2020's Top 10 Boys Long Island Volleyball Players
Updated: Sep 1, 2020
1. Ryan Barnett
Position: Outside
School: Westhampton Beach High School Class of 2021
Committed to Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA
Club: Academy Volleyball 18's
Height: 6’5
Awards/Accomplishments
2019 Long Island Champion (Small School)
Getting to Know Ryan
Pump up song: Public Service Announcement by Jay z
All-Time Favorite Athlete: Kevin Kisner
Inspiration as a young athlete: Trey Cole
Favorite Volleyball Memory: Winning the L.I.C.
Advice for younger athletes: Trust the Process
Most Influential Coach: Coach Dezy
Strengths: Serving
What he works on the most: Passing
If he could play Professional Volleyball in any other country: Germany
2. John Curaro
Position: Libero/Outside
School: Sachem North High School Class of 2021
Undecided
Club: LIVBC 17’s
Height: 5’9
Awards/Accomplishments
2x Suffolk County Champion
2x Long Island Champion
Getting to Know John
Pump up song: Baby Pluto by Lil Uzi
All-Time Favorite Athlete: Lebron James
Favorite Volleyball Memory: Winning 25-0 set with LIVBC
Advice for younger athletes: Don't ever stop working hard and don't ever give up
Most Influential Coach: Coach Sanchez
Strengths: Passing and Defense
If he could play Professional Volleyball in any other country: Italy
3. Dan Shanley
Position: Outside/Setter
School: Smithtown West High School Class of 2022
Undecided
Club: Academy Volleyball 18’s
Height: 5’10
Awards/Accomplishments
Rookie of the year/All Division (8th Grade)
2x All County
Getting to Know Dan
Pump up song: 6foot 7foot by lil wayne
All-Time Favorite Athlete: Carmelo Anthony
Inspiration as a young athlete: His Older Brothers
Favorite Volleyball Memory: 2019 High School playoff run.
Advice for younger athletes: outwork your competition and take care of the little things
Most Influential Coach: Coach Dezy
Strengths: IQ, Defense, Setting
What he works on the most: Serve receive and swinging high
If he could play Professional Volleyball in any other country: Italy
4. Jake Deslaurier
Position: Outside
School: Eastport South Manor High School Class of 2022
Undecided
Club: Academy 16's
Height: 5’11
Awards/Accomplishments
Rookie of the Year
All County
All Tournament Team
Getting to Know Jake
Pump up song: Whats Poppin by Jack Harlow
Game Day Superstition: Touch both ends of the antennas when shaking hands, have to drink at least 1 chocolate milk
All-Time Favorite Athlete: Derek Jeter
Inspiration as a young athlete: His Parents
Favorite Volleyball Memory: Winning the Dallas Tournament in memory of Dezy
Advice for younger athletes: Nothing is given. You always have to work hard for what you want and try to be a leader for yourself and the team because everyone needs someone they can count on to help them out.
Most Influential Coach: Rick Cole
Other sports: Baseball
Strengths: Communicating, reading the play and knowing what to do with the ball
What he works on the most: Being able to keep moving when you pass and not getting stuck and hitting spots whether I'm hitting or serving
If he could play Professional Volleyball in any other country: France
5. Daniel Haber
Position: Middle/Outside
School: Westhampton Beach High School Class of 2022
Undecided
Club: LIVBC 17's
Height: 6’5
Awards/Accomplishments
-2X All county
-All county tournament
-Long Island Champion (2019)
Getting to Know Daniel
Pump up song: Ballin by Roddy Ricch
Game Day Superstition: Always take a nap on the bus ride to the game
All-Time Favorite Athlete: Taylor Sander
Inspiration as a young athlete: Matt Anderson
Favorite Volleyball Memory: Playing Niagara in Virginia for Silver
Advice for younger athletes: Trust the Process and don't give up
Most Influential Coach: Coach Shoemaker
Other Sports: Hockey
Strengths: Blocking and Hitting
What do you need to work on: More consistent serving
If he could play Professional Volleyball in any other country: Italy
6. Jonathan Shum
Position: Outside
School: Lindenhurst High School Class of 2021
Undecided
Club: LIVBC 17's
Height: 6’4
Awards/Accomplishments
All County
All County Tournament
Getting to Know Jonathan
Pump up song: This is how we do it by Montell Jordan
Favorite Volleyball Memory: The way the team bonds is what really brings the game together and most of that happens off the court which is where most of my favorite memories come from.
Advice for younger athletes: Play your own game, you control the court so only you can decide the outcome of that match
Most Influential Coach: Stacie Wixted
Strengths: Offense, keeping the team calm
What he works on the most: Passing and Blocking
If he could play Professional Volleyball in any other country: Brazil mostly because its volleyball year round and, of course the ladies
7. Owen Rose
Position: Middle
School: Calhoun High School Class of 2021
Undecided
Club: Academy Volleyball
Height: 6’7
Awards/Accomplishments
All County
Getting to Know Owen
Pump up song: Quintana by Travis Scott
Favorite Athlete: Kobe Bryant because of his mentality to outwork everyone
Inspiration as a young athlete: My parents because of their sacrifices that they make with time and money which make me want to work to prove to them it wasn't for nothing.
Favorite Volleyball Memory: Playing for Academy Volleyball last season
Advice for younger athletes:
Most Influential Coach: Coach Sanchez, he took a chance on me and i have improved so much since the beginning of Academy Season
Other Sports: Baseball
Strengths: My size, I am blessed to be this size and I try to take advantage of it when im on the court.
What he needs to work: Passing
8. Chris Lehnert
Position: Middle
School: Sachem North High School Class of 2021
Undecided
Club: Academy Volleyball
Height: 6’8
Awards/Accomplishments
Rookie of the year 2018
2x Suffolk County Champion
2x Long Island Champion
Getting to Know Chris
Pump up song: Welcome to the Jungle by guns and roses
All-Time Favorite Athlete: Kobe Bryant
Favorite Volleyball Memory: When Dezy got really hyped right before our state championship match
Advice for younger athletes: Keep pushing and never give up
Most Influential Coach: Coach Dezy
Strengths: Keeping my teams heads up
What he needs to work on: His Speed to the blocks
If he could play Professional Volleyball in any other country: "I would Love to play in Europe"
9. Gavin Newman
Position: Setter
School: Commack High School Class of 2021
Undecided
Club: Academy 17s
Height: 6’1
Getting to Know Gavin
Game day Superstition: Turkey Sandwich for lunch and my first step on the court has to be with my left foot
Pump up song: Run this town by Jay z and Kanye West
All-Time Favorite Athlete: Mike Trout
Inspiration as a young athlete: Buster Posey
Favorite Volleyball Memory: Match Point against Milwaukee Sting
Advice for younger athletes: Work extra hard in practice so the games come easy
Most Influential Coach: Coach Sanchez
Strengths: Setting and Athleticism
Other sports: Baseball and Basketball
If he could play Professional Volleyball in any other country: Italy
10. Chris Rouleua
Position: Outside
School: Bay Shore High School Class of 2021
Undecided
Club: Academy Volleyball
Height: 6’4
Awards/Accomplishments
All-County
Getting to Know Chris
Pump up song: Got it on me by Pop Smoke
All-Time Favorite Athlete: Derek Jeter
Volleyball Superstition: Sleep with a volleyball at the end of my bed the night before a game.
Inspiration as a young athlete: Grandpa and his stories about his athletic career
Favorite Volleyball Memory: 2019 Dallas Nationals
Advice for younger athletes: Take advantage of every chance you get to better your play
Most Influential Coach: Coach Dezy
Strengths: Hitting/Blocking
Needs to work on: Serve Receive
Honorable Mentions
Matt Rouleua
Position: Outside/Middle
School Bay Shore High School Class of 2021
Club: Academy Volleyballs 18s
Max Cohen
Position: Libero
School: Massapequa High School Class of 2021
Kevin Herbst
Position: Setter
School: Lindenhurst High School Class of 2021
Club: LIVBC 17's
Nick Kim
Position: Middle
School: Plainview-Old Bethpage High School
Club: LIVBC 17s
Evan Kane
Position: Outside
School: Bayport Bluepoint High School Class of 2021
Club: LIVBC 17's
Christian Herr
Position: Setter
School: Eastport South Manor High School Class of 2022
Club: Academy 16s