DS’s I Liked At The Kentucky Stock Up Showcase, Part 1

Want a subscription to PrepDig? Use code Kyp30 for 30% off of your annual subscription! And don't forget to follow @KypPDIN on X for all of your Indiana high school and club volleyball news!   The Kentucky Stock Up Showcase has come and gone, and there were PLENTY of high-end defensive specialists on display throughout the drills and scrimmages. There were so many, in fact, that I have to split this position up into two parts, with a surprise on Wednesday for one DS in particular. Here are five recruitable DS's that showed out from start to finish this past Saturday.    One of the traits that most of us scouts like to see is a relentless pursuit from the beginning to the end of each and every showcase we cover. Kinlee was IMMEDIATELY part of the solution to that problem, and chased down ball after ball to keep plays (and drills) alive. There's nothing worse than a “drill killer” for a coach when running something like this, and Kinlee's dedication to keeping the ball off the floor kept her side going regularly. This level of pursuit and relentlessness isn't exactly easy to teach—-to know she has it in reserve whenever she wants to use it is a great aspect to her game.     Listed at 5'3” but playing much bigger than her stature, McKynzie showed her best attribute to her skill set; the art of making the second ball not only hittable but scorable. Out-of-system happens, and Miss Cook was regularly needing to take the second ball and make it hittable for her pin hitters. Yes, this is a teachable part of the game, but to know that McKynzie already has that aspect of her game perfected shows the dedication to her craft takes more than just passing.     From the first serve off of her hand—-quite tough, might I add—-Daryn was at the showcase to PLAY. Constantly and consistently active in both serve receive and on defense, Daryn's ability to cover ground, better each and every ball and even score points when needed (especially behind the base line) caught my eye more and more as the day went on. I specifically sought her out for her photo as one of our top performers at the showcase, and there wasn't a play that went by that proved otherwise.     Unassuming but tough, Mia's start-to-finish mentality on the court isn't exactly coachable; her work ethic, relentless nature and ability to be reliable in any drill setting will carry her far in her recruiting journey. Coming to this showcase from volleyball power Seton in Ohio, Mia's got all of the tools in her volleyball toolbox to be a complete libero at the next level. She doesn't say much, and doesn't have to. Her presence kept fellow players at ease, mostly because they knew Mia would get the job done. I look forward to her continued progress, as this past weekend's Top Performer honor will be the first of many for this young lady.     Ever had that kid that's just fun and great to have around? Sophia fit that mold from start to finish at the showcase on Saturday. One of the better defenders that used her hands, Miss Tran is an active floor defender and serve receive artist that can change a game with her stunning defense and ability to keep rallies alive with her relentless pursuit. I had to do a double-take, as she certainly doesn't PLAY like she's 5'3”—-she shows off her length in maximizing each stride when moving, and gets more touches on balls that a lot of kids struggled to get to. A good kid with a great skill set? I could start a team with her as the libero and be very satisfied with her plug-and-play ability.

Want a subscription to PrepDig? Use code Kyp30 for 30% off of your annual subscription! And don't forget to follow @KypPDIN on X for all of your Indiana high school and club volleyball news!