News & Thoughts about PSU Recruiting, Transfer Portal, etc.

If the rankings included Caroline Jurevicius as a member of Penn State's 2024 class (work with me here -- she has four years of eligibility remaining), where would Penn State's class be ranked?  I don't know anything about the classes ranked above them, but I'd guess 3rd or 4th. Maybe higher?

However, class size is given A LOT of weight in these kinds of rankings, so maybe not much change if the classes ranked above them have four or more members?

Re: Maggie Mendelson - Social media interactions can mean something, but it could also mean nothing. If it does mean something, it looks like there might be momentum between her and Minnesota.

Something to note is that before her commitment to Nebraska, two of her "finalists" included Washington and Minnesota. Washington back then was coached by Keegan Cook - Minnesota's current HC.

I hope PSU is in the mix, but when it comes to recent social media interactions, it's only two of our players vs. nearly all of MN's roster + even MN commits. Though perhaps all that means is that MN was first to get a visit. 

On a side note, anyone else notice that Oregon's HC (Ulmer) tweeted about getting two commitments two days ago, and then deleted his tweet today? Awkward...

Big (2-page) story on Alexis Ewing in today's New York Post. Unfortunately, I'm not quite sure how to post photos of the print edition and the digital edition of this story (https://nypost.com/2023/12/22/sports/meet-alexis-ewing-phenom-turned-patrick-ewing-into-a-volleyball-dad/) is restricted to members.

Here's a summary of some of the main points of the NY Post article:

Alexis didn't follow in her father's footsteps by playing basketball - "I just hate basketball", the article quotes her as saying. Instead, she followed in her mother's footsteps by picking volleyball, and has developed into one of the top-ranked players in the country. (Her mom Cheryl Weaver is a former pro volleyball player and Alexis's coach at the Bullis School.) The article mentions that Alexis recently committed to Penn State.

Alexis is making use of how known she's become by being the first high school athlete in Maryland to sign a NIL deal.

Former interests of hers are arts and theater, and tennis. She didn't play volleyball until age 12.

Her mom went into coaching as she grew tired of the constant travel of professional volleyball. Both parents are supportive of Alexis's volleyball career.

Some highlights from the article:

From 2017 to 2023, Ewing was the head coach at nearby Georgetown. ... On game days, you’ll find the 7-footer squeezed into the high school bleachers, screaming like he’s still on the sidelines.

“Oh, he’s loud,” Alexis said. “Very loud. The loudest person there.” ... Alexis can never forget he’s there.
“He’s really into it, being a fan and doing all the cheers,” Weaver said. “He leads the cheers. There’s a cheer when you get an ace, and the parents go, ‘A-C-E,’ and he’s the one starting it and yelling it loud.
“She really enjoys him being able to watch her.”

Alexis will make her collegiate debut in 2025 at Penn State — which reached the Sweet 16 the past two seasons — and make frequent appearances on the Big Ten Network, where women’s volleyball viewership has trailed only football and men’s basketball. She will be spotlighted because of her athleticism, her skill, her ability to reach 11 feet in the air.

Sounds like we'll be seeing a lot of Patrick Ewing in the stands at Rec Hall, a la Jermaine O'neal. You know the Big Ten Network will be making a big deal of it every match, lol.
I'm more excited about the fact that, according to the article, she's already 6'4" and has an 11' reach. Yikes!!

Elon Musk recommends:


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