By Shane Laflin

Premier Basketball | ESPNW

The impact of a freshman can be seen in a variety of ways. Some programs have a roster of veterans, so the opportunity is in a small, but valuable, role. Other rosters have immediate needs so the opportunity to add a scoring punch is greater. Some need a sixth player in the rotation and some need a defensive stopper or size inside to spell an established dominant post.

Predicting the impact of a freshman can prove difficult – the variables and experience for each player is just so much different from the next. The accolades they hold on their pre-college resume no longer mean much in between the lines. They are carrying a much more intense load on and off the court than ever before. One thing is for sure true amongst all staffs that were consulted: no one truly knows how a freshman will perform until the bright lights come on and they have some games under their belt.

Freshmen deserve the time to grow into their role. Approaching that challenge with humility, discipline, and consistency is key. They will experience some failure – and if adapted to correctly, that can get them one step closer to what they have been dreaming of achieving in college. This list is not intended to be comprehensive – as acknowledged, there can and will be some players emerge this year not listed. It is intended to give a glimpse into what it’s like to transition into college basketball and what it looks and feels like before the season tips. What do coaches see out of these players as they adjust and adapt and develop?

Last season, we saw JuJu Watkins, Hannah Hidaldo, Madison Booker, and Milaysia Fulwiley make some national noise. With a few days before the season tips off, I list the freshmen expected to have an impact in the 2024-2025 season illustrated in varying capacities.

THE HEADLINERS

Sarah Strong

UCONN | F | 6-foot-2

As the No. 1 player in the class of 2024, there is a lot of anticipation for Sarah Strong’s debut for UConn. As frontcourt player with her skillset, she will give the Huskies a dynamic they have not had in that spot for a few years – a player who can handle, pass, and maybe most importantly, knock down the three with some consistency. In talking to coach Geno Auriemma, Strong has been a sponge asking very good questions while processing how UConn wants to play as a whole unit. She bounces back from youthful mistakes and improves in all aspects by the week. However, she plays instinctively and confidently – something that is a strong foundation to her game. She uses her body well around the rim to finish and create space, a valuable asset for a team looking to play at a high pace and score a lot of points. The impression is that there is no scenario in which Strong will not start for the Huskies when their first game tips.

Coach Auriemma also had high praise for 6-foot freshman guard Allie Ziebell. She has what he refers to as “good basketball karma”, by which he means she finds the ball and the ball finds her at the right times and she makes the right plays when it happens – knowing how to play within herself to get those opportunities. Ziebell shoots it well and finishes at the rim effectively also, particularly going left. She should see valuable rotational minutes for UConn.

 

Jaloni Cambridge

Ohio State | G | 5-foot-7

A lot of times in recruiting, it is common to hear a player is a stylistic fit for a certain program. It’s usually a casual reference and does not take into account details and layers of the actual playing style, but more a generalization based on look. However, in Cambridge’s case, it is accurate. A lightning quick guard who excels in transition offensively and then on the other end is one of the best on ball defenders baseline to baseline in her class, Jaloni fits in with Ohio State’s pace and pressure in their press.

In talking to Coach Kevin McGuff, Cambridge has transitioned well because of her speed and command of the ball. She is extremely coachable and is absorbing how they marry their pressing and pace into the halfcourt element of things on both ends. She is learning to read the layers of ball screen defense and other off ball actions they run and also learning how to play defensively with constant ball pressure and using angles versus a floor of bigger and faster players. The press into the half court defensive game plan is a challenge for any newcomer, but McGuff is pleased with Cambridge’s progress thus far and absolutely expects her to impact them this season.

 

Joyce Edwards

South Carolina | F | 6-foot-3

The Gamecocks return everyone from last season’s championship team except for center Kamilla Cardoso and with Ashlynn Watkins’ status still undetermined, there is opportunity inside for new players to step up. Edwards is a hybrid forward who can play at the 4 or the 5 position. She has produced double-double range statistics on every level in which she’s played. Joyce is an incredible rebounder and knows how to position herself for the advantageous offensive boards. She is an underrated passer and slashes to the rim well. In an exhibition game versus Memphis on October 15, Edwards had her double-double by halftime!

Coach Dawn Staley commented at SEC media day that she thought Joyce played extremely well in the exhibition game – just like she’s been practicing. She described Joyce as mature beyond her years, highly competitive, and very intelligent.

Adhel Tac, 6-foot-5 redshirt freshman post, was recently fully cleared and Coach Staley has liked what she has seen from her, comparing her to their interior players of the past in regards to habits and potential. Look for her to make important contributions in the Gamecock rotation.

 

Syla Swords

Michigan | G | 6-foot

 

Olivia Olson

Michigan | G | 6-foot-1

This is going to be a relatively young Michigan squad this season. Through graduation and transfers, wing Jordan Hobbs is the only returning player to have averaged more than 10 minutes per game last season. This puts a heavy focus on their No. 8 ranked recruiting class who has wasted no time making their impression in practice and workouts.

Syla Swords is only 18, but has the world basketball experience of a veteran. Between high school, All-American games, team training camps, and then playing in the Olympics for her native Canada, she may have logged more games than any player in her class in the last calendar year. Swords is fundamentally skilled and savvy on the floor like an upperclassman. She can shoot it, score from every level, and play some at the lead guard spot, if needed. Fun fact: her Olympic teammate Natalie Achonwa is now on staff at Michigan.

Head Coach Kim Barnes-Arico said that despite missing the usual summer transition period freshman get to play in the Paris Olympics, Swords has not missed a beat – if anything, she needed some time off to recover from her year of hoops.

The first thing Barnes-Arico mentions for Olivia Olson is that she empties the tank every day effort wise – very uncommon for a freshman. Olson has an ultra-competitive nature and despite being asked to learn the system and collegiate game for several positions, Olson is relentless in the way she goes about her business. The versatility Olivia brings to the table will give the program the ability to play multiple combinations of players. Another mentionable detail is that Olson immediately attacked the strength and conditioning in the summer and has gotten into great shape and really bought into a routine of recovery methods and it is paying dividends for her on the floor. It sounds like in their closed scrimmage versus another Power 4 opponent, Olson shot the ball extremely well and displayed the versatility and potential for which she is known. She had a 22 point and 10 rebound outing in an exhibition game versus Northwood University (D2).

 

Ciera Toomey

North Carolina | F | 6-foot-4

The college basketball world had to wait a year for Cierra Toomey’s debut due to an injury she sustained soon after she arrived on campus last year. The redshirt freshman is back fulltime, healthy, and competing every day. While she was out, she was able to focus on the strength and conditioning to improve mobility and athleticism which allowed her to expand elements of her finesse game without being able to practice day to day. Toomey has a very versatile and skilled foundation to her game. She is a tall shooter who can play off the bounce and is a fantastic facilitator. Now that she has had the opportunity to practice against senior Alyssa Utsby on a day-to-day basis, she knows the level of relentlessness it takes to play at the collegiate level, particularly in and around the paint. Toomey will be able to play off of Utsby and contribute at the 4 or 5 positions and watching her role develop with be notable for the Tarheels.

Coach Courtney Banghart said notably that freshman point guard Lanie Grant as well as post Blanca Thomas have made great strides also. Grant is an interesting example of a player who reclassed up so as to arrive on campus a year early, but that has not limited her ability to contribute and improve. She is a fantastic shot maker from deep and is poised and plays at her own pace, never getting sped up by the action. She makes great personnel decisions in terms of reads and action calls.

Thomas is a 6-foot-5 center that has accepted hard coaching and really come out of her shell. She has always had the physical tools: frame, height, and strength. But now she has realized the value of a consistent motor and it couples well with her skill set which includes shooting the three-ball.

These three should allow for depth in the UNC program which should make for some stylistic changes to the way they play this season.

 

Kate Koval

Notre Dame | F | 6-foot-5

Koval is getting nice reviews from her coaching staff and her teammates as full practices are underway at Notre Dame. She has well rounded game and she has a much higher than average basketball IQ for a freshman. It lends to a lot of confidence for Kate which has helped her figure out early how she can impact the Irish and how she fits within their squad. Coach Niele Ivey has commented on how she can score, but also has a dominance on the defensive end and credited her development prior to college for her preparedness. Koval has that rare ability to be both a post-up threat, but also knock down shots from the perimeter. She has long displayed her passing skills from the block out of double teams or from the top of the key in the trail position.

With Maddy Westbeld and Kylie Watson out early to start the season and some other changes to last year’s roster, Notre Dame will have plenty of minutes available for interior players, and it seems as though Koval will take full advantage of that.

 

Kennedy Smith

USC | G | 6-foot-1

After the freshman season of JuJu Watkins last season, it’s almost unfair to try to compare those results with expectations thrust upon this year’s batch of USC freshmen. However, they are the No. 1 recruiting class in the country, so with that comes the attention.

Kennedy Smith leads the way in terms of immediate impact in watching practice and also discussing things with Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb. Smith has some physical traits in her build and athleticism that are rare. She is powerful, smooth, and agile and her defensive impact is immediately noticeable. She is disruptive on the ball, in passing lanes, and on the glass. Most impressively in her transition has been her efficiency – she keeps things simple and can drive it, score it, or move the ball appropriately in ways that impact winning. She is a better decision maker and passer than maybe many give her credit for.

Kaleigh Heckel, a 5-foot-9 guard, will also contribute meaningful minutes with her ability to play at a high tempo and with her court vision. 6-foot guard Avery Howell is the team’s best shooter and is intentional in everything she does and has a hunger to get better every day.

 

Mikayla Blakes

Vanderbilt | G | 5-foot-8

Mikayla Blakes is the best player to sign with the Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball program coming out of high school. Her combination of speed, athleticism, length, and skill are hard to come by. But, at the root of things, it’s the competitive drive that really sets her apart. Coach Shea Ralph, with years of experience around highly elite driven players as a player and long-time assistant at UConn, knows how rare the combination of all of the above is – and is very complimentary in discussing how Blakes’ transition into college basketball has been.

Mikayla’s will to win carries over to her will to prepare – a mature quality not seen in many players consistently, let alone a freshman. The confidence that breeds from that belief in daily work and preparation helps her to be fearless in her approach – and those habits have lifted those around her. Coach Ralph says Mikayla has not lost a sprint since she stepped on campus.

The impact here is different than some because Vanderbilt is not yet considered a perennial favorite, but expect Mikayla to impact the season for Vanderbilt and the expectation is for her to be one of the better guards in the SEC.

 

EXPECTED IMPACT

Berry Wallace

Illinois | P | 6-foot-1

Coach Shauna Green had high expectations for Berry Wallace stepping onto campus. The versatile forward was coming off a fantastic senior season that saw her stock rise to that of a McDonald’s All-American. She is getting closer and closer to expectations every day and that has been very pleasing and impressive to the staff.

Wallace’s ability to retain information and be coached through new experiences really helps her out. She was initially logging reps at the 4-position, but has organically found herself now getting reps at the 3 (both spots are perimeter oriented in the Illinois system) because of her ability to pick things up quickly and because of her skill set. Berry’s quiet and consistent production will allow Illinois to play with more lineup combinations than they realized early on. Wallace understands the nuances of each spot and due to her work ethic and constant extra time in the gym, will be well prepared to contribute heavily when the games begin. Wallace can shoot it and reads the floor well and will have a chance to make a name for herself to those unfamiliar. Learning how to play, and shoot, when fatigue sets in will be key separators for her ability to contribute as games and the season rolls along.

Defensively, adjusting to guarding on the perimeter more will be something to watch develop.  Habits of playing in a more ready stance and guarding a litany of actions are something that has to be gained through experience and film study. Many times, the adage of “you are who you can guard” is quite literal as players go to their respective next levels.

 

Kiyomi McMiller

Rutgers | PG | 5-foot-8

 McMiller is well known for being a wizard with the basketball. However, the first thing coach Coquese Washington mentioned was her competitiveness in everything her team does from sprints to shooting drills. McMiller not only wants, but expects, to win. Because of her advanced handle and speed with the ball, Kiyomi can get to whatever spot she wants to on the floor at any given time. She is learning the balance of scoring and creating for teammates, but noticeable is the way her teammates feel more confident and in the flow with her on the floor. Finding that balance with such a talented and entertaining player takes time. It’s not something that can just be drawn up – it takes experience and there is a learning curve.

Defensively, McMiller wants to prove that she can guard anyone and has been getting incrementally better each week with team defensive techniques. She is a pesky on-ball defender and is learning the details of rotations and off the ball strategies within the program.

Kiyomi is a local New Jersey product and has built up some fanfare that should prove valuable for the Rutgers program.

 

Alivia McGill

Florida | G | 5-foot-9

Florida plays a very open and spaced with pace type of game and players who can thrive in multiple situations in somewhat position-less basketball have a solid opportunity to produce there. Alivia McGill is an old school point guard by trade – she controls the floor with her voice, elite passing ability, and her overall IQ. She does a great job getting paint touches and getting to the rim and knows how to draw a foul. McGill is advanced in pick and roll play and values the defensive end. The consistency of her perimeter shot has improved since she got on campus.

With the opportunity for guard minutes readily available, McGill should be able to leave an imprint on the program this season. Consistency and adjusting to the physicality of every play will be key. Playing at the constant pace that coach Kelly Finley wants takes some time to learn.

 

Britt Prince

Nebraska | G | 5-foot-11

Prince is about as fundamentally sound of a player as they come. She can shoot it, handle it in a variety of situations, and she sees the floor well. Her effort defensively is there and she has the athleticism and physical tools to compete at this level. She is a combo guard type who can both facilitate and score it.

Coach Amy Williams says returning guard Allison Weidner and Prince have been playing well off of each other and that the fact that they can also compete with each other has helped Prince’s development as well.

Britt is a better athlete than many realize and her coachability and adaptability have been huge strengths as she’s introduced to this level. She will need to add some strength and defensive improvements are happening daily – and she also will learn to be more vocal on the court.

Coach Williams has no doubt that Prince will impact their program this season, and Nebraska has two of the last three Big 10 Freshman of the Year, so she knows what that experience looks and feels like.

 

Toby Fournier

Duke | F | 6-foot-2

Fournier is famous for her viral two-handed dunks, but she is much more of a player than a 10-second highlight. She is an active defender and shot blocker, runs the floor with ease, and finishes around the rim with either hand. She continues to improve upon an emerging jumper with further and further range which makes her a tough cover with her slashing ability to the rim.

The fact of the matter is with Kennedy Brown and Camilla Emsbo graduating (approximately 30 minutes per game between the two) and fellow freshman Arianna Roberson sustaining a season ending knee injury in late August at USA 3X3, Duke needs Fournier to contribute.

If last year’s freshman class of Oluchi Okananwa (last year’s ACC 6^th Player of the Year) Jadyn Donovan, and Delaney Thomas are any indication, Fournier should be able ease in and learn how to impact winning more and more each day and contribute.

 

Jordan Lee

Texas | G | 6-foot

Madison Booker really elevated things last season for the Texas Longhorns. To ask for a repeat in that regard from this year’s class would be asking a lot, but they will add much-needed depth on the perimeter which will prove valuable for the program.

Jordan Lee has settled in at Texas, and according to Head Coach Vic Schaefer, she is a gym rat who has an early morning routine of fundamental work to stay sharp. She’s been impressive in early conditioning tests and has a higher acumen defensively than your average rookie. Her competitiveness sets her apart and Coach Schaefer fully expects her to log meaningful minutes this season from the start.

Coach Schaeffer also praised Bryanna Preston for her defensive instincts and her open court play. He believes she can provide some valuable back up minutes for a returning Rori Harmon. She has been keeping things simple in practice – making the right reads and playing an unselfish floor-general style. Coach Schaefer also mentioned Justice Carltoncalling her their most physical player and highlighting her ability to score in her comfort zone in and around the paint.

 

Danielle Carnegie

Georgia Tech | G | 5-foot-9

Georgia Tech signed the No. 12 ranked recruiting class last fall and the additions to their backcourt will go beyond what they players bring individually. Danielle Carnegie really took things to another level during her senior year of high school. She got in excellent condition and saw immediate returns on that investment into her fitness and nutrition habits. She has a serious knack for scoring the basketball and has a combo-guard type of game – comfortable with the ball in or out of her hands. She is learning at this level how to play with less lulls in overall effort and activity level and it has raised the competitiveness of practices.

Chazadi Wright is a small, but solid true point guard with a great feel for the game and understands where she fits and how she has to play to be effective at the collegiate level. The pace of play increases when she is in the game and she sees the floor really well.

The addition of Carnegie and Wright allows junior Tonie Morgan to be in a more aggressive role scoring the ball – as the local Georgia products can take some of the ballhandling and facilitation responsibilities at times, giving coach Nell Fortner more lineup combination possibilities.

 

Katie Fiso

Oregon | G | 5-foot-11

Coach Kelly Graves says of Katie Fiso’s approach to the game: “She lives it and she loves it.” That is high praise for the habits of any young player and it should pay dividends in minutes of playing time for Fiso going into her freshman season.

Fiso has a reputation for an incomparable work ethic and has displayed a high above average IQ for many years. She has a craftiness and some unteachable intangibles that really set her apart early. Oregon, like many programs, monitors the consistent activity level and intensity of their athletes during practice and Fiso leads them in this area. They also chart “wins” of different sorts in their practice drills and scrimmages and she has the most individual wins of anyone on the team. She is showing she can be very good in transition and she is adjusting to the physicality of the game in the paint in regards to her decision making. She has elite change of pace and reads the floor and understands teammates and their strengths very well. Competitively, she never wants a sub during practice.

Keep an eye on Ehis Etute as well – their 6-foot forward from Luxembourg. Coach Graves said thus far in practice, she has made some huge strides and that she is very disruptive defensively and on the glass.

 

Ava Heiden

Iowa | C | 6-foot-4

Heiden heads to Iowa from Oregon, committing to the program before that was considered to be Big 10 territory. She is a high IQ big who can bang inside but also facilitate from the perimeter in a decision making role. She is explosive and strong off the ground for rebounds and finishes or can stretch the floor with shot making ability. She is more mobile than many realize and her hands really set her apart in playmaking ability.

Heiden talks the game very well and can play in a number of gameplans and schemes. She will allow Iowa to play to their more traditional lineups of the past with a true center inside which will allow junior Hannah Stuelke to play her more natural forward position.

There are players in her position on the roster that have logged college experience, but look for Heiden to catch up quickly and make an impact this season.