Undiscovered Athletes at AAU Nationals: Wave 3, Day 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Day 2 had some really good matchups on various courts, and I did some poking around at some of the bigger clubs' 2nd and 3rd teams to see what players may be buried at the more competitive spots. You'll see this often times when looking at college commitments where you will see an entire roster of a top team signed, even though 3-4 of them never get in games. It's the theory that at that level, practicing against them and the comp they play against, the girls stuck in backup and on the bench are still better than starters at lesser competitive clubs. It's a perception thing, and I'd love to see an exhibition where clubs can only field 6-8 players and say players 9-12 are starters on a 2nd team etc. and find out who truly has the deepest clubs in an area. That all being said, there are some really talented players out there not getting the spotlight, and would surprise you when they get to college. Maybe it's being stuck behind a real top national prospect or on the 2nd team at a strong club. Maybe it's being a 6-2 setter on a team running a 5-1. Maybe it's being a really great libero, but having another strong lib on the team, and you have a bunch of all around hitters so DS don't get much playing time. There are a lot of reasons why players go undiscovered, and it's what I usually hunt for. Regardless of status, here are some players that got my attention in limited time:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Lauren Roth","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"OT 16 O Alex","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68616f4b2d34d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lauren plays for one of the lower OTVA teams, and I caught her playing against a Metro North team that had some serious height in the lineup. Oddly enough, I stopped to see what all the height had going for it on Metro, and for the period I watched there were multiple players over 6 foot on the bench at a key portion of the end of the match. Lauren didn't stand out because of loud power like many OH, but she falls in that tweener category that could use another 2 inches of either height or vertical to get a better downward angle on the ball. What she did do that I really liked however is that she tipped and rolled shots with a dangerous precision. When that other team got hung in the air going for the big block, she would routinely drop the ball in behind them for the point. Sometimes it's not the flashy play that wins the game, but the smart one, and she had plenty of those in the small window I watched. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Mia Will","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32564","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Triangle 16 Blue","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68616f4b2d3f0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Triangle is a club with a good reputation, so as I passed a court that had a good competitive game going with a few college coaches around, I wasn't surprised to see them out there. I stopped to add them to my "find them tomorrow" list when I saw a spectacular dig from the lib and a shutdown line shot from the RS to end the game, but as a bonus I got to see them a full game up close the next day. Mia has great length to her 5'11 frame, she blocks well, and played a good bit in the back row handling serve receive. At some point in the 2nd game I saw them, Mia took over the offense and probably scored half of the kills overall. She's an offensive weapon that can change a game, but more importantly looks like a great character person, after I watched her go out of her way to thank the refs and the other team post game. The little things like this tend to not get noticed, but they are a big deal when a college coaches are looking. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jasmine Clark","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Grimsley HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Triangle 16 Blue","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68616f4b2d47a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another strong player on a very solid Triangle team, Jasmine was one of the best DS/L I saw all week. She seems to play the style of the consistent, strong DS, who makes very few errors. Gets in the right position, is great at anticipating the ball, and does a great job delivering the ball to the setter. I watched her get down on a few digs, her up and down time is rather impressive, and she made most plays look routine, with no stress. Can't ask for much more out of your libero, and she was a big reason why Triangle had college coaches all over the place. In a game against MDJRS Elite Black 16, I counted over 20 college coaches taking in that game at some point, and for good reason, there was a lot of talent on both sides of the net. Jasmine is going to make some coach look very smart for signing her in two years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Caroline Hathaway","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32924","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bishop Verot HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"USA South 16 Premier Purp","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68616f4b2d502"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Catching some games while in between games on my watch lists you never know what or when something is going to show up. Caroline stood out on her team, a 6'0 middle with good blocking ability, but then I watched her put a few points away, and that kind of athletic middle is getting more and more rare these days. Admittedly I didn't get to see a ton of this game as I was on my way to another, but I did get to see enough of a glimpse that Caroline seemed like one to follow. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Isabella Moe","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"32561","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"MiElite 16 Elite","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68616f4b2d589"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I was actually at this court to watch a very good match right after this one, but I got there a little early, and caught the tail end of this one. It's a case of you aren't really looking for anything, just kind of watching the game and games around you, and this setter caught my attention. She took a botched play that was falling apart, and off balance, dumped it deep and touched the back line for an important point. None of the other team had a chance to make it that far for that ball, it was a beautiful play. Then I noticed her soft hands on the ball, and her very solid defense, she looked like a dream 6-2 setter from the way she played defensively like a libero, covering ground and tips, making digs, and her sets were very good to the back side and middle. She played with good heart and hustle in a tight game and that's the kind of player that really excels at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->