Three standout prep volleyball gamers, — Tread Rosenthal, Caleb Blanchette and Kellan Larson — are beginning school early. It’s a development we’ve seen in ladies’s volleyball, however that is important for males’s.
All three will miss their senior years of highschool volleyball and different faculty actions
Rosenthal, a 6-foot-8 product of Mira Costa Excessive Faculty in Manhattan Seaside, is already enrolled at Hawaii.
The opposite two are nonetheless in highschool this fall and can graduate early to enroll of their respective schools this spring.
Blanchette, 6-5, is from Brentwood, Tennessee, and can go to USC. The 5-10 Larson goes to Woodbridge Excessive Faculty in Irvine and can go to Lengthy Seaside State.
We did a query and reply interview with the three.
When did you begin enjoying volleyball and what motivated you to play the game?
Blanchette: I began to play volleyball after I was 10 years previous due to my older brother. He needed to be taught the game, so it was one thing that I used to be thrown into and I beloved it!
Larson: I began enjoying volleyball after I was 10 years previous. I initially performed baseball like my two older brothers however fell in love with volleyball, courtesy of my older sister.
Rosenthal: I began enjoying seaside volleyball in my yard after I was eight. Then after I was 11, I began enjoying indoor. My buddies and I made a crew only for enjoyable. Watching my sisters play satisfied me to begin enjoying for actual as an alternative of only for enjoyable.
Why was the membership you performed for a very good match for you (Blanchette performed for C2 Assault out of Nashville, Tennessee, Larson performed for OCVC and Balboa Bay out of Newport, and Rosenthal performed for Manhattan Seaside Surf)?
Blanchette: In Tennessee, there usually are not many choices for membership volleyball groups, so C2 Assault was my solely choice. Wanting again on it, I might not select one other membership within the nation as a result of they’ve been probably the most supportive group that I might ask for.
Larson: I performed for each OCVC and Balboa Bay throughout my membership profession, each had been important to my success. They each challenged me and pushed me to be one of the best participant I could possibly be.
Rosenthal: I performed for MB Surf. Everybody meshed effectively and the vibes round the entire crew had been good. We additionally all complemented one another fairly effectively on the court docket and it was a really enjoyable crew to be on all yr.
Describe your expertise enjoying with the U19 USA Nationwide Crew that gained a gold medal in Guatemala Might 2022.
Blanchette: Being on the nationwide crew meant lots to me as a result of it was remarkable to have a man from Tennessee on it. I loved the method and studying from a fantastic teaching workers and glorious teammates.
Larson: Successful each worldwide occasions with USA Volleyball was an unimaginable expertise and alternative that I’ll always remember. Touring internationally and competing whereas sporting USA on my chest felt like a dream come true and first main step to my final targets, Olympics and professional. Due to these alternatives I’ve met so many new individuals and constructed relationships with gamers from totally different nations. A second I’ll always remember is once we gained the primary Pan Am Cup and we had been greeted within the cafeteria space by all of the totally different nations applauding us. Quickly after all of us received in an enormous mosh and celebrated. After all, the volleyball was wonderful however moments like these and the friendships constructed are probably the most memorable.
Rosenthal: It’s an incredible feeling to characterize your nation and put on that flag in your chest. It was even higher as a result of I received to do it with many individuals who I had recognized for some time. It was nice to play with some individuals I had performed with earlier than and others that I may not have been in a position to play with if it weren’t for the USA program.
What schools recruited you?
Blanchette: Due to the Nationwide Crew, I obtained nationwide consideration throughout my recruiting course of. I at all times needed to go to California for faculty, so it was easy to know the place I needed to go.
Larson: I used to be very lucky to have totally different choices whereas being recruited, a few of which had been: Stanford, UCLA, Princeton, Pepperdine, UCSB and naturally Lengthy Seaside.
Rosenthal: I had calls with just about each crew so I sort of had my decide of the litter.
How did you resolve?
Blanchette: I selected The College of Southern California due to the elite athletics program and excellent teachers that they supply. It is usually in a fantastic location in Southern California the place males’s volleyball thrives.
Larson: After what felt like a really lengthy recruiting course of, I made a decision that Lengthy Seaside was one of the best match for me to perform my future targets. The household and tradition that the coaches and gamers have created was a defining issue for me as effectively.
Rosenthal: The tradition and crew that they’ve there may be high tier. The teaching workers can also be one in all, if not, one of the best within the nation.
When did you resolve to graduate early from highschool to enroll in your college this upcoming season?
Blanchette: I made a decision to graduate early due to the tutorial facet of my profession. I’ve one credit score left in highschool, so there isn’t any cause for me to remain.
Larson: Initially my purpose was to play professional someplace abroad my senior as a result of I really feel like in different nations corresponding to France, Italy, Poland, they’re way more superior than we’re from ages 17-24 and getting a yr of enjoying with them was at all times an enormous curiosity to me. Lengthy story quick, I’ve been planning to graduate early since I used to be round 15. I talked to every school I used to be significantly contemplating about this. As soon as I dedicated to Lengthy Seaside, we tried to debate a plan however got here to understand enjoying that one yr professional was a lot simpler stated then performed, thus, we determined I’d simply come half a yr early as an alternative.
Rosenthal: It was an extended course of and I don’t actually bear in mind precisely after I determined however it was extra of a steady dialog between me, my coaches, and my household to resolve what to do.
How did this determination to graduate early come up? How did the school teaching workers make it easier to by this course of?
Blanchette: My older brother graduated early to attend The George Washington College, so this was an thought for just a few years. That is the primary time somebody has attended the USC males’s volleyball program early, so there are numerous bumps that we’ve to work by.
Larson: The Lengthy Seaside teaching workers was and has been greater than useful throughout this course of and made it as non-stressful as potential.
Rosenthal: The coaches introduced it as much as me as a risk, however after that it was totally on me to get all of the work performed.
Describe how enjoying seaside volleyball helped your indoor sport.
Blanchette: Seaside volleyball has improved my court docket imaginative and prescient tremendously due to the dependence on seeing the opposite facet of the online.
Larson: I imagine enjoying seaside is large to your general success as a participant. Seaside forces you to play each facet of the sport, and it’s a must to maintain your individual, you may’t depend on another person to do your job. I initially performed seaside earlier than I made the transition to indoor and imagine it helped tremendously with my ball management.
Rosenthal: Any contact on the ball might help enhance your ability and the low influence of seaside is nice. It additionally helps you be taught each a part of the sport. Indoor can restrict you to what place you play however within the seaside you be taught to play each place.
What recommendation would you give to 2026 and 2025 recruits which are simply beginning the school volleyball recruiting course of?
Blanchette: The recommendation that I might give is to really feel out the method as a lot as potential. There isn’t a rush to commit early and make the fallacious determination. Growing relationships with coaches is crucial and studying how they coach and what sort of individuals they’re.
Larson: Recommendation I might give to gamers being newly recruited is to understand your priorities and what you actually worth. Lastly, decide for your self, don’t really feel pressured to go someplace due to somebody/one thing else.
Rosenthal: I believe taking your time and never dashing such an necessary determination is one of the best factor to do. You might want to be one hundred pc positive the place you need to spend 4 years of your life or you may remorse it. Particularly with the altering rule over the variety of official visits allowed, I believe it is vitally necessary to take your time and be good about the place you’ll attend.