Setters Who Shined at SoCal Up Next Showcase Vol 2

Prep Dig Up Next Showcases have been sweeping the nation. These events are aimed at helping middle school players understand what it takes to attend a showcase for the first time and also learn new skills in their respective positions. We held our SoCal Up Next Showcase at the Momentous Sports Center on August 29th and it did not disappoint. These events always bring together athletes from across the state looking to compete in front of college coaches while being evaluated by Prep Dig scouts and court coaches. There were tons of awesome players that we evaluated from their awesome production. Showcases like this continue to provide a valuable platform for athletes to be seen, tested, and recognized for their individual performance and intangibles. Let's take a closer look at three setters who shined bright at the SoCal Up Next showcase.    Sophia played the Prep Dig Up Next SoCal Showcase like someone who has been in competitive environments before and knows exactly what to do when the gym is full and the energy is high. Her setting throughout the day was consistent and purposeful delivering the ball from a release point that gave her hitters confidence when they were in the air to swing hard each time. She also move the ball around to each hitting location so that the block never got comfortable loading up on one side. The transition from footwork to contact happened naturally rather than mechanically, which tells you the fundamentals are not something she is thinking through anymore...they are memory from tons of training. She was vocal between points, led with a confidence that never tipped into carelessness, and the players she shared the floor with from different clubs and different cities around Southern California followed her lead quickly. Everything she did throughout the day reflected a player who understands that running an offense is about more than delivering the ball.     [player_tooltip player_id='958556' first='Liv' last='O'Dell'] does not overpower the position...she outsmarts it. Throughout the Prep Dig Up Next SoCal Showcase she made decisions that were a step ahead of what the defense was prepared for. I loved that she was finding hitters in rhythm rather than defaulting to the predictable option when the pass was clean. This tells me so much about her and I think she has a bright future ahead of her. Her footwork was quick and quiet and she arrived at the ball with time to spare, which is what allowed her sets to have the accuracy and consistency they did across both sessions of the event. She kept her all of her teammates connected and informed throughout the day and the communication she provided between points gave the offense a leadership voice it could rally around.     The thing that stood out to me about Miss Schneider at the Prep Dig Up Next SoCal Showcase was how rarely anything rattled her. Off-target passes, unfamiliar hitters, a gym packed with energy...none of it changed the way she approached the next ball. Her footwork stayed efficient and effective throughout the day and she stopped her feet before contact with a consistency that told me that she has put in some serious time in the gym with her skills. I loved how she was always balanced on both feet at the point of contact with the ball. The sets she delivered had great location and her hitters got clean looks rather than balls they had to redirect. She is 5'9" with a release point that matters and the composure to use it well under pressure. Coaches always say that great setters can make average hitters look amazing and that is exactly what Stella did during this event.    As always stay tuned for more articles on your favorite athletes. If you have anyone you think we should watch out for, please shoot me an email with some info at <a href="mailto:Michael@prepdig.com">Michael@prepdig.com</a>. You can also DM me in Instagram and X by searching @CoachMikeDZ. Also don't forget to help these kids get more exposure by sharing our stories with your friends. Help us help them by simply retweeting on Twitter or sharing on Facebook. Thanks for following us, Prep Dig Family! Don't be afraid to interact with us. We love the likes, shares, and quotes/comments. Keep them coming!

Prep Dig Up Next Showcases have been sweeping the nation. These events are aimed at helping middle school players understand what it takes to attend a showcase for the first time and also learn new skills in their respective positions. We held our SoCal Up Next Showcase at the Momentous Sports Center on August 29^th and it did not disappoint. These events always bring together athletes from across the state looking to compete in front of college coaches while being evaluated by Prep Dig scouts and court coaches. There were tons of awesome players that we evaluated from their awesome production. Showcases like this continue to provide a valuable platform for athletes to be seen, tested, and recognized for their individual performance and intangibles. Let's take a closer look at three setters who shined bright at the SoCal Up Next showcase.