Natalie DePoorter Natalie DePoorter 5'11" | S/RS Assumption | 2029 State IA has grown so much over the past year and has really stepped up her game as a setter. This past club season, she was moved up to play with Iowa Select 16 Mizuno and did a fantastic job. Now, she is filling the shoes of Carsyn at Assumption and has led them to the top of the rankings. Although DePoorter is a part of an excellent passing program, that doesn’t change the fact that she works extremely hard to set her hitters up for success with each and every set she delivers. Not only does she run her offense beautifully, but she also manages to put up a solid block on the outside hitters. Natalie still has such a high ceiling, and I wouldn’t be shocked if she worked her way up a few spots over the next year.

Depoorter has experienced a crash course in learning the setter position, playing up an age group at a high level along the club circuit. It prepared her for taking over as Assumption’s starter this season, when the defending 3A state champs moved up a classification. Her ability to hit the ground running has been instrumental in the Knights not skipping a beat. The sophomore had handed out 511 assists, and collected 116 digs, 42 kills and 23.0 blocks through the first 62 sets. I’d watched Depoorter shine with older kids in club, and she was doing the same during an in-person scouting opportunity at the Iowa City High quad in late September. The 10th-grader is tall with long arms, allowing her to get extension on her sets, which are precise. Depoorter throws up a strong block, and can terminate points with a hefty lefty swing or a well-timed setter dump. The arrow is pointing up for this college prospect.

DePoorter is another underclassman who is working to fill the shoes of Carsyn Kelley and has been on an upward trend. We got to see a little bit of the sophomore last year, but now she’s stepping up and running the Knights’ offense all on her own. You can tell she’s starting to play with more confidence, getting more comfortable in a leadership role and helping lead her team.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with DePoorter stepping in as Assumption’s setter. Carsyn Kelly had left some big shoes to fill, and I was curious to see how she would contribute. But Natalie did a fantastic job filling that role and has already started with her best foot forward. DePoorter did an amazing job distributing the ball and wasn’t afraid to put the ball away on two either. She also did a fantastic job setting up a strong block in the front row, making it very hard for her opponents to hit around her.

DePoorter was playing up when I scouted her at the 2026 Nike President’s Classic in St. Louis. You would not have known that watching the performance with Select 16 Mizuno. It’s a mature, consistent game. The exciting part is that there’s plenty of room to grow with more reps. Natural gifts give her future upside to go with current production. DePoorter is tall with long arms. Athleticism and agility add to the equation. She fluidly flows well around the court with quickness and a good feel for the game. DePoorter defends well at the net and flashes plenty of potential with her swing.