Bicknese.  She is staying with top Midwest kids in Lauren Sheldon out of Legacy Volleyball Club right there in Michigan and Elle Hatlevig out of the Iowa Premier.  Legacy consistently produces some of the top prospects in the country and if Michigan State can start getting players out of there it will be an exciting future.    Georgia is bringing in quite a crew that starts with getting some of the top players in their home state.  They are getting two high level athletes out of A5, one of the top clubs in the country in Chelsea Torrense and Mali Nyankori.     Another SEC school making waves in Tennessee.  They have nationally ranked athletes in Dylan Kupiec and Eliana Koram who will be forces at the net.  They also picked up one of the top players in Alabama in Madison  Mayo. I was able to see Mayo play at the Mideast Qualifier and she was real impressive as a six rotation outside that finds way to score out of the front and backrow.    South Carolina   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>Name</td><td>State</td><td>Position</td><td>High School</td><td>Club Team</td><td>Commitment</td></tr><tr><td>35</td><td>Jada Skinner</td><td>Texas</td><td>OH/RS</td><td>Fulshear</td><td>Houston Skyline</td><td>South Carolina</td></tr><tr><td>95</td><td>Kennedy Davis</td><td>Georgia</td><td>MB</td><td>North Forsyth</td><td>A5</td><td>South Carolina</td></tr><tr><td>98</td><td>Mallory Mizell</td><td>South Carolina</td><td>OH</td><td></td><td>Stars</td><td>South Carolina</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Trinity Ellis</td><td>Texas</td><td>RS</td><td>Plano Senior</td><td>Untouchables EPA</td><td>South Carolina</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Brooke Neale</td><td>Indiana</td><td>DS/L</td><td>Westfield</td><td>Munciana</td><td>South Carolina</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   UCLA   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>Name</td><td>State</td><td>Position</td><td>High School</td><td>Club Team</td><td>Commitment</td></tr><tr><td>38</td><td>Audrey Utterback</td><td>Indiana</td><td>OH</td><td>Plainfield</td><td>CIRCLE CITY VBC</td><td>UCLA</td></tr><tr><td>93</td><td>Stella Hamood</td><td>Indiana</td><td>DS/L</td><td>Avon</td><td>CIRCLE CITY VBC</td><td>UCLA</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Norah Hollis</td><td>Colorado</td><td>OH/RS</td><td>Village</td><td>Colorado Jrs</td><td>UCLA</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Scarlett Taylor</td><td>North Carolina</td><td>S</td><td>Green Hope</td><td>Triangle</td><td>UCLA</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   Georgia Tech   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>Name</td><td>State</td><td>Position</td><td>High School</td><td>Club Team</td><td>Commitment</td></tr><tr><td>55</td><td>Sasha Slaughter</td><td>California</td><td>MB/RS</td><td>Berkeley</td><td>Absolute</td><td>Georgia Tech</td></tr><tr><td>66</td><td>Addison Musgrove</td><td>Texas</td><td>S/RS</td><td>Lutheran South Academy</td><td>Houston Skyline</td><td>Georgia Tech</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   Tennessee   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>Name</td><td>State</td><td>Position</td><td>High School</td><td>Club Team</td><td>Commitment</td></tr><tr><td>83</td><td>Dylan Kupiec</td><td>California</td><td>MB</td><td>Torrey Pines</td><td>Wave Volleyball Club</td><td>Tennessee</td></tr><tr><td>91</td><td>Eliana Koram</td><td>Virginia</td><td>MB/RS</td><td>Atholton</td><td>Metro Volleyball Club</td><td>Tennessee</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Madison Mayo</td><td>Alabama</td><td>OH</td><td></td><td>Alabama Performance</td><td>Tennessee</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   Cal   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>Name</td><td>State</td><td>Position</td><td>High School</td><td>Club Team</td><td>Commitment</td></tr><tr><td>74</td><td>Caitlin Carrizales</td><td>Texas</td><td>5'6"</td><td>Nolan Catholic</td><td>TAV</td><td>Cal</td></tr><tr><td>88</td><td>Nia Tinsley</td><td>Arizona</td><td>5'7"</td><td>Horizon</td><td>AZ Storm</td><td>Cal</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   Michigan State   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>Name</td><td>State</td><td>Position</td><td>High School</td><td>Club Team</td><td>Commitment</td></tr><tr><td>26</td><td>Lauren Sheldon</td><td>Michigan</td><td>OH/MB</td><td>Stoney Creek</td><td>Legacy Volleyball Club</td><td>Michigan State</td></tr><tr><td>76</td><td>Elle Hatlevig</td><td>Iowa</td><td>OH</td><td>Norwalk</td><td>Iowa Premier</td><td>Michigan State</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   Georgia   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td><td>Name</td><td>State</td><td>Position</td><td>High School</td><td>Club Team</td><td>Commitment</td></tr><tr><td>33</td><td>Chelsea Torrence</td><td>Georgia</td><td>S</td><td>East Forsyth</td><td>A5</td><td>Georgia</td></tr><tr><td>90</td><td>Mali Nyankori</td><td>Georgia</td><td>MH</td><td></td><td>A5</td><td>Georgia</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Ema Mitchell</td><td>Florida</td><td>OH</td><td></td><td>Game Point</td><td>Georgia</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Diane Nzoupet</td><td>Virginia</td><td>DS/L</td><td></td><td>Paramount</td><td>Georgia</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Aaliyah Ray</td><td>Florida</td><td>MB</td><td></td><td>Gainesville Juniors</td><td>Georgia</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

There are some “newish” names when it comes to the recruiting world with college program picking up multiple nationally ranked athletes. We are a week into 2028s officially being recruited and patterns are starting to come together. What are we seeing? Who is making waves? How one athlete can change the direction of a program before they even step foot on campus.