UA Next: Athletes Already In, and Names Starting to Rise

<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/" id="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">This article was shared with 150+ college coaches. Join PrepDig with 30% off using code: Coachable247</a>   Every year, the Under Armour Next Camp Series brings together some of the most competitive athletes in the country, creating a rare environment where future college stars, committed prospects, and rising young names all share the same court.   This year, six athletes are arriving with two very different stories.   Three members of the Class of 2027 have already earned their college opportunities. Their names are already attached to future programs. Their recruiting journeys may be further along, but their work is far from finished. They are stepping into UA Next with a chance to earn something even bigger, a coveted All-America roster spot in Orlando.   The other three may still be early in the process, but college programs are already paying attention. Lana Frelix, Cadence “Cheeky” Talaga, and Baylee Wilson are athletes whose habits, decision-making, and competitive maturity are starting to create real momentum long before the phone can officially ring.   Some athletes are already in...Others are just beginning to rise.    Kendall Omoruyi is the type of athlete who tends to shift the energy of an entire court the moment warmups begin.   Her combination of athleticism, physicality, and confidence already makes her difficult to ignore, but what makes her especially dangerous heading into UA Next is how much her game has continued to evolve after commitment.   Blocking has taken a major jump this season, and the technical adjustments, dropping the inside hand, reading the hitter earlier, and opening her body more efficiently in transition, are now creating a middle who is closing blocks harder and attacking with even more confidence.   What stands out most, though, is how she thinks when the level rises. She is not simply swinging harder. She is reading the floor, using her toolbox, mixing shots, and forcing defenders to solve different problems every rally.   Already verbally committed to University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Kendall looks like an athlete who is not just chasing an All-America roster spot…   She looks ready for it.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Laila Chadwick understands that in camp environments like UA Next, liberos do not always get dozens of touches to make an impression.   Sometimes it takes one read.   One dig.   One voice that instantly organizes six athletes who have never played together before.   That is exactly why her game feels built for this environment.   Defense and communication are the two areas she is most excited to showcase, and both have become even stronger this season as her eye work and ability to cut balls off early have continued to evolve. That growth is translating directly into more digs, better first contact, and a libero who is reading the game earlier than ever before.   What may serve her most in a roster-selection environment, though, is how well she manages herself between points. Her ability to stay mentally steady, reset quickly, and focus only on what she can control gives her the kind of emotional consistency coaches trust.   Already verbally committed to the University of Oklahoma, Laila is not arriving to prove she belongs.   She is arriving to compete for something bigger.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Lily Beckwith is walking into UA Next with something every coach notices quickly…Joy.   Not the casual kind. The kind that comes from an athlete who has fallen deeply in love with the process, the pressure, and the people around her.   Her fast arm, attacking range, ball control, and defensive movement will all show up when camp begins, but what may separate her most is the freedom she has learned to play with this season. A conversation in a hotel lobby shifted her perspective, reminding her that the game was never just about individual goals.   It was about the nine other athletes fighting beside her.   That mindset has changed everything.   Her ability to move on, celebrate small wins, trust herself, and stay aggressive in pressure moments now feels like one of the strongest parts of her game.   Already verbally committed to Long Beach State University, Lily feels like the kind of athlete who gets even better when the lights get brighter.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Lana Frelix is already building serious momentum heading into June 15, with her name continuing to show up on recruiting boards across the country. Add in years of experience with the USA Volleyball NTDP training camp, and it is clear she is not waiting for the process to start… she is already in it.   And it is easy to understand why.   She is arriving at UA Next with a game that continues expanding on both sides of the ball. Hitting and backrow defense are the two areas she is most excited to showcase, and both have taken clear steps forward this season as she has become smarter, quicker, and more decisive with her reads.   One coaching cue in particular seems to be shaping her development right now.   Stop thinking. Trust the work. Go.   That mindset is helping her serve more aggressively, defend with more freedom, and compete with a calmer presence when matches get faster.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Baylee Wilson, fresh off the USAV NTDP training camp, already thinks about volleyball the way older athletes do.   She sees the game like chess.   And that alone makes her interesting.   Her attacking range, blocking, defense, and growing backrow attack are all creating a much more complete six-rotation profile, but what stands out most is how intentionally she is developing. Extra reps with setters. Film study. Watching players like Mimi Colyer. Building timing. Expanding the offense.   Nothing about her development feels accidental.   When the pace gets faster, she is not looking to swing harder.   She is looking to solve the defense.   That type of decision-making, paired with a 4.4 GPA, discipline in training, and genuine love for learning, is exactly why so many coaches are already paying attention.   And she is only getting started.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Cadence Talaga is already playing the libero position with the type of maturity that usually takes years to develop.   Defensive range, serve receive, communication, court IQ, and the ability to read hitters early all show up naturally in how she describes her game, but what may impress coaches most is how calm she stays when the level gets faster.   She trusts her training.   She communicates every play.   She stays disciplined.   And she keeps finding ways to help.   That kind of consistency is rare in young defenders, especially in environments where athletes are meeting for the first time and chemistry has to happen quickly.   For a Class of 2029 libero still a year away from official recruiting conversations, Cadence already looks like an athlete programs will continue tracking very closely.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">If You Enjoyed This Article, Help Us Keep the Momentum Going</h2>   🔥 Athletes Study this group closely. Some have already earned their college opportunities. Others are building serious momentum as June 15 gets closer. What connects them is not hype, it is habits. Watch how they talk about communication, emotional control, versatility, leadership, and the details that continue showing up when the level gets faster. Recruiting momentum rarely happens by accident. Keep building your game, keep owning your story, and keep giving coaches reasons to come back to your court.   📣 Club Coaches & Directors These athletes are walking into one of the most respected identification environments in the country carrying the standards, competitiveness, and culture your programs helped shape. If your athletes are featured, celebrate them. Share this article, tag @PrepDigCA, and help college coaches see not just the talent, but the maturity, coachability, and habits that continue to separate them when the pressure rises.   🎯 College Coaches Some of these athletes are already committed. Others are entering one of the most important stretches of their recruiting journey. Camp environments often reveal what film cannot, how athletes communicate with new teammates, how quickly they adjust, how they reset after mistakes, and who continues making winning decisions when touches are limited. Use University Athlete to continue tracking the athletes whose games are not just developing… they are gaining momentum.   🙏 Parents & Supporters Behind every invitation to the Under Armour Next Camp Series are years of sacrifice, early mornings, long drives, extra reps, and unwavering belief. Whether your athlete is already committed or just beginning to build recruiting momentum, your support is part of every opportunity they earn. If a player in this article inspired you, share it, celebrate them, and help their story reach the right eyes.   🚀 <a href="https://prepdig.com/my-account/subscriptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Upgrade to a PrepDig+ Subscription</a> Follow these athletes beyond camp season with deeper evaluations, recruiting insights, exclusive rankings, and the full Prospect Index. Because exposure should not end when the whistle blows.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/05/image_e90cce.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-985003" style="aspect-ratio:1.948368241597662;width:318px;height:auto"/></a></figure>

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