WA 2028 Rankings Update- The Top 20 and More

<p>A rankings update is always a terrific time to talk about the why behind the rankings, trends that are happening statewide and nationally, and any other interesting rankings information we can provide. We check in on the top 20 overall-ranked players in the class and more in this deep dive. Some of this information was covered in the initial 2026 & 2027 Rankings articles, and we keep it here if it applies for 2028 as well.</p>   <p><strong>Initial class rankings will always have big changes down the line</strong></p>   <p>The Watch List for the class of 2028 started a little more than a year ago, with players being added who were difference makers at 14U club in the postseason, had been playing up in age during club, and before that, the rare eighth grader playing varsity ball at a smaller high school. Once the 2028 class entered high school, the work of watching, evaluating, and adding players truly started. Club season gives us an even better look at the players, and the August update is timed for the period directly after club and before school begins. It's inevitable that this initial group of 75+ ranked players and 61 Watch List athletes will look very different down the line. Players who aren't in the rankings at all right now will find their way in and could be very highly ranked. It's still early, and we have more players to find as they do great things on the court. Prospects who are in the top 50 now will be passed by others. Players develop, grow taller and stronger, and sometimes transfer in or out. A typical class ends with 175-225 players overall. We are on our way with the class of 2028 and will have our next update to the class this December. </p>   <p></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Look at The Top Five:</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">The Issaquah OH earned Kingco Crest 1st-Team All-League honors as a freshman, and at a long 6'1" has legitimate length for a high-major pin. Walcott plays six rotations for SIVBC and is developing every aspect of her game at a rapid rate; she looked more physical and explosive as the season progressed. She is the #1-ranked prospect in the Washington 2028 class. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/N0aPbyht-IA?si=kWpg3T31-9memqCh </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">A 6'5" middle from Ridgefield, Moog has the length and size along the net that can't be taught. She continued to develop during the club season, improving her footwork and fluidity as an attacker and continuing to be dominant at the net as a blocker. Moog is the #1 MB overall and #2 player in the initial 2028 rankings. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">The Puyallup outside has good length at 5'10", and competes hard as a six-rotation player who makes the players around her better. Volkman has an impressive high contact point, she terminates from the pins and is not afraid to challenge the block or attack different areas of the court. She is ranked as the #3 overall player in the initial 2028 rankings. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Eberhardt spent time on the right side for SIVBC during club, and she improved her aggressiveness as an attacker during the season. She added heat to her swing and took opportunities to challenge the block and rip shots down the line. The Bishop Blanchet sophomore has the frame and athletic profile that project at the next level. Eberhardt is the #4 overall player in the initial 2028 rankings. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Gonzalez was very tough on the pin for Excel NW during the club season. She has terrific length for a six-rotation OH and excellent snap on her swing. She lands at #5 overall in the initial Washington class of 2028 rankings. She will continue to have excellent training during high school at Camas, and we expect Gonzalez to continue to improve her overall game. </p>    <p></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">More of the Top 20</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">An MB/OH who could potentially play any spot along the net, Pelesasa has a heavy hand as an attacker and plays with a high volleyball IQ. Attackers found it difficult to power balls through her big block for NPJ this club season, and she will be a crucial part of Mt. Rainier's squad this fall. Pelesasa is #6 overall in the 2028 rankings. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Ajayi is a lefty attacker who plays taller than her listed 5'9" height. Her outstanding reach and quick arm swing had defenders ducking this club season when she ripped balls down the line off the right side. Ajayi is an athletic player who will only continue to get better as she grows her game. She is currently the #1-ranked right side in the 2028 rankings. </p>      <p class="text-gray-700">Ervin is an extremely hard worker with size and skill at the setter position. She can run down errant passes and flows easily into her sets; she is accurate on the run and delivers the ball off on foot. Ervin has the athleticism to attack as a right-side or score as a front row setter. She is the top setter and #8 player overall in the initial 2028 rankings. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">We like Yoshino at just about any position; she was flying off the pin and out of the pipe to rack up kills for SIVBC during club. The Issaquah sophomore is a unique player; at 5'5" she is a huge leaper with a big arm swing and aggressive attacking mentality. Yoshino was excellent playing middle back and off-ball defense, and is a setter with smooth hands when she has to step in and take the second ball. We expect another terrific season this fall for Yoshino, the #9 overall player in the 2028 rankings. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Moore was part of the CEVA All-Star team that competed in Iowa to wrap up the club season; the Kelso sophomore is effective running the slide and has an impressive overall game that you don't always see in young middles. She handles the ball cleanly when playing defense or setting, and has multiple shots in her bag that she uses to score in different ways. Moore is the #3 MB in the initial 2028 Rankings. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Bentosino checks in as the top-ranked libero in the initial class of 2028 rankings after an excellent freshman season at Mountlake Terrace and an even better run of play during club. She is built low to the ground, makes "wow" defensive plays, and importantly is consistently outstanding in serve receive. Her quickness is terrific and she sets the defensive tone with her relentless pursuit of the ball. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/I2JDw1r1vok?si=piGL0ZNEZOPLslrT </div></figure>       <p>Guinn is a long, angular setter from Puyallup High School with a high ceiling. She took advantage of her 5'10" size as an offensive setter when she was in the front row for PSVBA; we appreciate her attention to detail, playing defense first, and finishing her sets even more than her ability to score. Guinn is the #2 overall setter in the 2028 rankings. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Barkema looks closer to 6'1" and can deliver a rocket off a quick tempo set or when she rises up to hammer down an overpass. She is talented as an attacker and can turn the ball around the block left or right to find open space on the floor. Barkema should have a big year for Cedar Park Christian, and she is the #4 MB in the 20208 rankings. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Garcia is a 6'0" middle from Chiawana High School in the Tri-Cities area. After winning a title at AAU's with 208 Volleyball, Garcia played on the Puget Sound Region All-Star team in Iowa. She excels as a hard-working, strong-handed blocker, with a heavy arm swing and fun, positive energy on the court. Garcia is developing as a slide attacker and solid defender when she serves. She enters the first rankings for 2028 as the 5th overall MB. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Lum-Lung is a playmaker; the Kentridge sophomore can hang in and handle high heat from attackers and is a calm, accurate passer in serve receive. She is a highly ranked beach player, and she has the vision and feel that you see from a sand player of her caliber playing defense indoors. Lum-Lung glides into position to pick up tips and shots; she is terrific at reading opposing hitters and setters. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Stephan was able to step right in as a 5-1 setter for Lynden as a freshman, and the team was highly competitive in a very solid Northwest league. The rising sophomore played for [program_tooltip program_id='499308' first='Apex' last='NW Volleyball Club'], and the team was a difficult challenge for opponents with Stephan running the offense. She has strong hands, sound footwork, and an advanced feel for the game. Stephan is a talented multi-sport athlete who may not be done growing- she is one to watch as the rankings progress. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Humbert is a player with a high ceiling; she has a strong frame, excellent length, and works hard to close the block. She is a strong blocker with a growing offensive game who should turn heads during the fall school season with Gonzaga Prep and continuing into her 16U club year. Humbert is the #17 overall-ranked player in the initial Washington 2028 Rankings. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Jang gets after it in serve receive, the Glacier Peak prospect has a smooth platform and moves her feet to find terrific arm and body angles when she is passing outside her midline. She has a nice feel for the game and was able to step in and play setter credibly when her team needed someone to fill the position at Emerald City. Jang does an outstanding job running down balls and getting on the floor if needed as a defender. She is the #3-ranked libero in the 2028 Rankings. , </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Moll is a versatile player and an excellent athlete from Kamiak High School. She ranks as the #4 overall libero in the initial 2028 rankings, and her ability to step in as an attacker or setter just adds to her overall game. Moll is quick with terrific footwork and has great pace on her tough, float serve. Her setter hands shine when she steps in to set the second ball; she locates with good tempo in spots that give her attackers the opportunity to score. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/TgXubCGowco?si=0uItvKKTHhtp-Bvz </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">The Jackson rising sophomore played well with WVBA, primarily in the MB spot this club season. Hirst has a long reach and showed excellent timing working with her setter, running quick attacks. She sees the court well and can drop in a crafty tip to score on defenders playing back. Hirst showed good skill as a server and worked hard on defense in the back row when she had opportunities. </p>    <p></p>   <p></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Taking a Look at Positional Rankings</h2>   <p>The right sides always seem to have the least positional representation in the overall rankings, but just wait. At the college level, previous high school middles and outside hitters have been (and will be) asked to move to a position on the right side. Outsides, right sides, and middles with elite size and athleticism are the top priorities for top college programs, and those players and positions track with the top of our rankings.</p>   <p>Setters with elite size and hands would factor in those top recruiting/ranking positions as well. While the hands and skills are there, we don't regularly have multiple six-foot or even 5'10" players at the setter position in Washington. Looking back at our archived rankings, the top setters in the last three classes have been 5'11", 5'10", and 5'7", and the top ten setters in each class don't have a single six-footer. </p>   <p>The Libero and DS positions always have those few players who force their way into the top 20. In general, those athletes are game changers who have played against excellent competition and on outstanding teams. In 2024, Alyss Kelly cracked the top five playing for NPJ and committed to Kansas State in the Big 12. The 2025 class had the #7 overall player, setter Ava Jo Berry, commit to the University of Washington primarily as a defender. However, after those top-tier defenders, liberos tend to settle into the rankings after attackers with good size and skills.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">How We Rank</h2>   <p>Prep Dig lays it all out in this expansive rankings guide, found here- <a href="https://prepdig.com/how-we-rank/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://prepdig.com/how-we-rank/</a>. </p>   <p>Three of the most important items listed are: 1. Rankings are based on a player's college potential. 2. Size, explosiveness, and athleticism matter. 3. Players move up in the rankings, and that move up drops other players.</p>   <p>Our scouts track between 175 and 250 players in each class, in each state we cover. We understand there will be players that inevitably slip through without coverage or are undercovered. We try to keep the updates frequent so we can find and cover as many athletes as possible. Our next update happens after the fall high school season in December, just prior to the club season starting up.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The FREE Prospect Index</h2>   <p>You can start or claim your Player Profile for free! Add a picture, update your position, school, club team, or height if any information changes. Did I mention it's free?</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-prep-dig wp-block-embed-prep-dig"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://prepdig.com/prospect-index/ </div></figure>

A rankings update is always a terrific time to talk about the why behind the rankings, trends that are happening statewide and nationally, and any other interesting rankings information we can provide. We check in on the top 20 overall-ranked players in the class and more in this deep dive. Some of this information was covered in the initial 2026 & 2027 Rankings articles, and we keep it here if it applies for 2028 as well.