The 2028 All-Deck Team: Young Hayden Duo Headline This Squad

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's time to put a bow on the 2024 Kansas High School Season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is the final of four All-Deck Teams. This one features nine freshman who are skilled far beyond their years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class of 2028 Prep Dig Kansas Rankings are set to be updated next week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's not too late to get on that list so DM details @KSScoutDeck, email me at <a href="mailto:deckscoutks@gmail.com">deckscoutks@gmail.com</a>, or create a player profile using this link <a href="https://prepdig.com/prospect-index/">https://prepdig.com/prospect-index/</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My plan is to focus scouting efforts during the club season watching 16U, 15U, and 14U teams to lengthen the rankings for those three classes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are nine freshmen I would take into club action this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='513606' first='Hailey' last='Schmidtlein'],</strong> MB, 6'0”, Hayden</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Schmidtlein is currently the No. 1 ranked athlete in the Kansas Class of 2028. She is a very consistent hitter and has a huge future. She was named to the 2024 Class 4A State All-Tournament Team. She was among the kill leaders in Kansas and played in one of the best matches of the season against Rock Creek in the 4A State Semifinals. I look forward to watching her evolve as an athlete on both volleyball and basketball courts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='575955' first='Raegan' last='McDonald'],</strong> MB, 6'1”, Valley Center</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McDonald is a young and tall middle for the Valley Center Hornets. She played well in a match that I scouted during the Maize Tournament. She has a big reach and solid blocking technique. Like all of the players on this team, I look forward to seeing her play several more seasons on her club and high school squads.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='518977' first='Landry' last='Litton'],</strong> OH, 5'9”, Beloit</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Litton gained a ton of experience this season for the Beloit Trojans. She played a key role in Beloit's Class 3A State Tournament Team. Litton can play six rotations and benefited from playing on and learning from a veteran-laden team. Moving forward, I want to see what kind of leader she can be for the Trojans, who will lose an impressive senior class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='623131' first='Mikala' last='Minton'],</strong> OH, 5'7”, Great Bend</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Minton has a bright future for the Great Bend Panthers. She stepped up for Great Bend and logged quality time for the Class 5A State Tournament Team. Minton and 2027 Setter [player_tooltip player_id='434374' first='Kya' last='Behr'] will form a dangerous duo moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='503697' first='Emmie' last='Dean'],</strong> OH, 5'6”, Jefferson West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dean is one of the most energetic players in the state. Jefferson West fell in the sub-state round this season, and I know that Dean and her Tiger teammates will be gunning for a state tournament bid next fall. She might be the fastest player on this team and would play six rotations on this all-star group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='503124' first='Blakely' last='Walter'],</strong> S, 5'7”, Hayden</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I would like to line Walter and Dean up for a 40-yard dash and see who wins. These two are the quickest athletes on this team. I have just about run out of ways to describe Walter's game, but I will keep trying. She plays with the energy of a three-month-old puppy! She is an excellent setter, but could also be used as a hitter or defensive specialist. Like her Wildcat teammate Schmidtlein, she was named to the 2024 Class 4A State All-Tournament Team and helped Hayden finish third in the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='586613' first='Ellie' last='Bain'],</strong> S, 5'7”, Mill Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bain is an athlete who I have compared to Walter and could unseat her down the road as the No. 1-ranked setter in the Kansas Class of 2028. I watched her closely early in the season and she was dominant. I did not watch her as close to the Class 6A State Tournament as I was focused on players and teams I had not seen. She was one of two freshmen on the Mill Valley's State Champion Roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='556362' first='Mette' last='Maxwell'],</strong> S, 5'7”, Ellinwood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maxwell missed part of the season due to an injury and then battle back to lead the team assists. The Eagles were a Class 2A State Tournament team finishing fourth. She can set or play other positions. She will add quality depth on this roster and watching her Bain and Walter run setting drills would be an event you could sell tickets for.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='536308' first='Haedyn' last='Lynnes'],</strong> DS/L, 5'5”, Spring Hill</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top defensive players I saw this season was Spring Hill's Lynnes. She is the only true defender on this team so she would get lots of playing time. She moves well and makes consistent first passes. Spring Hill did not have the kind of season they hoped for, but the program is still strong with Lynnes wearing the libero jersey.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->