Class of 2024 Kansas Rankings Update: The New Top 10

It's time, it's time, it is rankings update time!   This morning the updated Class of 2024 rankings were posted and this is the first of multiple scouting reports about the updated rankings. Those rankings now include 200 Kansas Athletes and more than 100 college-committed athletes.   Let me start with some background information. Athletes, coaches, and parents can click on the “How We Rank” story under the “Rankings” menu to learn more about the process of ranking players.   For me personally, I would like to add that the following factors also determine how I rank players. First off, I did put my footprint on this class since it's the first set of player rankings I put together since the Spring of 2021. So several players increased and decreased their rankings. The only players who completely dropped from the rankings expressed to me that they were not planning on extending their playing careers.   One key issue with this set of rankings was that I updated and found more than 70 athletes who did not have their committed program listed on their profiles or committed players who were not ranked at all.   Two key factors that played a special role in this specific class were the school that athletes committed to, and the position they play. I am old school and still feel like there is a big difference in the game between Division I and Division II programs. Yet the lines blur between NAIA and JUCO programs in terms of the level of talent. There was a time I would have given players headed to a JUCO a slight edge, as it was easier for them to transfer to a DI or DII program after two years of school. The transfer portal has pretty much erased that edge. Also, after checking with players, high school coaches, and college coaches there is an undeniable difference in the level of interest between hitters, setters, and liberos. Many teams are still looking to add hitters so those two positions impacted the rankings more than in the past, especially among athletes who have yet to commit.   I do use high school stats to help separate players. If I can't find stats on a player on Max Preps, X accounts, or from coach emails that hurts a player in the rankings. Also since most club coaches do not provide public stats, those are not factored in the rankings. Another factor I DON'T use to determine rankings is whether a club player is on a Power League, Premiere, American, Select, Freedom, USA, National League Central, or whatever other club-designation there is. For me an athlete is an athlete, and if multiple-sport athletes need to compete for their high schools, I will NOT punish them if they don't commit to play club every weekend or play club ball at all. Yet, having said that, the skills between athletes who play club and those who don't are noticeable and can slightly impact a player's current ranking.   One last factor I do take into consideration is location. I do believe thePrep Dig rankings have had an eastern Kansas bias the past couple of years. I also feel that the number of athletes from school and club teams near Kansas City and those that are from the far reaches of western Kansas were not well balanced. That will improve as the ranking updates move forward. Yet, until we add a scout west of Salina, our Kansas western schools and club teams will continue to be noticed less often. If anyone is interested in more information about scouting for Prep Network, then please feel free to reach out.   Lastly, each athlete controls their recruitment process. If a high school coach does not post stats on MaxPreps then it is the responsibility of the athlete to obtain those stats and send them to scouts and college coaches. Only the athlete can update Hudl profiles and the information on them. If I can't find a height for a player I will not include them in the rankings.  Also, only the athlete can control what is posted on their social media accounts. What an athlete posts, follows, and how he or she promotes themselves says a lot about the type of person and prospect they are. Having said that, I still believe that male athletes do a far superior job overall of promoting themselves. So I encourage our female athletes to not be shy about giving themselves their own flowers and to not be afraid to contact scouts and college coaches.   While I strive for perfection, I also understand that mistakes and typos happen. If you have questions about the rankings or see a mistake please feel free to DM me on social media @KSScoutDeck or email me at deckscoutks@gmail.com.   Remember you attract more bees with honey than you do vinegar.  If you send me a negative or rude email do not expect a reply. Also, keep in mind that there are elements of the technology that I cannot control. Also, we do not update rankings on a week-to-week basis. Once an athlete is ranked in a spot, they stay there until the next round of rankings. We do attempt to update the rankings three to four times a year.   There will be multiple reports on the updated ranking this week, and I have started the process of updating the rankings for the Classes of 2025-2027, and creating the initial rankings for the Class of 2028. If you are a coach or player and would like me to consider athletes for rankings hit me up as advised above.   Here is a look at the new top 10-ranked athletes in the Kansas Class of 2024 rankings. I will continue to update player information in the rankings when athletes commit, but otherwise, this will probably be the final rankings for the Class of 2024. There is a slight chance I will add players and make a large overhaul once more in May or June.   [player_tooltip player_id='119707' first='Skyler' last='Pierce'], 6'2”, OH, Olathe Northwest (Nebraska)   The No. 1-ranked athlete did not change. Pierce was an early commitment to the Huskers. She is already attending classes in Lincoln. She is one of the most naturally physically talented players I have seen in Kansas.   [player_tooltip player_id='119693' first='Janelle' last='Green'], 5'9”, S, Blue Valley North (Cincinnati)   Green moved up to the No. 2 slot. She is one of the more athletic setters in Kansas and I first saw her play at the Class 6A State Tournament in Salina last fall. Her team fell in the state title game to Mill Valley and she will be playing for the Big 12 program Cincinnati.   [player_tooltip player_id='495628' first='Tatum' last='Tindall'], 6'1”, MB, Manhattan (Kansas State)   Tindall had the largest climb into the Top 10. She was previously ranked at No. 67. She was under-ranked in those early rankings and being a Division I signee playing the middle helped her move up.   [player_tooltip player_id='119724' first='Jillian' last='Huckabey'], 6'0”, OH, Olathe Northwest (Florida International)   Huckabey dropped a couple of spots, but she is an absolute hitting machine and made a dangerous hitting combo at Olathe Northwest with Pierce.   [player_tooltip player_id='150065' first='Camdyn' last='Stucky'], 6'1”, S, Maize (Tennessee)   Stucky is ranked No. 6 and is now the No. 2-ranked setter in the class. The Maize prospect plans to play for the Tennessee Volunteers. She helped guide the Eagles to the Class 6A State Tournament.   [player_tooltip player_id='119725' first='Tatum' last='Grimes'], 6'2”, MB, St. Thomas Aquinas (Army)   Grimes is one of the best multiple-sport athletes in Kansas. I feel like she could play volleyball or basketball at the Division I level. She chose volleyball and will be playing for Army. Grimes and the Saints qualified for both the 5A state volleyball and basketball tournaments which helped her get noticed.   [player_tooltip player_id='517443' first='Rachel' last=''] Van Gorp, 5'9”, OH, Heritage Christian Academy (Iowa State)   Van Gorp is the highest-ranked player that I missed seeing last fall. I saw her play club ball and she is a special talent. She should compete against Green and Tindall one day in Big 12 action as she has signed to play for the Iowa State Cyclones.   [player_tooltip player_id='119704' first='Cy' last='Rae Campbell'], 5'11”, MB, Heritage Christian Academy (Wake Forest)   Like Van Gorp I did not see Campbell play last fall, but her stats were impressive and she has long been committed to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the ACC.   [player_tooltip player_id='152834' first='Remi' last='Nuss'], 5'6”, DS/L, Blue Valley Northwest (Louisiana State)   Nuss is the highest-ranked defensive specialist. She was once committed to play for West Virginia, but she ended up signing with the LSU Tigers in the SEC.   [player_tooltip player_id='150068' first='Ryan' last='McAleer'], 5'5”, DS/L, Blue Valley (Purdue)   McAleer has been ranked in the Top 10 forever. She made an early commitment to play in the Big 10 for the Purdue Boilermakers. It appears that the Kansas City area rivals McAleer and Pierce could meet each other multiple times in college.

It's time, it's time, it is rankings update time!