Which college programs benefited most from Michigan’s Class of 2020?
In year’s past, it was pretty easy to look at top prospects in the state and which programs they would head to. Largely Midwest, the state of Michigan didn’t have a lot of talent branching out. Now, we have seen…
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Continue ReadingIn year’s past, it was pretty easy to look at top prospects in the state and which programs they would head to.
Largely Midwest, the state of Michigan didn’t have a lot of talent branching out. Now, we have seen the network really spread out all over the country. While Michigan and Michigan State remain a consistent force with in-state recruiting, understandably, the Class of 2020 includes recruits going to programs like Arkansas, South Carolina, Mississippi State, West Virginia, Northwestern, Wake Forest, Wichita State, VCU and others.
Here’s a look at which of the programs are most likely to benefit from Michigan’s talented and deep Class of 2020.
Kendall MurrayMichigan: It wasn’t a large class from the state for the Wolverines, but they got two of the best pieces in the class for 2020. First, they landed Mercy’s Jess Mruzik, the 2019 Miss Volleyball winner and one of the most accomplished players in the history of the state in youth volleyball – a 2019 D1 state champ, a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year, and a two-time MVP on the international stage for Team USA. Mruzik has all the tools, the drive and the leadership to continue to succeed at the Division 1 level and Michigan has to be ecstatic to bring her on. If that wasn’t enough, the Wolverines also signed Kendall Murray from Ann Arbor Skyline. Murray is a 6-foot-2 outside that has significantly improved her all-around game in recent years while helping take Skyline to the Division 1 semifinals this fall. She leaves Skyline as the school’s all-time leaders in kills and digs. These two will join fellow Michigan natives Jess Robinson, Abbey Malinowski and Maddie Dowd on the 2020 Wolverines’ roster.
Celia CullenMichigan State: The Spartans added three total players for their 2020 class, with just one coming from within the state. However, it’s a big one. Brighton setter Celia Cullen has managed to put herself into an elite class nationally over recent years. Cullen was part of the 2018 USA Girls National Youth Team alongside Mruzik and was part of the national championship club squad at Legacy in the 2018 club season. Cullen was a standout for the Bulldogs while moving away from her natural position of setter at times. Now, focusing back into her primary role, she can take the experience of playing with the elite hitters that she has and apply it at MSU. Her size, athleticism and intelligence make her a great asset. Cullen will be one of six in-state plyers on the MSU roster in 2020.
Alexa RousseauNorthwestern: The Wildcats continued to tap into the state of Michigan for its 2020 class, bringing in setter Alexa Rousseau from Bloomfield Hills. Rousseau is just one of two players signed to the Northwestern class, but she brings a lot of unique skills that you can’t find around the country. A 6-foot-3, left-handed setter, Rousseau has sharpened all aspects of her game while playing her four years of varsity volleyball at Bloomfield Hills. She also has earned All-American status as part of Legacy. The Wildcats brought in Abryanna Cannon and Tatyana Hardwick as part of their 2018 recruiting class, and signed Desiree Becker in last year’s recruiting class.
Andelyn SimkinsWestern Michigan: The Broncos brought in a class of four, signing two from Michigan. Those two are Schoolcraft’s Andelyn Simkins and Parma Western’s Abi Wilcoxson. Simkins is a fundamentally sound outside hitter that was the Miss Volleyball runner-up this fall while leading Schoolcraft to the Division 3 championship match. She holds Schoolcraft’s school record in career kills and digs, while going over 2,000 kills for her career. Simkins has a chance to make an immediate impact and definitely has the leadership skills a program looks for. Wilcoxson is an outside hitter as well and put up over 1,550 kills in her prep career while holding the school record in kills. A multi-sport standout, Wilcoxson is a talented athlete that the Broncos hope to utilize. These two will join six other Michigan natives on the 2020 WMU roster.
Elizabeth Ruprich*SEC: Sure, the SEC isn’t a team, but the conference itself really sunk its teeth into the Class of 2020 for the state of Michigan and that could be a sign of what is to come. As the state continues to grow on the national level, more names are likely to find themselves earning D1 scholarships outside of the Midwest. The SEC landed three of our top 10 in the Class, as Grand Rapids Christian setter Jordyn Gates is headed to Arkansas, Groves middle Elizabeth Ruprich is heading to South Carolina, and Troy outside Francesca McBride is heading to Mississippi State. All three players have elite athleticism and footwork. Gates is a great court general that ran the GRC offense flawlessly to a pair of Division 2 state championships in 2018 and 2019. Ruprich stands 6-3, but has great footwork for her size and her coordination has allowed her to be a standout in multiple sports. There isn’t much she can’t do. McBride follows in the footsteps of her former teammate, Jess Robinson, as being a standout hitter for Troy. A great reach and a great vertical allows McBride to terminate at a high level. She will be ready for the competition the SEC brings.