My Favorite Middles From The Stock Up Showcase

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We had over 100 athletes in the gym for our Stock Up Showcase on Saturday, August 3, easily a record number in attendance. We also had, with those increased numbers, an incredible amount of talent and size in the gym at all positions. Here are my favorite middles that were in attendance, in no particular order.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">'25 [player_tooltip player_id='586744' first='Nile' last='Johnson'], 5-11, Lawrence North</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A long and lean middle who plays bigger than her frame is what you'll get from Miss Johnson. Her arms are long enough to seal blocks, even though she might not be shoulder-to-shoulder with her pin blocker. Her reach puts her attack touch at close to (if not already at) ten feet. In short, this young lady is an athLETE that just so happens to play volleyball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">'25 [player_tooltip player_id='152945' first='Harper' last='Holden'], 6-0, Greenfield-Central</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the fun parts of this job is watching kids like Harper grow up. She's been coming to these showcases for some time now, and has impressed every time. She's broad-shouldered, strong, smart when needed and powerful when the situation presents itself. I like her well-rounded approach to the game---she does everything well. More of an M2 at the next level because of her skills in front of the setter, Harper will be a nice addition for a school looking to fill a middle position immediately.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">'26 [player_tooltip player_id='487102' first='Naomi' last='Cole'], 6-3, West Liberty-Salem (Ohio)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We were blessed to have so much size in the gym on Saturday, and Naomi added to that list. From a small town of just under 2000 northwest of Columbus, Naomi used her strength and size to her advantage on regular occasions. She powered through weaker and shorter blocks, took up space when blocking, and was easy for setters to find in the offense, as she was always ready to hit. I found it hard to believe that she was still available to be recruited, considering the club season that she just came off of.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">'26 [player_tooltip player_id='487350' first='Emmerson' last='Gott'], 6-0, Western Boone</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have a collection of scribbled notes for kids I don't know, but I usually put just a couple of words for kids I do know. For Emmerson, whom I've covered for the better part of a year, I had written "length for days". Completely accurate statement, if you've ever seen her play. Her attack touch is high and strong, she defends from pin to pin by taking long strides, and can penetrate easily with those long arms of hers. Her transition is quick as well, so all of that length can come at you quickly if you're not ready.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">'26 [player_tooltip player_id='514782' first='London' last='Smith'], 5-9, Brownsburg</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a VERY successful season with Circle's 16-1 last spring, London is more than capable of holding her own athletically on the volleyball court with all of the big kids. In some cases, she's so fast and jumps so high that the bigger, slower kids couldn't keep up. In short, this kid can JUMP, and has the wherewithal to understand that she might not pan out to be a middle at the next level---she even took some reps on the right side on Saturday, and dominated there as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">'26 [player_tooltip player_id='502978' first='Lucianna' last='Pinyerd'], 6-1, Carmel</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I hadn't seen Miss Pinyerd play before, so having a kid with size and skill in the middle hold her own in this talented crowd of bigs was a pleasant surprise. Her strong arm puts a heavy pace on the ball, and she uses every bit of her 6-1 frame to max out her attack touch. I'm looking forward to her junior season at Carmel, as the area she plays in is one of the toughest in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">'26 [player_tooltip player_id='301138' first='Hayden' last='Ramsey'], 6-1, New Palestine</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After 19 years of coaching, I found that not everyone evaluates the same as I do. I would take kids based on where their potential takes them, and think less about how great they are now. That being said, Hayden's potential is through the roof. Long, lean and fast, Miss Ramsey attacks high and hard, is a full-go and no-quit type of player, and will use her brains as much as she will use her brawn on the court. One fellow writer approached me about Hayden and said, "That's a 2's player?" To me, that's proof that you don't have to always be on a 1s team to be elite. If you're good, coaches WILL find you. Whomever coaches this kid gets 100% effort and a positive attitude every time. Oh, and it just so happens that's she's a very good middle that is an easy plug-and-play M2 option in the fall of '26.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">'27 [player_tooltip player_id='583894' first='Audrey' last='Staggs'], 6-0, Terre Haute North</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of the 162 athletes that visited the Academy on Saturday, I believe Audrey was the only COA kid in attendance. We were pleasantly surprised when, yet again, a kid we had not seen on the club scene before came in and did her thing at a high level throughout the day. Strong with a high and hard attack, Audrey is physical enough to power through undisciplined blocks and has enough volleyball acuity to score points even when things aren't perfect. Thank you, Miss Staggs, for coming to our combine. You represented COA, THN and yourself quite well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">'27 [player_tooltip player_id='443848' first='Carsyn' last='Comer'], 6-3, Westfield</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I won't waste anyone's time by saying the same things I've always said about Carsyn. In short---Miss Comer was the class of this group of middles. Regardless of who was setting, who she went against or what the result of the play was, Carsyn was THE top middle in this group all day, and proved it time and time again. She's a Munciana kid, and has a great opportunity to be part of the Samurai next spring. I look forward to where this young lady commits next summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">'27 [player_tooltip player_id='494420' first='Kenley' last='Mitchell'], 6-0, Heritage Christian</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Do not confuse Miss Mitchell's quiet demeanor for a lack of want. Kenley has a strong and solid attack arm, defends the net well and is willing and able to take feedback and immediately apply it to her play. More often than not, fellow evaluators asked about her, where she was from and where she plays club, simply because of her constant and consistent play that married well with her athleticism and quickness. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">'27 [player_tooltip player_id='502098' first='Caroline' last='Wilmering'], 6-0, [program_tooltip program_id='430077' first='Bishop' last='Chatard']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a difference a year makes. Long and lean, her arm strength caught up with her bodily athleticism (is that a phrase? I dunno.) and is now a solid M2 recruit in this class. Transitioning quicker than most in this class, she's always up early and often, ready to hit when needed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">'27 [player_tooltip player_id='435568' first='Avery' last='Olsen'], 6-1, Penn</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's one thing to be tall. It's completely another to avoid the narrow nature of a lot of middles in this state and look the part of a collegiate middle. Avery is broad-shouldered, strong and powerful. She looks the part of a college-ready middle, with strength, stamina, consistent play and hits a heavy ball when attacking.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">'27 Marley VanWanzeele, 6-0, Mooresville</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marley's club season was her "arrival party", as she crushed it all spring long. Upon arrival on Saturday, after [player_tooltip player_id='443848' first='Carsyn' last='Comer'] listed above, Marley was the next-best middle in attendance in the Stock Up Showcase. Speed, athleticism, hitting in front of and behind the setter, and blocking everyone was all part of her skill set on this day. This is a kid that is built and plays like Ava Vickers from Indiana, another central Indiana kid who does everything in this game well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->