Considered the voice of water polo in the United States, Mescall calls a host of collegiate action including the NCAA Championships and multiple international events including USA National Team matches and FINA World Championships.
Here are they TOP 5 pick for both categories
1. Maggie Steffens (USA)
US National Player | Club: CN Sabadell | Position: Left Driver
The best field player in the world cements her status as the all-time leading scorer in Olympic history and adds a third gold medal, what else can we say. She battled through a broken nose and didn't miss a beat on the way to the top of the podium. From 19 years old in London to now, the stage has never been too big.
2. Maddie Musselman (USA)
US National Player | Clubs: UCLA | Position: Left Driver
The MVP from Tokyo is fully healthy after a shoulder injury earlier in her career. She led Team USA with 18 goals in Japan, importantly 10 of those came after the preliminary round. Exciting to see what she'll do next as she still has one year left at UCLA
3. Anni Espar (ESP)
Spanish National Player | Clubs: CN Mataro | Position: Right Driver
Spain remains one of the biggest competitors to Team USA and Espar has a lot to do with it. A dynamic scorer, she is part of a strong core on this team that has in them always in the hunt for a medal. Espar totaled 15 goals as Spain took home silver.
4. Simone van de Kraats (NED)
Dutch National Player | Clubs: Polar Bears / CN Mataro | Position: Right Driver
The Dutch are loaded with strong offensive talent like Maartje Keuning, Maud Megens or Sabrina van der Sloot but it was Simone van de Kraats who had a breakout tourney in Tokyo. Anytime you score 28 goals in seven matches that deserves some recognition. Not to mention when the scores come on 64% shooting. The pieces are there for this team but they came up short in the Tokyo quarterfinals.
5. Ashleigh Jonhson (USA)
USA National Player | Clubs: Ethnikos | Position: Goalkeeper
My picks are USA heavy but they are the top team in the world for a reason - Johnson remains the best goalie around, her efforts in diversity and inclusion outside the pool are just as important. She's become a role model for so many in and out of the pool and continues to make extraordinary plays around the goal.
1. Kostas Genidounias (GRE)
Greek National Player | Clubs: Olympiacos | Position: Driver
Genidounias powered a talented Greek team to the first medal in program history, leading the team in scoring with 17 goals. You can make a strong case for Ioannis Fountoulis as well and his 16 goals. For me, it's been fun to see Genidounias dominate at the collegiate level in the U.S. and now see that translate to a high level for a European power.
2. Ben Hallock (USA)
US National Player | Clubs: Pro Recco | Position: Center Forward
Hallock has emerged as one of the best centers in the world. He piled up drawn exclusions in Tokyo against a host of double teams. There were stretches where he was unguardable. That came on the heels of a Champions League crown in year one with Pro Recco. The sky's the limit for the Stanford grad.
3. Filip Filipovic (SRB)
Serbian National Player | Clubs: Szolnok / Olympiacos | Position: Right Driver
The comeback against Spain in Tokyo was all-time. Only fitting a legend delivered in a legendary moment, he has to be in the conversation for the greatest left-hander to ever do it. Was Serbia's flag bearer in Tokyo, sometimes signaling the end of a career, I hope it keeps going.
4. Aleksandar Ivovic (MNE)
Montenegrin National Player | Clubs: Pro Recco | Position: Driver
Ivovic continues to be one of the toughest covers in the international game. He led all scorers in Tokyo with 23 goals, hitting on more than 50 percent of his shots. Montenegro fell short of expectations ending in 8th, but at 35 Ivovic remains one of the best in the business.
5. Branislav Mitrovic (SRB)
Serbian National Player | Clubs: Vasas | Position: Goalkeeperr
We've gotta show some goalie love. Mitrovic worked the cage for six matches as Serbia went on to repeat as Olympic champions. He stopped 57 percent of the shots that came his way including 10 stops in the semifinal against Spain and 8 in the title bout against Greece.
Vote for your Total Player 2021 now!
Support your favourite pick and support them on their way to the Total Player.
