Head coach Jason Watson reacts to a call in a match against the University of Washington, Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe. The Huskies swept the Sun Devils, 3-0. (Photo by Ben Moffat)ASU volleyball took a step toward its future Nov. 13 with the announcement of signing two recruits to National Letters of Intent. Middle blocker Jasmine Koonts of Klein High School in Texas and setter/right-side hitter Kylie Pickrell of Coppell High School in Texas will join the Sun Devils next season.
ASU head coach Jason Watson was on a recruitment trip during press time and was unavailable for comment, but associate coach Linda Hampton-Keith spoke about the players.
“(Koonts) is a little bit newer to the game but is coming along really nicely,” she said. “She’s going to be a fantastic athlete in this conference.”
As a raw talent, Koonts will require more development, but with depth at the middle blocker position, ASU will have the time to do so.
Next year, middle blockers Whitney Follette and Andi Lowrance will both be seniors. It will also be senior middle blocker Mercedes Binns’s final year of eligibility.
These impending departures point to the possibility of Koonts redshirting to gain experience and have more time to take the place of the graduating athletes in two years.
“She’s just a great athlete all-around,” Hampton-Keith said.
As a sophomore, Koonts led her high school in blocks and was named to the First Team All-District in 2014. She recorded 240 kills this last season.
Pickrell may have a more immediate impact on the team. Hampton-Keith said she was already accomplished coming out of high school.
“Her club team won the national tournament, she was on the all-tournament team,” she said. “She’s really, really coming in with a nice volleyball pedigree. She’s going to be a special player.”
Pickrell is a lefty who can play on the right side. That will be useful for ASU; as of now, the only lefty hitter on the team is redshirt freshman Kwyn Johnson, who has played very few minutes this season.
Pickrell was part of three Texas 5A State Championship teams and played many minutes as a setter, being named Setter of the Year in 2013. She may not see much action at this position with junior setter Bianca Arellano, but there’s an opportunity for Pickrell to either take some ball handling responsibilities off her or help ASU mold into a 6-2 offense.
Hampton-Keith said it’s too early to project the role any recruit will have on the team. They need to play with the players and become accustomed to ASU’s system before decisions can be made.
“We just know putting them in our gym, though, makes our gym better,” she said.
Reach the reporter at logan.newman@asu.eduor follow him on Twitter @Logan_Newsman
Like State Press Sports on Facebook and follow @statepresssport on Twitter
