The 16s age group isn’t the only place to find this year’s best 2028s. Bain has brought her complete game to the 17s level and is a do-everything athlete for Dynasty 17 Black. Playing against older peers has not slowed Bain’s progress, and the positive results have rolled in. 17 Black clinched the 18 USA title at KC MLK, leading to further bracket runs at Triple Crown and the Sunshine Classic. Bain’s adaptability in a 5-1 offense has stood out, but she can slot into whatever system 17 Black deploys. Her expanding role will soon be highlighted at Indianapolis’ MEQ weekend.

I wrote about Ellie Bain yesterday, but let’s run it back! The Class of 2028 setter runs the show for Dynasty 17 Black who will most likely be a power pool squad at NIT Triple Crown in just over a week.  This is a complete team who does a little bit of everything extremely well, tough to peg a weakness.  The one who straws the drink is Ellie Bain who is a 2028 setter on the rise.  She receives the ball high, remains neutral, and can run all the tempos.

Elie Bain was the QB1 for Dynasty 17 Black who brought back an open bid to Kansas City.  This was my first time seeing Bain play live and I kept looking for where she was committed.  She’s a Class of 2028, her time to start the process will come this June.  The movement, the hands, Bain can be offensive as well.  For a 2028, playing at a high level 17 Open is no joke.  She is right in line with other high caliber Dynasty setters this club consistently produces. 

When the gym got loud and matches tightened, Ellie Bain stayed steady. Ellie’s ability to run offense under pressure was evident in her tempo control and smart distribution. She moved blockers with her eyes, used dumps strategically, and created one-on-one opportunities for her hitters.

What makes Ellie influential goes beyond the ball location. She directs traffic, builds confidence in her hitters, and never allows the moment to speed her up. Young girls watching her court saw a setter who leads with voice, vision, and composure. Ellie isn’t just shaping rallies — she’s shaping what leadership at the setter position should look like. ~Theresa @prepdigdakotas

Bain is the second-ranked setter in the Kansas Class of 2028. Mill Valley’s starting setter Ella Florez Ella Florez 5'9" | S MIll Valley | 2026 State #132 Nation KS is ranked No. 1 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026 and has verbally committed to Iowa State University. So the question is: will Baine make the varsity as a second setter or backup setter, or will she be used in a different role? It doesn’t matter other than the official varsity stats that she collects, because she is a talented setter and another fun athlete to watch. She plays in a program with a winning pedigree and gets to share reps with one of the best setters in the state, which will help her overall intangible skills and in her recruitment.

Bain is ranked No. 7 overall in the Kansas Class of 2028 and is the second-ranked setter. She has had a busy summer as her club team qualified for nationals in Dallas, and she attended the University of Arkansas Elite Camp. She is a gifted setter who plays with high energy. She is an intense competitor who communicates well with teammates.

Watching Bain play was one of the highlights of my scouting season last fall. She only played 39 sets of varsity play, but she is an upcoming setter who I was impressed with in an early-season match. She played behind Mill Valley’s Ella Florez Ella Florez 5'9" | S MIll Valley | 2026 State #132 Nation KS , but she should be a setter to keep track of. She finished with 20 assists, 14 kills, and 15 digs in varsity play as a freshman. I was lucky to catch Bain on the right night and look forward to seeing how she continues to evolve on the court.

Bain is another setter/right-side player who shined on the day. The 2028 player was strong in her placement of balls and showed she had some of the best hands in the gym. When she’s not setting, she is a fierce attacker who lets it rip and can score consistently.