This is whack I love it. Yuki Ishikawa is THE NT anyway
But things haven't changed for the girls since Saori's time. It's like if you made it to Hisamitsu or Toray after being some kind of highschool hype that was already a big deal and these girls are prepped for the NT by their clubs. Now with Ishikawa and Ran's success going straight to Italy after uni that might change the whole system for the girls who are tall enough to go play in other countries.
They have to be selected in the NT first before being given that opportunity. Ran is an exception I don't know why I didn't follow his humble beginnings. His friend Tatsu something is a total local.
Haruko is still the best way to get noticed. Those highschoolers don't play around they grind hard