Standout Freshmen

[bballnut90]

After a historically strong freshman class a year ago, this year's crop of freshmen seem primed to make their own mark. Some opening game stat lines from top recruits:

#2 recruit Jaloni Cambridge: 31 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks, 2 TO, 12-14 FG, 2-3 3pt. Good lord that is an incredible statline.
#4 recruit Syla Swords: 27 points, 12 rebounds, 9-19 FG vs. #1 South Carolina
#5 recruit Kate Koval: 18 points, 7 rebounds, 5 blocks, 3 assists, 9-11 FG.
#6 recruit Kennedy Smith: 12 points, 7 rebounds, 5-11 FG vs #20 Ole Miss
#8 recruit Mikayla Blakes: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 9-18 FG
#10 recruit Toby Fournier: 10 points, 5-9 FG, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 5 fouls in 10 minutes
#15 recruit Alivia McGill: 14 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 4-12 FG
#24 recruit Tajianna Roberts: 21 points, 8-19 FG, 4-10 3pt vs. #5 UCLA

A lot of these are against overmatched opponents but that's still a heck of a start. I was really impressed with Swords/Roberts/Smith. I didn't include #3 recruit Joyce Edwards but she'll undoubtedly be on the list of top freshmen as the season unfolds.

 

[visitingcock]

After a historically strong freshman class a year ago, this year's crop of freshmen seem primed to make their own mark. Some opening game stat lines from top recruits:

#2 recruit Jaloni Cambridge: 31 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks, 2 TO, 12-14 FG, 2-3 3pt. Good lord that is an incredible statline.
#4 recruit Syla Swords: 27 points, 12 rebounds, 9-19 FG vs. #1 South Carolina
#5 recruit Kate Koval: 18 points, 7 rebounds, 5 blocks, 3 assists, 9-11 FG.
#6 recruit Kennedy Smith: 12 points, 7 rebounds, 5-11 FG vs #20 Ole Miss
#8 recruit Mikayla Blakes: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 9-18 FG
#10 recruit Toby Fournier: 10 points, 5-9 FG, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 5 fouls in 10 minutes
#15 recruit Alivia McGill: 14 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 4-12 FG
#24 recruit Tajianna Roberts: 21 points, 8-19 FG, 4-10 3pt vs. #5 UCLA

A lot of these are against overmatched opponents but that's still a heck of a start. I was really impressed with Swords/Roberts/Smith. I didn't include #3 recruit Joyce Edwards but she'll undoubtedly be on the list of top freshmen as the season unfolds.

Well, Joyce had 10 points 2 steals, one block and seven rebounds against Michigan in 29 minute off the bench. She probably won't get that many minutes in one game again this season.

 

[Reypl21]

Well, Joyce had 10 points 2 steals, one block and seven rebounds against Michigan in 29 minute off the bench. She probably won't get that many minutes in one game again this season.

You don't think so? I think it's very telling that she got so many minutes on the first real game of the season. And it was a close game! Dawn clearly trusts her or she thinks she can provide more than some other players with more experience. That one block was sick too, off the back board. If Watkins comes back then I can see that she wouldn't get that many minutes again. But she looked good.

 

[visitingcock]

You don't think so? I think it's very telling that she got so many minutes on the first real game of the season. And it was a close game! Dawn clearly trusts her or she thinks she can provide more than some other players with more experience. That one block was sick too, off the back board. If Watkins comes back then I can see that she wouldn't get that many minutes again. But she looked good.

Watkins returned to practice today,

 

[TC22]

Watkins returned to practice today,

Joyce has been the first one off the bench. She can come in for either the 3 or 4. She’s really better than any post player we have not named Chloe or Watkins.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Joyce has been the first one off the bench. She can come in for either the 3 or 4. She’s really better than any post player we have not named Chloe or Watkins.

Exactly this. Joyce will see the floor. You can't keep a player as gifted and as athletic as she is off the floor. She's a future NPOY, IMO.

Also, Coach Dawn Staley has said that Joyce can pretty much play anywhere due to her skill set. She's tested Joyce out at PG. While I don't expect her to actually play significant minutes there, I can see her playing unconventional roles against certain teams.

 

[bballnut90]

After a historically strong freshman class a year ago, this year's crop of freshmen seem primed to make their own mark. Some opening game stat lines from top recruits:

#2 recruit Jaloni Cambridge: 31 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks, 2 TO, 12-14 FG, 2-3 3pt. Good lord that is an incredible statline.
#4 recruit Syla Swords: 27 points, 12 rebounds, 9-19 FG vs. #1 South Carolina
#5 recruit Kate Koval: 18 points, 7 rebounds, 5 blocks, 3 assists, 9-11 FG.
#6 recruit Kennedy Smith: 12 points, 7 rebounds, 5-11 FG vs #20 Ole Miss
#8 recruit Mikayla Blakes: 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 9-18 FG
#10 recruit Toby Fournier: 10 points, 5-9 FG, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 5 fouls in 10 minutes
#15 recruit Alivia McGill: 14 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 4-12 FG
#24 recruit Tajianna Roberts: 21 points, 8-19 FG, 4-10 3pt vs. #5 UCLA

A lot of these are against overmatched opponents but that's still a heck of a start. I was really impressed with Swords/Roberts/Smith. I didn't include #3 recruit Joyce Edwards but she'll undoubtedly be on the list of top freshmen as the season unfolds.

Expanding on this:
#1 recruit Sarah Strong looks very very good for her age and will be in the conversation for NFOY. She fills up every part of the box score.
#9 recruit Jordan Lee and #12 recruit Justice Carlton put up double figures against an overmatched Lamar team.
#13 recruit Kayleigh Heckel has had 3 really solid games against overmatched opponents after a quiet start vs. Ole Miss
#20 recruit Olivia Olson with big showings after a tough opening night against South Carolina
#21 recruit Zamareya Jones putting up double figures for NC State and had 16 against South Carolina

A lot of these numbers are inflated due to playing cupcakes but this has the makings of being another class like 2023 IMO. It's absolutely loaded with players who are making an impact early.

 

[nwhoopfan]

It's early, but Delaney Gibb looks like she's much better than the 77th best player in this class (Hoopgurlz ranking).

And how about unranked Allie Turner from Gonzaga? Shooting the lights out and tied for team lead in scoring, and 2 of their 3 games have been against ACC teams.

 

[donalddoowop]

It's early, but Delaney Gibb looks like she's much better than the 77th best player in this class (Hoopgurlz ranking).

And how about unranked Allie Turner from Gonzaga? Shooting the lights out and tied for team lead in scoring, and 2 of their 3 games have been against ACC teams.

Are the PAC 12 games on television where you live?

 

[Dillon77]

Expanding on this:
#1 recruit Sarah Strong looks very very good for her age and will be in the conversation for NFOY. She fills up every part of the box score.
#9 recruit Jordan Lee and #12 recruit Justice Carlton put up double figures against an overmatched Lamar team.
#13 recruit Kayleigh Heckel has had 3 really solid games against overmatched opponents after a quiet start vs. Ole Miss
#20 recruit Olivia Olson with big showings after a tough opening night against South Carolina
#21 recruit Zamareya Jones putting up double figures for NC State and had 16 against South Carolina

A lot of these numbers are inflated due to playing cupcakes but this has the makings of being another class like 2023 IMO. It's absolutely loaded with players who are making an impact early.

Strong looks, well, strong. Very strong. Alyssa Ustby is no pushover and Strong looked like she could do whatever she pleased against the grad student on both offense and defense. Already has the basis of a pro body and the technical skills are pretty impressive, as well.
I wish Maddy Westbeld would be back to play against her when UConn and ND match up, but don't think Maddy will back until the new year.

Kayleigh Heckel is fast, quick and laser-focused. If ND already didn't have two All-Americans at point guard, I would've been totally game for Coach Ivey to have recruited her harder. Will be interesting to see how she plays against Hurricane Hannah next week (and her former LuHi buddy, Kate Koval).

 

[SCGamecock]

Strong looks, well, strong. Very strong. Alyssa Ustby is no pushover and Strong looked like she could do whatever she pleased against the grad student on both offense and defense. Already has the basis of a pro body and the technical skills are pretty impressive, as well.
I wish Maddy Westbeld would be back to play against her when UConn and ND match up, but don't think Maddy will back until the new year.

Kayleigh Heckel is fast, quick and laser-focused. If ND already didn't have two All-Americans at point guard, I would've been totally game for Coach Ivey to have recruited her harder. Will be interesting to see how she plays against Hurricane Hannah next week (and her former LuHi buddy, Kate Koval).

Strong completely neutralized Ustby in every way during that game. Ustby looked like a shell of herself versus Strong. I was very impressed by Strong last night.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Are the PAC 12 games on television where you live?

There is no Pac 12.

Most WCC and Big 12 games are on ESPN+, that's how I've been able to watch those 2 particular Fr.

 

[jdote33]

 

[darrell]

Should be a great battle for Big 10 FOTY. Britt, Jaloni, Kennedy Smith, Kiyomi, Olivia Olson, Syla Swords. A loaded group.

 

[darrell]

I have really enjoyed watching Kiyomi.

 

[DefenseBB]

It’s tough to assess the freshman so early in the season as too many of these games are against “cupcakes” where you expect them to dominate. By mid January we should know how the class really stacks up. For example, Koval looked great early but these last two games ND lost, not so good.

Ultimately, I think last years class will prove truly elite when compared to this years-not that this years class is bad but simply last years was exceptionally good AND deep.

 

[Stagnant]

It’s tough to assess the freshman so early in the season as too many of these games are against “cupcakes” where you expect them to dominate. By mid January we should know how the class really stacks up. For example, Koval looked great early but these last two games ND lost, not so good.

Ultimately, I think last years class will prove truly elite when compared to this years-not that this years class is bad but simply last years was exceptionally good AND deep.

This. Some freshman like koval played better teams this week. Koval would have made a top freshman list last week. Not anymore.

I do have a top 5 (currently) freshman list for anyone that wants it.

1. Syla Swords
2. Sarah Strong
3. Mikayla Blakes
4. Olivia Olson
5. Jaloni Cambridge

 

[bballnut90]

Updating this as we're about a month into the season. Some of the stats of top freshmen (in order of PPG) include:

Mikayla Blakes (Vanderbilt)- 20.2 points, 3.8 assists, 47.6% FG
Syla Swords (Michigan)- 18.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.1 steals, 47.4% FG
Kiyomi McMiller (Rutgers)- 18.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 45.6% FG
Liv McGill (Florida)- 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 52.3% FG
Jaloni Cambridge (Ohio State)- 16.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 3.0 steals, 47.7% FG
Sarah Strong (UCONN)- 16.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.5 steals, 57.3% FG
Olivia Olson (Michigan) - 16.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Dani Carnegie (Georgia Tech)- 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 44.3% FG
Britt Prince (Nebraska) - 14.1 points, 3.6 assists
Tajianna Roberts (Louisville)- 11.4 points
Toby Fournier (Duke)- 10.9 points, 4.2 rebounds
Kennedy Smith (USC)- 10.3 points, 3.8 rebounds (injured now)
Joyce Edwards (South Carolina)- 9.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 steals
Justice Carlton (Texas)- 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 57.7% FG
Zamareya Jones (NC State) - 9.1 points
Kate Koval (Notre Dame)- 7.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.9 blocks

 

[Vowelguy]

Updating this as we're about a month into the season. Some of the stats of top freshmen (in no particular order) include:

Mikayla Blakes (Vanderbilt)- 20.2 points, 3.8 assists, 47.6% FG
Syla Swords (Michigan)- 18.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.1 steals, 47.4% FG
Kiyomi McMiller (Rutgers)- 18.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 45.6% FG
Liv McGill (Florida)- 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 52.3% FG
Jaloni Cambridge (Ohio State)- 16.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 3.0 steals, 47.7% FG
Sarah Strong (UCONN)- 16.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.5 steals, 57.3% FG
Olivia Olson (Michigan) - 16.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Dani Carnegie (Georgia Tech)- 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 44.3% FG
Britt Prince (Nebraska) - 14.1 points, 3.6 assists
Tajianna Roberts (Louisville)- 11.4 points
Toby Fournier (Duke)- 10.9 points, 4.2 rebounds
Kennedy Smith (USC)- 10.3 points, 3.8 rebounds (injured now)
Joyce Edwards (South Carolina)- 9.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.9 steals
Justice Carlton (Texas)- 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 57.7% FG
Zamareya Jones (NC State) - 9.1 points
Kate Koval (Notre Dame)- 7.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.9 blocks

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