Excel High School Sports

06/06/2023

Check out www.excelhsports.com for all information for the Indiana Basketball All Star Classic to be held June 16 and 17th at Anderson Universities Kardatzke Wellness Center.

An Ephiany, Maybe May 15, 2023 0 An Ephiany, Maybe by: Shawn Martin, Excel H Sports Last Thursday while playing my first nine holes of golf this year, I scanned my phone while waiting to tee off on a hole while following a league. It was then [More]

04/28/2023

11/09/2022

Men’s Basketball Inks Second-Straight Top 30 Class

Booth, Imes and Shrewsberry sign National Letters of Intent on Signing Day



UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Peter and Ann Tombros Endowed Men’s Basketball Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry has signed his second-straight top-30 recruiting class, as three highly-touted signees inked their National Letters of Intent on National Signing Day Wednesday.



Penn State’s three-member class currently ranks 24th in the nation according to 247 Sports and 27th according to ESPN. It marks the first time in program history that the Nittany Lions have signed back-to-back top-30 recruiting classes, both of which have come under Shrewsberry.



The three-member class is comprised of Carey Booth (Englewood, Colo.), Logan Imes (Zionsville, Ind.) and Braeden Shrewsberry (State College, Pa.). The three new Nittany Lions, who will join the program as the Class of 2027, bring accomplished athletic and academic pedigrees to Penn State.



“We are very excited to welcome three quality young men to our Penn State basketball family,” said Shrewsberry. “First and foremost, these three young men come from great families, have tremendous character, and fit in with what we are building culturally. There will always be a focus on skill and versatility as we continue to build this program and all three of these prospects bring that. They can all dribble, pass and shoot at a high level and have good positional size, which allows us to a lot of different things on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. I couldn’t be more excited for the future of our program, and we have high hopes for what this class will bring both on and off the court during their time in Happy Valley.”



Carey Booth

6-10 Forward | Englewood, Colo. | Brewster Academy | KC Run GMC

ESPN Top 100 recruit (No. 75). Ranked as the No. 15 power forward in his class per 247 Sports.
The second-highest ranked recruit in program history behind Tony Carr. Highest-ranked recruit of Shrewsberry’s tenure and Shrewsberry’s second ESPN Top 100 signee (also Kebba Njie).
Played three seasons at Cherry Creek High School in Colorado before enrolling at top-ranked prep school Brewster Academy in New Hampshire for senior season.
Played AAU ball on the Under Armour Association circuit with KC Run GMC. Lead KC Run GMC to 2022 UAA Finals semifinal round.
2022 NBAPA Top 100 camp invitee.
2022 Pangos All-American camp invitee and top-30 Cream of the Crop game participant.
Honor Roll student.



Personal: Son of Calvin and Keisha Booth...Father, Calvin, was a two-time team captain at Penn State who still owns the school record for blocked shots, was the 1998 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and the highest-drafted Nittany Lions in program history...Calvin is currently the General Manager of the NBA’s Denver Nuggets...Has three siblings, Carter, Camble and Clarke...Older sister, Carter, plays volleyball at Minnesota.



Shrewsberry on Booth: “I was thrilled to land the commitment of Carey Booth after his outstanding summer. He is someone who we targeted very early on in the recruiting process, and his decision to come to Penn State immediately elevated our program. Carey is just over 6-foot-10 now and is still growing. With his ability and his bloodlines, there is no doubt in my mind that Carey can be a gamechanger for us and a cornerstone of what we are building.”



Why Carey Chose Penn State: “I chose Penn State because I felt like I have the best chance to succeed at Penn State and they did the best job recruiting me.”



Logan Imes

6-4 Guard | Zionsville, Ind. | Zionsville | Indiana Elite

ESPN four-star prospect. Ranks as the No. 24 combo guard in the 2023 class and No. 6 overall player in the state of Indiana per 247 Sports.
Selected to Indiana Junior All-Star team.
Named to IBCA Supreme 15 Underclass All-State team.
Two-time first team all-conference pick at Zionsville High School.
Averaged 17.8 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game and 3.6 assists per game as a team captain during junior season at Zionsville.
Played AAU for Indiana Elite. Played up a year with the 2022 teams as a Class of 2023 player, advancing to the Final Four.



Personal: Son of Matt and Challis Imes...Has one younger sister, Josie...Father, Matt, was a collegiate rower at Wisconsin...Intends to major in business or marketing at Penn State.



Shrewsberry on Imes: “Logan is someone that I am very familiar with. He played AAU with my son Braeden, which allowed me to see him a lot as a player while also getting to know him as a person. Logan has tremendous character and comes from a great family. He is a very hard worker, as evidenced by the rapid improvement he has made shooting the basketball over the past 12 months. I am very excited to add Logan to our program and have high hopes for the player he will be going forward.”



Why Logan Chose Penn State: “I chose Penn State because of the family feel that the basketball staff and team has, as well as the university as a whole. I believe in Coach Shrewsberry’s vision for Penn State and the future of the program, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be a part of it.”



Braeden Shrewsberry

6-3 Guard | State College, Pa. | State College Area High School | Indiana Elite

ESPN four-star prospect. Ranked as the No. 33 shooting guard in the 2023 class and No. 4 player in the state of Pennsylvania per 247 Sports.
Was a first-team all-conference pick during junior season at State College Area High School in which he led the Little Lions to a District 6 championship.
Owns high school career marks of 1,028 points, 234 rebounds and 109 assists through three seasons.
Played two years at West Lafayette High School in Indiana during which he earned first-team all-area honors, scored a school-record 42 points in a single game during sophomore season and scored the most points by a freshmen in school history.
Played AAU ball for Indiana Elite. Led 16U team to Adidas 3SSB Championship and undefeated season.



Personal: Son of Micah and Molly Shrewsberry...Has three younger siblings, Nicholas, Caitlin and Grace...Father, Micah, is the head coach of the Nittany Lions.



Micah Shrewsberry on Braeden Shrewsberry: “Today was a special moment for our family because we got to celebrate Braeden accomplishing one of his goals. I’ve watched him work extremely hard to become a good player. He earned the opportunity to play basketball at Penn State and in the Big Ten. He is a great shooter who is adding more elements to his game that will be helpful with how we want to play on the offensive end of the floor. I’ve never had a chance to coach him before at any level, so this will be a unique experience for us.”



Why Braeden Chose Penn State: “I chose Penn State because I fit the program and the community really well. The style of play and player development system really stands out to me, and I feel like I can thrive in the offense. The three 2023 commits and five current freshmen fit really well together and will win a lot of games at Penn State. We get to do that in the best basketball conference in the country in front of a passionate fan base that is eager for a good basketball program. It has always been my dream to play for my dad and I get to do that, but I also have become close with the other coaches and everyone on the team in the last year, so it will be an easy transition.”

11/09/2022

Hawkeyes Ink Johnson and Jones on National Signing Day



IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder announced on Wednesday that Kennise Johnson and Ava Jones signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Iowa.



KENNISE JOHNSON

Guard, 5-foot-4, Joliet, Ill. (Example Academy)

No. 3 guard in the state of Illinois
No. 13 overall prospect in Illinois
In her junior year she won the Prep School National Championship
Averaged 11.3 PPG, 6.2 APG, 5.9 RPG, and 3.1 SPG in her junior season
Plays for Example Academy under head coach Barry Bradford, who was also her AAU coach for Example Sports



LISA BLUDER on KENNISE JOHNSON

“Kennise brings us great speed and a defensive tenacity that we need. She also brings great energy to all aspects of the game. Overall, we’re excited about the different skillset she gives us in the backcourt.”



AVA JONES

Forward, 6-foot-2, Nickerson, Kan. (Nickerson HS)

No. 84 player in ESPN’s 2023 HoopGurlz player rankings
Averaged 20.8 PPG and 15.4 RPG in her junior season
Reigning 3A girls player of the year in state of Kansas
MVP of the Central Kansas League
During her sophomore year, she averaged 20.8 PPG, 15.4 RPG, and 2.4 APG
In 2021-22, she was named all-Reno County girls player of the year



LISA BLUDER on AVA JONES

“Ava had an unfortunate accident this past summer. We are signing her because we believe in her and she believes in us. She is a remarkable athlete with great versatility. She is working hard to return to the athlete she was. When she takes the floor for Iowa, it will be a special moment for all of us.”

11/09/2022

Gophers Welcome Three Additions to the Program
MINNEAPOLIS -University of Minnesota men's basketball head coach Ben Johnson has announced that Cameron Christie, Dennis Evans and Erick Reader will join the Golden Gopher program prior to the 2023-24 season. Christie and Evans have signed National Letters of Intent, while Reader is set to join the team as a preferred walk on.

In addition, Johnson has announced that freshman Kadyn Betts will redshirt the 2022-23 season and be a part of the 2023-24 freshmen class. The Pueblo, Colo., product reclassified to the 2022 class and joined the program in August.

Christie is a 6-5, 160-pound guard from Arlington Heights, Ill., and Rolling Meadows High School under Kevin Katovich. Christie is ranked as the No. 1 recruit out of Illinois this season and ranked 84th nationally by 247Sports.com. A First-Team IBCA all-state selection, Christie helped Rolling Meadows to a 28-6 overall record and a Mid-Suburban East conference championship. Christie led the team to its first regional title in more than 21 years. As a junior, Christie surpassed 1,000 career points and averaged 22 points at Rolling Meadows. As a junior, Christie also shot 53 percent from the field, was 93 percent at free throw shooter and 42 percent beyond the arc last season. He also averaged 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Christie garnered all-state honors from the Sun Times and Hoops Report, while he was named the conference player of the year and an Under Armour Top 30 list. As a freshman, Christie was an all-area selection and averaged 11 points. Christie also plays with the Illinois Wolves on the Under Armour club basketball circuit with Mike Mullins.

"Cam is a driven, competitive winner and we're excited to see him bring that edge to Minnesota," head coach Ben Johnson said. "He understands what it takes to play at this level and has taken unbelievable strides in his game. He's incredibly driven to be the best player he can be. Cam's a versatile guard that can run an offense at the point. He can dribble, pass and shoot, is athletic and has a high IQ. We're excited to add someone like Cam with his personality, talent, ceiling and his drive to our program."

Evans is a 7-1, 210-pound center hailing from Riverside, Calif. Hillcrest High School under Hugh Wood. Also playing for Team Inland and "Kool-Aid" Perry, Evans is listed as the No. 13 recruit from Rivals.com, the 27th from 247Sports and 28th from PrepHoops.com. With Hillcrest last year, Evans averaged 11 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks per game as a junior. He led Hillcrest to a River Valley League Championship in 2022. A true rim protector, Evans produced a 16-block performance last year, which set a new state record. Evans also posted 10-block performances five times last year. He also included a triple-double once last season, his second of his career, the first coming as a sophomore. A standout on the USA Basketball circuit, Evans was also a member of the u17 USA Basketball team that took home gold this past summer in the FIBA championships in Malaga, Spain. He also recently was a part of the USA junior national team training camp this fall.

"Dennis brings a unique talent to Minnesota," Johnson said. "With his size and length, Dennis brings a great defensive presence. He's taken unbelievable strides from last year to now because of his great work ethic. He lives in the gym and has a passion for player development. He's all about the right stuff and a team guy that understands the process. Someone like Dennis, with his talent and upside, he's a defensive game changer. At the same, he creates a unique challenge offensively for opposing teams due to his high skill level and unique game."

Reader is a 6-8, 195-pound forward from Bloomington, Minn., and New Life Academy. As a junior last year, Reader averaged 13.5 points and shot 54.5 from the field. He also averaged 8.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1 block and 1 steal per game. With New Life Academy under head coach Robbie Whitney, Reader led the team to the Minnesota State High School League State semifinals last season, and were Skyline champions. A First-Team All-Skyline Conference honoree, Reader holds the school record for rebounds in a game (21) and ranks in the top three in school history for total rebounds in a season at 283. Reader also plays for Grassroots Sizzle and head coach Larry Suggs and Brian Sandifer. A standout student, Reader was also an ACSI Distinguished Christian High School Student Award for leadership and received a Scholar Athlete award for a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

"We're excited to have Erick join our program as a preferred walk on," Johnson said. "Erick will provide some depth to our program, is a local talent with a good skill level that can protect the rim and can score on the block. We're looking forward to working with him next year and watching his continued development."

11/09/2022

Holtmann Inks Another Top Class

For the second-straight season, Ohio State signs one of the top classes in the country



COLUMBUS, Ohio – For the second consecutive cycle, Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann has inked one of the top classes in the country. This year’s signing class of Taison Chatman, Scotty Middleton, Austin Parks and Devin Royal is ranked as the No. 5 class according to 247Sports.

Chatman and Royal are both the top-ranked players in the respective states. The 6-4 Chatman is a combo guard from Minneapolis and plays on one of the top teams in Minnesota. Royal is a local standout from Pickerington Central who led the Tigers to a state title this past March. Parks is a strong, stout center from Saint Mary’s, Ohio who will bring a physical presence in the post next season. Middleton is the highest ranked player in the class and will lead one of the nation’s top high school programs in Sunrise Christian (Kansas) this winter.



Taison Chatman
Combo Guard
6-4, 175
Minneapolis, Minn.
Totino-Grace

No. 31 prospect overall and 8th-best combo guard in the 247 composite national rankings
Top-ranked player in the state of Minnesota
Scored 13.5 points, seven rebounds and seven assists per game last season to lead Totino-Grace to the 3A State title in 2022
Has already scored over 1,000 career points in three high school seasons
Played for D1 Minnesota on the AAU circuit, Taison was one of the most efficient guards on the Adidas Circuit
Named Pre-Season POY by Breakdown Sport Media in Minnesota

Holtmann on Chatman: “We are really excited to add Taison to our program. From the day we met Taison and his family, it was obvious that they are close and love the game. We are thrilled to welcome all of them to our family. Taison is a gifted scorer with an ability to create for others as well. He plays with a mature pace and provides versatility as a multi-positional guard. A proven winner and state champion, Buckeye Nation is going to enjoy watching Taison represent our program.



Scotty Middleton
Guard/Wing
6-7, 190
Miami, Fla.
Sunrise Christian

A five-star prospect who is ranked 18th nationally according to ESPN
Ranked 38th nationally and the second ranked player in the state of Florida in the 247 composite rankings
Versatile perimeter player who plays on one of the most talented teams in the country at Sunrise Christian
Helped lead Sunrise Christian to the Geico Nationals as a Junior
Has been named a team captain for his senior season
Is also considered one of the best perimeter defenders in the class, both on and off the ball
Played for Brad Beal Elite AAU team on the EYBL Circuit
Helped lead Brad Beal Elite to the Elite 8 of Nike’s Peach Jam where he averaged 10.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists across the seven games
Attended the invite only USA Basketball mini-camp in October

Holtmann on Middleton: “Scotty is another tremendous addition to our program. Scotty is a gifted athlete with two-way potential that provides positional size and versatility on the perimeter. His ability to impact the game on the defensive end of the floor is special. Buckeye Nation is going to love his personality and competitiveness, and we can’t wait for him to get here and get to work.”



Austin Parks
Center
6-10, 250
Saint Mary’s, Ohio
St. Mary’s Memorial

EPSN four-star prospect and a Top-10 ranked center nationally
Strong, physical post player
Has scored over 1,000 points in his high school career
Averaged 19 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.5 blocks while earning second team All-State honors as a junior at St. Mary’s
Had seven 20-point games as a junior, including a 24-point, six rebound and four assist effort in the district championship game
Played AAU ball with Ohio Buckets
Mother Shari played collegiate volleyball at UT Arlington

Holtmann on Parks: “We are excited to officially welcome Austin and his family to The Ohio State University and our basketball family. Austin has a tremendous combination of size, athleticism, and strength for a big man. There is no doubt that he fits perfectly in the Scarlet and Gray. We love his skill set and feel, and we look forward to seeing his continued growth. I know he can’t wait to put on an Ohio State uniform in front of his family and friends.”



Devin Royal
Wing/Forward
6-6, 210
Pickerington, Ohio
Pickerington Central

Consensus four-star recruit who is ranked 26th according the On3 rankings
Top-ranked player in Ohio
Led Pickerington Central to a DI state title in 2022 as a junior. Scored a game-high 20 points in the win
Earned first team All-Ohio honors after averaging 19.1 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists
Named a Top 30 player at the Pangos Camp in Las Vegas and was named the MVP of the camp by On3
Played for All-Ohio Red in 2022 and averaged 17.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while shooting over 51 percent in 26 games
Played alongside current Ohio State football player Sonny Styles at Pickerington Central

Holtmann on Royal: “We want to officially welcome Devin and his family to our Buckeye family. It’s clear that Ohio State holds a special place in he and his family’s hearts. Devin is a state champion, a gifted scorer, and his combination of skill and toughness make him a perfect fit for the Big Ten Conference. We are excited for the impact he will make on our program and the greater Columbus community, and we know that he is going to represent Buckeye Nation with great pride and passion.”

11/09/2022

Colvin Signs Letter of Intent to Join Boilermakers



WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue head coach Matt Painter has announced that Myles Colvin has signed his National Letter of Intent to join the Boilermaker program for the 2023-24 season.

Colvin submitted his paperwork this morning and is officially a member of the Purdue basketball program.

“I think our staff has done a very good job of evaluating talent in this state and Myles is another example of that. I feel he is the best player in the state and one of the top-25 players in the country. He has a tremendous upside and is going to be very functional in today’s game with his athleticism and skill level,” Painter said. “He’s going to have a tremendous career at Purdue. He has great positional size and he has really worked on his skill from shooting 3s, making pull-ups and getting to the basket. He has an extremely high ceiling and he is going to only get better.”

Myles Colvin / 6-5 / Guard / Indianapolis, Indiana / Heritage Christian

Ranked No. 79 by On3 Sports, Colvin chose Purdue over offers from Indiana, Butler and Miami (Ohio). Colvin is ranked No. 82 nationally by Rivals, No. 92 by 247Sports and unranked by ESPN.
Regarded as the top prospect in the state of Indiana.
Competed with USA Basketball’s Under-18 3x3 team at the 3x3 World Championships this past June.
Was one of 100 players invited to the NBPA Top 100 camp in June.
Named an Indiana Jr. All-Star a year ago.
Owns a 6-foot, 9-inch wingspan and attacks the rim relentlessly while being able to shoot the 3-ball.
Will be just 17 years old when he arrives at Purdue next summer.
Father, Rosevelt, played football at Purdue from 1995 to 1998, being named All-Big Ten his final two years. Was then drafted by the Chicago Bears and won a pair of Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. Sister, Raven, is a standout sophomore on the Purdue Volleyball team.

11/09/2022

Wisconsin welcomes three newcomers in 2023 Signing Class

Blackwell, Winter and Yalden sign on National Signing Day



Nov. 9, 2022



MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin men's basketball head coach Greg Gard announced Wednesday that high school seniors John Blackwell, Nolan Winter and Gus Yalden have each signed a national letter of intent to attend the University of Wisconsin.



JOHN BLACKWELL

6-4, 185, Guard

Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (Brother Rice)



Gard on Blackwell:

“John brings a versatile skillset that will translate to the college level almost seamlessly. While evaluating him, the staff and I quickly identified him for his physicality, feel for the game and basketball IQ. John has the ability with his skillset to play both with the ball in his hand and off of the ball. One of his greatest traits is the way he competes on the defensive end of the floor, and we feel he has the ability to be a great defensive player here at Wisconsin. John is a very humble, yet competitive young man that comes from a great upbringing. His father, Glynn Blackwell, played Big Ten basketball and was a part of some great teams at Illinois. John understands the hard work he has to put in to be successful, not only on the court but also in the classroom. We are thrilled to have John and his family joining the Badger Family, and we’re looking forward to helping him chase his dreams.”



BIO: John Blackwell, a three-star combo guard from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan has committed to play for the Badgers. Per 247 sports, he ranks as the 26th-best combo guard in the nation and the third-best prospect in the state of Michigan. As a junior at Brother Rice High School, he averaged 13 points, five rebounds and four assists per game while shooting 49 percent from beyond the arc – the highest 3-point shooting percentage in Michigan that season. John’s father, Glynn Blackwell, played four seasons at Illinois (1984-88) at shooting guard, appearing in 106 games (57 starts) for the Illini where he averaged 12.1 points per game as a senior.



NOLAN WINTER

6-10, 190, Forward

Lakeville, Minn. (Lakeville North)



Gard on Winter:

“Nolan is an excellent addition to our program. He has pushed himself both on the court and as a student in the classroom, making him well prepared to have success here at Wisconsin. Nolan has been on our radar for several years, which has allowed our staff to watch him grow and develop as a player. He has a tremendously high basketball IQ and a versatile skillset that will allow him to be effective in the post, off the dribble and a terrific shooter from the perimeter. His game is a perfect match for who we are and where the game of basketball is going, which requires multi-dimensional players with diverse skill sets. Nolan has developed a championship mindset from his parents, who were also student-athletes, and from a tremendous high school program at Lakeville North. We’re excited for Nolan to join our Badger Family and we can’t wait to begin working with him to help him reach his goals as a Badger.”



BIO: Three-star recruit Nolan Winter has committed to Wisconsin and continues not only a family athletic legacy at the collegiate level, but also carries on a line of Lakeville North Badgers. The 6-foot-10 forward ranks as the No. 2-ranked basketball recruit in the state of Minnesota, according to 247 Sports. Winter played basketball at Lakeville North, the same high school program that current senior forward Tyler Wahl and former forward Nate Reuvers attended. During his junior season at Lakeville North, he averaged 17.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, shooting 49.8 percent from the floor. Nolan comes from an athletic family, as his father, Trevor, played Big Ten basketball for Minnesota (1993-97), and Nolan’s mother, Heidi, played volleyball for the Gophers.



GUS YALDEN

6-9, 240, Forward

Appleton, Wis. (La Lumiere [Ind.])



Gard on Yalden:

“We are very excited to add Gus to our program. We first saw Gus as a young player at our summer camps and it has been a long, exciting recruiting process to now finally call him a Badger. He grew up idolizing many former Badgers, he understands what it means to wear the Cardinal and White and takes pride in that. He is well traveled and has challenged himself both academically and athletically in high school so that he is well prepared to thrive here at Wisconsin. Gus plays the game with a lot of enthusiasm and passion and our fans will absolutely love watching him compete in a Badger uniform. He has the size and strength to be a force around the rim, while combining that with a point-guard like feel on the perimeter to make him a very unique and talented player. We are excited to welcome Gus back home to his Wisconsin roots and we can’t wait to help him reach his dreams and goals as a Badger.”



BIO: Four-star big man Gus Yalden, a native of Appleton, Wisconsin, returns home to play for his home state Badgers. The 6-foot-9 forward ranks as a top-100 recruit in the country, according to 247 Sports. This past summer, he competed at the prestigious Nike Peach Jam in July, during which he put up a 35-point (70% FG), 17-rebound performance and showcased himself as one of the best bigs in the country. Yalden will play basketball his senior season at La Lumiere in LaPorte, Indiana, one of the top high school basketball programs in the country. Yalden spent his junior season at Asheville High School in Asheville, North Carolina, where he averaged 17 points and seven rebounds per game.

11/09/2022

Minatee, Schnichels Sign with Gophers for 2023 Class

MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota volleyball program has announced two signees to its 2023 recruiting class. The Golden Gophers welcome middle blocker Calissa Minatee (Kansas City, Mo.) and outside/opposite hitter Sydney Schnichels (Willmar, Minn.) to the program.

"We are extremely excited about this incoming class," said head coach Hugh McCutcheon. "They are great students, great volleyball players and they'll be great Gophers."

A 6-foot-1 middle blocker out of Kansas City, Mo. (North Kansas City H.S.), Minatee is a two-time all-conference and a two-time all-district selection who was also selected as an Under Armour All-American. The three-time North Kansas City H.S. Team MVP was a USA Indoor Volleyball National Training Development Team attendee and as a freshman in high school held the highest hitting percentage in the entire state of Missouri.

As of eOctober, Minatee had tallied 208 kills (.422) hitting with 138 digs, 50 blocks and 35 aces during her senior year. That follows up a junior year that saw her tally 248 kills (.347) with 184 digs, 66 blocks and 37 aces. Minatee registered more than 200 kills and 50 blocks in each of her first two high school seasons as well. Minatee ranks as the No. 56 player in the 2023 class by PrepVolleyball.com. She was named an AVCA Second Team All-American after her senior year performance in November of 2022.

"Calissa is an extremely talented, physical and hard-working athlete and her character is beyond compare," McCutcheon said. "We are extremely excited to have her join our program."

Off the court, Minatee has been a National Honor Society member since April 2021. She's a three-time Academic All-State honoree and a four-time academic letterwinner at North Kansas City High. In April of 2022, she was awarded as her school's 'Student of the Month.'

In club volleyball, Minatee led her team to first place at the 2022 Sunshine 17U Open and second place at the NEQ 17U open.

Why Minnesota: "Minnesota has a family-like environment that really attracted me," said Minatee. "Their holistic development of the student-athletes stood out for me. I can't wait to get to Minnesota in January."

Personal: The daughter of Jacinthia Prater-Minatee and Lester Minatee, Calissa has two sisters, Chandler and Camryn. Chandler currently plays college basketball at the University of Kansas, where she was a 2021-22 First Team Academic All-Big 12 selection. Calissa plans to major in architecture at the University of Minnesota.

Goals: "I want to help my team win both Big Ten and national championships and improve as a player each year, with a focus on a high hitting percentage and a more aggressive serving style. Off the court, I hope to positively impact the university and community, living a balanced athletic and personal life."

A 6-foot-4 outside/opposite hitter from Willmar, Minn. (Willmar Senior H.S.), Sydney Schnichels is a two-time Minnesota All-State selection, a three-time all-conference selection and a three-time first team all-area selection. The 2022 Minnesota Ms. Baden Award winner is Willmar High School's all-time career kills record holder. She also set her schools single-game kills record and holds the freshman, junior and senior records at Willmar for most kills in a season. The two-time CLC Conference Player of the Week was the 2022 Max Preps Minnesota Player of the Week (Sept. 5-11). She's also a 2023 Under Armour Next All-America game invitee. In November 2022, Sydney was named a First Team All-American by the AVCA.

Schnichels ranks as the No. 20 overall player in the 2023 class by PrepVolleyball.com. She comes in as the No. 1 overall recruit in Minnesota and the No. 22 player in the country on PrepDig for the senior class and VBallRecruiter lists her as a five-star recruit. For her career at Willmar, she tallied 1,324 kills (.288 hitting) with 170 blocks, 697 digs, 106 aces and 38 assists. As a senior, Schnichels registered 490 kills (.318) with 28 blocks, 232 digs, 51 aces and 28 assists.

"Sydney is a great volleyball talent and we are so glad she chose to stay close to home," McCutcheon said. "She knows how to work hard and she makes those around her better. She's a great addition to our program."

On the club circuit, she played for the JVA All-National Team and made the USAV GJNC 17-Open All-Tournament Team. She led her USAV GJNC-Open team to a silver medal in 2022 after leading the 16-Open team to a fifth-place finish in 2021. In 2019, she played for the 14-Open team, helping them accomplish a bronze medal. Schnichels was also a USA Volleyball National Team Development program participant last year.

Off the court, Schnichels earned 2022 AAU Volleyball Academic All-American status. She was also a 2022 AVCA Best and Brightest First Team selection and is a four-year honor student at Willmar High School.

Why Minnesota: "I chose Minnesota because it has been my dream to be a Gopher volleyball player since I was a little girl," Schnichels said. "The program has a long tradition of success and excellence. I could not be more excited to play for my home state in front of my family, friends, and all of the wonderful Gopher fans!"

Personal: The daughter of Kelli and Justin Schnichels, Sydney has four younger siblings. She has two brothers, Jackson and Cooper, and two sisters, Brooklyn and Bailey. Her mom played volleyball and her dad played college football at Augustana College. She's undecided on what her major will be at Minnesota.

Goals: "My goals for when I get to Minnesota are to win a Big Ten and a national title in addition to becoming the best player and person I can be. I also want to be named an All-American."

Both Minatee and Schnichels will enroll at Minnesota in January and compete in spring practice.