2024 recruiting - Softball

Rylie Slimp to UCLA

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!! I need to spend a little time catching up. But Slimp to UCLA?!!!!!! Huge surprise there. That’s about as surprising as the Bubke kid to UW. But they are from the same travel org so maybe that org recruiting coordinator has a magic wand. Slimp not even considered one of the top athletes on the circuit I don’t think. Other than the shock value nothing to see there. Could maybe assume Thomas isn’t going there if they took her but one would think they didn’t spend a lot on her. Thomas to FL looking more likely.

More important question is where is Salmon going. She was at OSU visiting this weekend. Social media says her 3rd visit. Samya Jones or Thomas has no announcements up yet. Gotta be coming soon.

Is there anything big time left if we miss on all these?
 
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SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!! I need to spend a little time catching up. But Slimp to UCLA?!!!!!! Huge surprise there. That’s about as surprising as the Bubke kid to UW. But they are from the same travel org so maybe that org recruiting coordinator has a magic wand. Slimp not even considered one of the top athletes on the circuit I don’t think. Other than the shock value nothing to see there. Could maybe assume Thomas isn’t going there if they took her but one would think they didn’t spend a lot on her. Thomas to FL looking more likely.

More important question is where is Salmon going. She was at OSU visiting this weekend. Social media says her 3rd visit.
Samya Jones or Thomas has no announcements up yet. Gotta be coming soon.

Is there anything big time left if we miss on all these?


She can swing it big time. Not sure why we didn't recruit her.
 
She can swing it big time. Not sure why we didn't recruit her.

Yes, I agree. Kid swings it decently. Just not the caliber of player we've been discussing as options (sorry, former options) for our Horns. But to make up a team you can't have 22 5 star stud players (unless you are OU of course LoL).

Recruiting for us now means Portal, unless we flip a kid or two before they formally sign ;-). We've done it several times............Mia Scott, Courtney Day, Mya Holmes and a couple more if you count former Oregon commits. JS
 


Zoe Calvez to LSU (for what it is worth, ranked #5 in Extra Innings rankings, not ranked in Perfect Game rankings). Kid is good though and has performed against top level competition in 18U with a top level team (Vipers Tamborra) that challenges their players. Very good defensively and top-level speed. Just more of a short game player than triple threat at plate. Not a bad add for LSU. Not sure how many they might take but so far.....
-Heavener (#2 EI/#4 PG)
-Harris (#6 EI/#38 PG)
-Calvez (#5 EI/- PG)

I think UCLA and OU a little ahead of LSU though, at least by a little for now:
UCLA--Fisher gives them the edge.
-Fisher (#1 EI/#1 PG)
-Mujica (#5/#32 PG)
-Bragg (#13/-PG)
-Slimp
-Garcia

OU
-Lowry (#3 EI/#6 PG)
-Milloy (#39 EI/#21 PG)
-Hicks (#7/#22 PG)
-Barker (-/-)
-Garcia (-/-)
-McKay

Anyone that adds either Salmon (#4 EI/- PG), Jones (#4 EI/#2 PG) or Thomas (#2 EI/#17 PG) gets a good boost.
 
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Not much to discuss from our perspective these days. Other than faint hopes of nabbing Salmon who was at OK State last weekend and given how quiet she has been I'm guessing she is somewhere else interesting this weekend.

Rumor is Samya Jones was at Washington this weekend (although I haven't personally confirmed by social media or other). Wouldn't surprise me as I've heard they were one of the leaders in the race for her. Would expect to hear something on her soon--but it won't be us ;(. Rumors UW, TN or LSU, but she was at Stanford and Purdue too.

Townsen Thomas probably making decision soon too--again not us. UCLA or FL are the rumors.

All eyes on Slamon!!! LoL. Then on to the transfer portal
 
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This is beyond ridiculous! Where is Texas Softball!!


Oh Shoot!!! Wow!!! That is a HUGE grab for the Tigers! My money was on UW with this one.

In full agreement with you. But I hope we have a plan---at least that's what I'm gonna keep saying to myself for my own softball fan sanity. Another stud down,, and gone somewhere else. This is crazy. We are too good with too much to offer to let this type of talent just leave TX. Certain Thomas will too. But we have a plan............. I believe????????!!! ;-)
 
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Oh Shoot!!! Wow!!! Okay. In full agreement. We have a plan---at least that's what I'm gonna keep saying to myself Another stud down. This is crazy. We are too good with too much to offer to let this type of talent just leave TX. Certain Thomas will too. But we have a plan........


LSU now moving into the talk for one of the top classes in the 2024 recruiting class. UCLA has the #1 player but LSU has four Top 10 players with 3 being Top 5. LSU now has (one of which is a TX resident and top player in country):

LSU:
Jayden Heavener (#2 EI/#4 PG) Once ranked #1 in the class.
Samya Jones (#4 EI/#2 PG) Once ranked #1 in the class.
Destiny Harris (#6 EI/#38 PG)
Zoe Calvez (#5 EI/--PG)

UCLA top heavy but doing well:
Addisen Fisher (#1 in both rankings)
Sofie Mujica (#5 EI/#32 PG)
Kaniya Bragg (#13 EI/--- PG)
Alina Garcia
Rylee Slimp

OKLAHOMA:
Audrey Lowry (#3 EI/#6 PG)
Tia Milloy (#39 EI/#21 PG)
Cori Hicks (#7 EI/ #22 PG)
Sydney Barker (#8 EI/-- PG)
Gabriel Garcia
Kady Mckay (local kid)

Nothing from Florida yet after a strong 23 class but I'm guessing they will pull Townsen Thomas and maybe Salmon if she visits there.

So far the top TX players have all ended up somewhere other than TX:
Samya Jones--LSU
Townsen Thomas--?? (Probably UCLA or FL)
Ella Mcdowell--ARK
Cameryn Harrison--ARK
Peyton Tanner--TN
Paislie Allen--UGA

Other than Salmon & Thomas, the bigger name kids gone with the big Jones grab by LSU.
 
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FINALLY!!! One!!! Welcome Cambria!!!!!

She is #4 on Extra Innings and not ranked on Perfect Game. Good pitcher with great velo and good movement. Not as good as Fisher but pretty darn good. Glad we got one but needed more than her. Would have been nice to add something to it. Guessing we will be happy with this add and go hunting for the second tier (little money) players now.
 
FINALLY!!! One!!! Welcome Cambria!!!!!

She is #4 on Extra Innings and not ranked on Perfect Game. Good pitcher with great velo and good movement. Not as good as Fisher but pretty darn good. Glad we got one but needed more than her. Would have been nice to add something to it. Guessing we will be happy with this add and go hunting for the second tier (little money) players now.
Is she #4 overall or #4 pitcher?
 
Is she #4 overall or #4 pitcher?

She is "tied" for #4 overall (13 players) and "tied" for #4 pitcher. In order with the "ties" this is Extra Innings rankings (Perfect Game has no ties but doesn't rank her):

1 Addisen Fisher COMMITTED TO UCLA
2 Jayden Heavener COMMITTED TO LSU
3 Audrey Lowry COMMITTED TO OU
3 Morgan Reimer ?????????
4 Katelynn Oxley COMMITTED TO FLORIDA
4 Zoe Prystajko COMMITTED TO STANFORD
4 Cambria Salmon COMMITTED TO TEXAS
 
More Softball Players of the Year (calhisports.com)

SOPHOMORES:
Cambria Salmon (Beaumont)


For the second straight year, a player who had been chosen as the IE Varsity Player of the Year by the Riverside Press-Enterprise has followed up by earning State Sophomore of the Year honors. Last year it was slugger Mya Perez of Norco. This year it’s Salmon, who has been one of the top ranked recruits in her class in the nation since she was a freshman.

Perhaps the best way to measure Salmon’s impact in Beaumont’s 23-5 season are to look at the losses. Four of the five were in 1-0 games against some of the best competition in the nation (including Los Alamitos and Norco). The fifth was 14-0 in a game that Cambria didn’t play or pitch in.

Another good way is the strikeouts. For Salmon, it was 309 in 160 1/3 innings (almost two for every inning). She also had a 19-4 record (remember all four losses were 1-0) and a 0.54 ERA. And with many top players, Cambria also was one of Beaumont’s leading hitters. She ended with a .338 average with a team-leading 19 RBI and five homers.

“There was a lot of pressure pitching in so many close games like that, but you just have to trust your stuff and continue to do the job you’re supposed to do,” Salmon told the Press-Enterprise. “Softball can be a game of failures, but if you do your part to the best of your ability, you can walk away with your head held high.”

Until the recent run of Norco players, there had only been one other Inland Empire area State Sophomore Player of the Year since 1975. That was Sarah Farnworth of Upland for 1997. She has since gone on to become Upland’s head coach.
 
With Citlaly Gutierrez 2022 class, Teagan Kavan 2023 class, and now Cambria Salmon 2024 class Mike White has done a very good job of recruiting elite level pitchers into the program. Also have to include the transfer in of Mac Morgan by Coach White. Coach Singleton seems to be missing out on the elite fielders and hitters. We’ve already struck out on the top named players. It will be interesting to see what offers are out there from what is left. We sorely need some home run power. The 22 & 23 classes were highly rated. Hard to believe we will not continue that momentum.
 
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With Citlaly Gutierrez 2022 class, Teagan Kavan 2023 class, and now Cambria Salmon 2024 class Mike White has done a very good job of recruiting elite level pitchers into the program. Also have to include the transfer in of Mac Morgan by Coach White. Coach Singleton seems to be missing out on the elite fielders and hitters. We’ve already struck out on the top named players. It will be interesting to see what offers are out there from what is left. We sorely need some home run power. The 22 & 23 classes were highly rated. Hard to believe we will not continue that momentum.
Now that you put it that way, maybe this is the recruiting pattern for Mike.
1. each year get a good/excellent pitcher
2. each year get a pitcher from the portal
3. load up on hitters, IF/OF it doesn't matter

Remember that year where Connie got 3 pitchers in the same class? I always wondered how that would be managed.

Mike's pitcher history:
Portal Loss: Grace Green, Ryleigh White, Shae O'Leary, Miranda Elish
Portal Gain: Elish, Jacobson, Dolcini, Czech, Hulon, & Mac Morgan

Of course, some of us fans thought that Connie was insane to carry 5 pitchers.

Correction!
 
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So happy we added a pitcher but JediHorn makes a great point in missing out on the top/elite hitters/fielders. One of the ones that got away in Jones and a few that we haven't discussed because they aren't as high profile as Jones, Thomas, Salmon, Fisher, Mcdowell and some of the others but a little digging shows they are all top level players. Not enough longhorn logos popping up in my opinion. As someone noted, you'd think we would be riding the wave of the WCWS appearance. Don't think we leveraged that enough or correctly. Or maybe we focused too narrowly given some of the best players in the country (e.g. Samya Jones, Addisen Fisher, Tia Milloy, Destiny Harris, etc. etc.) didn't even come to Austin on a visit!! We will be good again this year but I can see us sliding if we keep this up. At minimum we need to win Texas. Inexcusable for Jones, Thomas, McDowell, Carmeryn Harrison not to mention other strong players that may not be quite as strong to leave the state.

Sorry. I'm venting this morning.
 
I think Texas Softball could take a few pointers from our WBB and Volleyball media teams. I'm in agreement with some who say Texas Softball isnt market enough. I beleive in Coach White so I know we will fix this!
 
We received an unofficial visit from Harley Vestal out of New Braunfels Canyon HS, Texas Bombers Gold 16U. Position outfield. She is ranked 42 by Extra Innings Softball. Her saying “a great visit” is not resounding but since this is an unofficial visit not sure she has an offer.
 
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At the Odessa game, sat on the regular home side since Odessa fans had filled out our regular season ticket side. We sat one row behind an African-American family. Mom, Dad, and slightly bored teen. Mom was very involved talking to people and taking pictures and sending them to her two daughters at home. At one time, one of Mike White's kids came down to talk to her mom and spent time talking to Mom.

Afterwards I was told, "I think that was a recruit and her parents"

Really? I was told they were talking about their return trip on Southwest airlines and the word Nashville was mentioned.

But then someone else said, "I think she's a signed recruit"

Parents are decked out in Longhorn gear. The daughter (the unsigned recruit? the signed recruit?) looking bored. I've seen this couple more than once which is why I made this wrong assumption they were parents of a current freshman player.

If you're an uncommitted recruit, your parents are decked out in Longhorn gear and you fly multiple times from outside of Texas to watch Fall ball?

Confused.
 
At the Odessa game, sat on the regular home side since Odessa fans had filled out our regular season ticket side. We sat one row behind an African-American family. Mom, Dad, and slightly bored teen. Mom was very involved talking to people and taking pictures and sending them to her two daughters at home. At one time, one of Mike White's kids came down to talk to her mom and spent time talking to Mom.

Afterwards I was told, "I think that was a recruit and her parents"

Really? I was told they were talking about their return trip on Southwest airlines and the word Nashville was mentioned.

But then someone else said, "I think she's a signed recruit"

Parents are decked out in Longhorn gear. The daughter (the unsigned recruit? the signed recruit?) looking bored. I've seen this couple more than once which is why I made this wrong assumption they were parents of a current freshman player.

If you're an uncommitted recruit, your parents are decked out in Longhorn gear and you fly multiple times from outside of Texas to watch Fall ball?

Confused.

lol was it this young lady right here?
 

lol was it this young lady right here?

We received an unofficial visit from Harley Vestal out of New Braunfels Canyon HS, Texas Bombers Gold 16U. Position outfield. She is ranked 42 by Extra Innings Softball. Her saying “a great visit” is not resounding but since this is an unofficial visit not sure she has an offer.


They are at the "next level" down of players in the 2024 class now. Harley Vestal is only 2024 I've seen come through since the one weekend with Salmon. Vestal is a good player just not top tier player. She can swing it a little bit and decent outfielder but not in the class with the kids we've been discussing and watched go elsewhere. We are scrounging in 2024 for lower money kids. 99% of the studs are off the table now.

They got a kid to decommit from one program to come here in the 2023 class that I am not familiar with. Power hitting kid it seems. But Salmon is our claim to fame for 2024 class now--good grab but we will have an underwhelming 2024 class. LSU, OU, UCLA are creme of crop 2024 classes right now. ARK close behind them.
 
They are at the "next level" down of players in the 2024 class now. Harley Vestal is only 2024 I've seen come through since the one weekend with Salmon. Vestal is a good player just not top tier player. She can swing it a little bit and decent outfielder but not in the class with the kids we've been discussing and watched go elsewhere. We are scrounging in 2024 for lower money kids. 99% of the studs are off the table now.

They got a kid to decommit from one program to come here in the 2023 class that I am not familiar with. Power hitting kid it seems. But Salmon is our claim to fame for 2024 class now--good grab but we will have an underwhelming 2024 class. LSU, OU, UCLA are creme of crop 2024 classes right now. ARK close behind them.
The name Vestal and San Marcos had me thinking she's the sister of Brooke Vestal, a pitcher who spent 3 years mostly on the bench at OU and then transferred to Ole Miss.

Oklahoma Transfer Brooke Vestal Joins Ole Miss - Ole Miss Athletics
 

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