2027 Prospect Roulette: September Edition

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that we have a set of 2027 Player Rankings and a prospect list, we can include this promising group of freshmen into the Prospect Roulette feature.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's how it works: I'll pop up a random number generator that includes the 10 players in the 2027 rankings. I'll generate two numbers and the two that come up will be the ranking of the player. I'll then spotlight those players in the article to help give them some more attention. I will then take six random numbers from the 50 Watch List prospects. Their number is where they are alphabetically in the Watch List.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's see who has the lucky numbers for our first edition:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>9. [player_tooltip player_id='454358' first='Lily' last='Tripi'], S Eisenhower/Michigan Elite</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tripi is a 6'1” setter with a wealth of potential. She isn't seeing varsity action thus far in 2023 with Eisenhower, but certainly will be a factor in future seasons. Tripi has a lot of natural gifts with her size and wingspan, but she makes good reads on the court and isn't afraid to turn on the aggression and go after the ball herself. As she continues to develop a faster pace and confidence, she will only become more of a top-level prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>4. [player_tooltip player_id='454352' first='Calli' last='LeFevre'], OH Marian/Legacy</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-foot LeFevre has had to step right in for Marian and make an impact right away as a complimentary hitter. She's currently second on the team in kills with 92, while also adding 119 digs, 19 aces and 16 blocks. LeFevre has shown flashes of what she can do at the net when she gets rolling. When she becomes more consistent with her finishing, the Mustangs are going to have another dominant arm in their program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>WL [player_tooltip player_id='454363' first='Akylah' last='Marshall'], OH Saline/HVVC</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marshall hasn't been elevated to the varsity level quite yet, but she's a well-rounded player that can make in impact in all phases of the game. She plays very composed on the floor and takes what's given to her instead of forcing a power shot. It's helped her develop a solid passing game and her serving has been very difficult for opponents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>WL [player_tooltip player_id='442997' first='Morgan' last='Bates'], S Stoney Creek/High Performance</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bates is getting thrown right into the fire for the Cougars, going up against strong opponents regularly with the Stoney Creek schedule. She's getting more comfortable with each set and is setting a nice ball to the back row while being able to up the tempo at the net. Her defensive play is also improving a lot, as she's making good first contact when the ball comes her way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>WL [player_tooltip player_id='442996' first='Melayna' last='Minyard'], OH Chelsea/HaiFive</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minyard is another player that can contribute anywhere on the floor and make a difference. As an outside, she's a heady player that makes good decisions and knows where to place the ball. She also has good coverage range on her defense and is able to make a clean pass to the setter. As she continues to get more reps against strong competition, it should add more intangibles to her game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>WL [player_tooltip player_id='442986' first='Karly' last='Harrison'], DS/L Romeo</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harrison plays with a lot of competitive fire, which is what you like to see out of a young prospect, especially a defensive-minded player. She's not going to back down to a big situation or a big hitter and can dust herself off quickly if she gets beat. Harrison has a lot of athleticism and explosiveness for a libero and uses that to cover a lot of ground in a short time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>WL [player_tooltip player_id='454368' first='Lexa' last='Pierson'], OH Milford/L2</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Milford hasn't been shy about giving Pierson the ball and letting her run with it as a freshman. She's been a big part of the Maverick attack and is handling the pressure very well. She's got a good lift off the floor and puts consistently solid contact on her attacks. Her spotting is above her class and she's got the endurance to take on a lot of swings. Milford looks to have a real gem on their hands in Pierson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>WL [player_tooltip player_id='454377' first='Erica' last='Heffner'], OH/DS TC Central/Northshore</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A standout defender, Heffner is contributing as an outside for TC Central this fall, which just gives the Trojans an even stronger defense. Heffner has a technically smooth swing that she's able to replicate over and over again, placing the ball with a lot of velocity anywhere on the floor. She looks very calm and collected in a big role, which is promising for her future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->