When we first featured Yemaya Chappell Yemaya Chappell 6'3" | MB/RS Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences | 2029 CA in this Juneteenth spotlight, she shared a simple but powerful belief: the first step to becoming great is developing the mindset of a great athlete. Over the past year, she has put that philosophy into action.

Yemaya has experienced tremendous growth both as a player and as a competitor. She earned an invitation to the USA Volleyball National Team Development Program (NTDP), one of the highest honors available to young athletes in the sport. She recently attended Texas A&M’s Maroon & White Camp, hosted by the reigning 2025 NCAA National Champions, and will continue her recruiting journey this summer at Nebraska’s 2026 Dream Team Camp. These opportunities allow her to challenge herself against elite competition while gaining valuable insight into the collegiate game.

For Yemaya, her African-American heritage remains central to who she is. It has helped shape the confidence and self-awareness she carries both on and off the court. By embracing her identity and understanding her value, she has developed the ability to compete with purpose, confidence, and presence in every environment she enters.

Her father continues to be her greatest inspiration. As a former Division I basketball player who competed at Duke, won an NCAA National Championship at Michigan State, and played professionally overseas, he understands what it takes to succeed at the highest levels. His lessons about preparation, discipline, goal setting, and mental toughness continue to guide Yemaya’s development as an athlete and young woman.

Her message to younger athletes remains unchanged:

Yemaya’s recent accomplishments are proof that confidence, preparation, and consistent effort can create opportunities far beyond what many young athletes imagine possible.

~ Michelle Bamford @coachable247

Yemaya Chappell is already playing faster and thinking faster, two traits that tend to separate young middles early, especially in environments like UA Next where touches come quickly and first impressions happen even faster.

Blocking is what she is most excited to showcase, and the word she used that immediately caught my attention was aggressive. Middles who attack the net instead of simply occupying space tend to change how offenses operate, and Yemaya is clearly starting to embrace that part of her game.

Her offensive growth is expanding right alongside it. The development of her slide has opened up new scoring opportunities this season, while reps on the right side and in the backrow are already stretching her game well beyond the traditional middle blocker label. For a 2029 athlete still early in her recruiting journey, that kind of versatility is hard to ignore.

What may serve her just as much at this event, though, is how she processes the game when the pace starts to rise. Instead of forcing swings or chasing points, she slows down, reads what the defense is giving her, and trusts her decision-making.

Yemaya is already building an impressive early résumé. Returning as a previous UA Next MVP, preparing to compete with the USA Volleyball NTDP, and in invitation to Nebraka’s Dream Camp, she is arriving with both experience and momentum, and looks ready to shine once the camp begins.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

Yemaya Chappell Yemaya Chappell 6'3" | MB/RS Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences | 2029 CA transitions quickly and attacks with confidence. She shows the ability to adjust around the block and contributes defensively with solid blocking mechanics. Her movement across the court helps her stay involved in every phase of the rally. ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

Yemaya Chappell Yemaya Chappell 6'3" | MB/RS Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences | 2029 CA ‘s growth shows in her route versatility and offensive creativity. She references running an inside slide and adjusting approach lines to disrupt blockers. The willingness to expand beyond traditional middle routes increases unpredictability and offensive stress on opposing systems.

She is also intentionally broadening her positional range by training at opposite, adding defensive reps and expanding her backcourt responsibilities. The move toward being a more complete athlete rather than a single-role middle reflects long-term thinking.

When asked what she wants coaches to understand beyond the stat sheet, she said:

The key phrase is apply in real time. Coachability paired with immediate adjustment is a strong indicator of processing speed at this stage.

Off the court, Yemaya maintains a 4.0 GPA and serves as a school ambassador. Her academic consistency and administrative involvement reinforce responsibility and communication skills beyond sport.

Irene Choe Irene Choe 5'5" | DS/L Bishop Montgomery | 2029 CA is a player who has impacted Yemaya this season. She highlights Irene’s consistency and defensive reliability in high-pressure moments. Yemaya’s respect for steadiness under stress mirrors what she is building within her own game.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

Yemaya Chappell Yemaya Chappell 6'3" | MB/RS Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences | 2029 CA embraced the challenge of playing up, holding her own physically and emotionally while bringing contagious energy. She scored efficiently off developed slide attacks and delivered a pivotal block that reversed match momentum. Her next development target centers on lateral quickness to match increasing pace and elevate blocking range. Participation in NTDP training prior to the event signals initiative, and competing for a top ranked regional team reflects her competitive environment.

Yemaya Chappell Yemaya Chappell 6'3" | MB/RS Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences | 2029 CA will compete next at Red Rock Rave from March 14 to 16, 2026.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

Click to view Yemaya Chappell Yemaya Chappell 6'3" | MB/RS Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences | 2029 CA

Yemaya Chappell Yemaya Chappell 6'3" | MB/RS Crossroads School for Arts & Sciences | 2029 CA named Top Performer at PrepDig’s Exposure Tour in Gardena, CA.

Yemaya continues to trend upward every time she steps on the court, and this showcase was no exception. Her footwork and timing were sharp, and her arm swing continues to develop into a real weapon. She shared that her volleyball IQ allows her to read attackers and identify open space early, giving her an edge both offensively and defensively.

She is focused on improving her slide attack speed and making in air blocking adjustments based on hitter cues. Yemaya also has goals to increase her vertical and continue refining her net discipline. Her steady growth and smart play made her one to watch throughout the day.

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

“Being invited to the Phenom Program has renewed my drive to work harder every day. I’m excited to compete alongside the best athletes in the nation and elevate my level of play.”

Yemaya later reflected on how her game shows up on the court, pointing to anticipation as a strength that consistently impacts play. “I am most proud of my ability to read setters and anticipate plays before they happen. This has allowed me to create more opportunities to get blocks and make positive touches that help my team.”

Looking ahead, her focus shifted to the mental and communicative demands of the game. “Because volleyball is such a mental sport, being able to have tools to help me not get stuck in my head will help set me apart. Being a strong communicator is important both on and off the court.”

~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

When thinking about a “Starting 7,” I knew very quickly that Yemaya would be one of the middles I picked. At 6’3″, she dominates the net on both sides of the ball, bringing a physical presence that changes the momentum of rallies. She’s not only a force offensively and defensively, but she also brings an energy that lifts her teammates and raises the team’s intensity. With Yemaya holding down the middle, any coach can feel confident in the strength and consistency of their block.

Chappell is a huge presence on the court. Not only because she is 6’3″, but because she combines her big, powerful swing with quick reactions that allows her to take command on both offense and defense. At such a young age, she already has the ability to read the court effectively and adjust to quick plays. With her combination of power, height, and speed, she is a highly effective middle who is going to impact every play and challenge opposing team’s hitters. This girl is going places and I can’t wait to watch it all unfold.