630 18s, Pazanti, Whittemore sparkle at AAU Boys Junior Nationals Championships

ORLANDO, Florida – Hello from the AAU Boys Junior Nationals Championships.

Monday’s second-day action featured pool play in 12s, 13s, 16s and 18s. The AVCA put on a free recruiting event and teams are gearing up to make the push to make the championship bracket.

I am here until Saturday, capturing the best of this huge boys tournament in the Orange County Convention Center. Got a note or story: message me on Instagram @kprecruiter I’m in search of player-of-the-day recommendations, best team bonding activities, the best-dressed team for the Fourth of July and much more.

When I played way back in 2005, club tournaments were at high schools in Southern California and most teams went to one major national tournament held in a convention center. Now we are in this awesome environment and college coaches are here en masse.

Recapping the best of Monday

— 630 18s out of Chicago is our team of the day.  They are 6-0 after two days hoping to make the championship bracket on day three. Libero Lincoln Geist, committed to Lindenwood, is passing at 2.64 and outside hitter Aidan Weltin, a George Mason commit, is hitting .481

“The tournament has treated us well,” 630 coach Luis Garza said. “Being 6-0 heading into a battle with Balboa Bay on day three is something our team is looking forward to and embracing the challenge.”.

— Undefeated 18s open teams after day two; MB Surf, Balboa Bay, Pulse, WAVE, Team Rockstar, Bay to Bay, Arizona Fear, 630, and A2.

— Speaking of MB Surf, Sean Kelly, committed to UCLA from MB Surf 18s, is in search for another gold medal.  

Throughout Kelly’s high school career he has won just about every title and award imaginable. 

“Sean Kelly has accomplished so much in the volleyball community,” said Micheal Boehle, Kelly’s Loyola High School and Manhattan Beach Surf club director. “What sets him apart from others is his work ethic, leadership, drive and humbleness.  Loyola and MB Surf has had incredible players over the years, but Sean stands out among them all.”

— The AVCA put on a recruiting panel with the college coaches for athletes and parents, including Hawai’i assistant coach Kupono Fey, Penn State assistant coach Pat Shawaryn and Carthage head coach JW Kieckhefer.

“I think it is great the AVCA is giving athletes and parents the opportunity to learn more about the recruiting process.  As a former athlete, I know how new, confusing and possibly overwhelming the process may seem,” Fey said. “I’m glad I got to help by sharing some of my knowledge and experience as a coach and athlete.” 

The next free AVCA recruiting panel is at 2 p.m. Eastern Friday in Convention Center room N330.  On the panel with be coaches from NYU, George Mason, Orange Coast College and Barry.

— Pinnacle’s 18s setter Jake Pazanti is our 18s player of the day. Pazanti, committed to Long Beach State, has led his squad to a 5-1 record.  Pananti was recently named to the AVCA All-American first team.

  — Undefeated 16s open teams after day two; Sports Performance Volleyball Club, Coast, Team Rockstar, Triangle, Balboa Bay, Sting, and C2 Attack. 

— And speaking of C2 Attack: Class of ’26 outside hitter Trevor Whittemore of undefeated C2 Attack is another of our players of the day.  Whittemore has hit .306 with 24 kills, six aces and 16 digs in three matches. 

“I am fired up to play because I get to play in a phenomenal tournament with my favorite people in the world, my teammates,” Whittemore said. 

— Because of so many teams entering the 16s and 18s Open, there are pools of eight.  The first three days teams compete in their pool.  After pool play is complete the top three teams are seeded in three-team pools.  In the mini three-team pool the teams that finish first advance to the championship bracket of eight teams on day four.

— Since a large volume of teams are signing up for the Championship Open Division, AAU is going to limit the field size to 48 in 2025.  The criteria to make open be based on the participate and performance of seven major AAU tournaments, starting with the Brickyard Battle in Indianapolis in November through the SoCal Cup in June.

— The AAU noted the combination of the girls and boys national tournaments involved more than 117,000 athletes and coaches with an economic impact of $760 million. Click here for the news release.

VolleyballMag contributor Kevin Pratte is the boys varsity coach at The Bishop’s School in La Jolla, California and Grant elementary physical education teacher. Pratte, who lives in San Diego, played at the University of Pacific. He was a graduate assistant at Nebraska, an assistant at Pacific, and has coached at the junior college level. He also is a college recruiting coordinator, Rotary member, president of the www.kevinprattefoundation.com, host of the KP HERE Podcast and editor of the boys volleyball website middlehitter.com. 

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