Post by WBBDaily on Nov 7, 2022 12:36:59 GMT -5
There’s always some freshmen hype leading into the women’s college basketball season. The expectations for top-ranked recruits are high, especially at well-known programs. But when it comes to which players will excel at the college level and have an immediate impact, there’s a lot more to consider than just talent alone. Some of it is situational. There have been incredibly skilled players who have gone to big time schools like UConn and South Carolina only to transfer later because of limited playing time and opportunity.
Two of the biggest names who would have been on this list are notably absent: UConn’s Ice Brady, a 6-foot-3 forward who was ranked as a top-five recruit, will miss the season with a knee injury. USC’s Aaliyah Gales, the nation’s No. 8 recruit, is redshirting as she recovers from gunshot wounds suffered in April.
Taking that into consideration, as well as factoring in talent along with team-specific needs, I came up with a list of the top 15 freshmen who will have the most impact this season.
15. Chance Gray, Oregon
Gray is the second-best point guard recruit in the nation, though how many minutes she’ll get on an Oregon team loaded with guards remains to be seen. Both Endyia Rogers and Te-Hina Paopao are back for the Ducks this season and will resume control of the backcourt as one of the best tandems in college hoops. Still, Gray certainly will be involved in the rotation, and it has to be comforting for coach Kelly Graves to know that he has a skilled floor leader ready to step in and make plays in case injuries become a factor, as they did last season.
14. Ruby Whitehorn, Clemson
After going 10-21 last season, the Tigers needed to find their footing in a highly competitive and talented ACC. Whitehorn, a top-15 recruit, can help with that. She’s an athletic guard who can hit jumpers as smoothly as she can get to the rim. She excels at creating her own shot and is the kind of dynamic player who can help turn the Tigers’ around. Clemson’s leading scorer last season, Delicia Washington (17.2 ppg), graduated, and Whitehorn has the potential to fill her shoes.
13. Ta’Niya Latson, Florida State
Morgan Jones led the Seminoles at guard last season with 13.8 points per game, so with her departure, Florida State needs to fill a void. Though transfer guards Jazmine Massengill (Kentucky), Sara Bejedi (Arizona State) and Taylor O’Brien (Bucknell) certainly help in the backcourt, having the top-ranked guard recruit at the Seminoles’ disposal is going to have a direct effect. Latson can attack the rim, beat players off the ball, defend and capitalize on turnovers. A Massengill/Latson backcourt could be a potent combination.
12. Cotie McMahon, Ohio State
The Buckeyes are solid in the backcourt, as Taylor Mikesell and Jacy Sheldon combined for 38.3 points per game last season. The frontcourt, however, needs some scoring help, and McMahon has the ability to solidly contribute from the wing. She gets to the lane often and has the physicality to finish and benefit from the foul line. Her high energy and endless effort on both ends of the court are a coach’s dream. McMahon can help stretch the floor and give Ohio State a more balanced scoring attack overall.
11. Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Baylor
Aside from having the best jersey name in all of college basketball, Littlepage-Buggs is a perfect fit for Baylor. At 6-foot-1, she can offer versatility by playing forward or guard. She can crash the boards, hit from midrange and gets out in transition. Playing time will depend on how coach Nicki Collen works Littlepage-Buggs into the rotation, but she’s got the talent and skill to make an immediate impact should she get the minutes.
10. Flau’jae Johnson, LSU
Khayla Pointer and Alexis Morris were the heart and soul of the Tigers last season, combining for 34.6 points per game. Morris is back for a fifth year, but Pointer is not. And coach Kim Mulkey brought in Johnson with hopes of potentially filling that role. Johnson is ranked as the sixth-best guard in the nation. She’s shifty, gets into the lane and can hit jumpers with ease from anywhere on the court. With eight guards on the roster, Johnson might have to compete for minutes. But Mulkey didn’t lure a four-start recruit to LSU to just ride the bench.
9. Maggie Mendelson, Nebraska
Nebraska had a balanced scoring attack last season across the board, but could use a little more power in the post. At 6-5, Mendelson brings height and size to the Cornhuskers’ frontcourt, and will be a welcome addition at center. She’s a low post player who can rebound and defend the rim, and she has great awareness around the basket. A four-star recruit, Mendelson has potential to add to her overall game and develop into a dominant paint force.
8. Maya Nnaji, Arizona
Arizona staple Cate Reese is back for a fifth season, and junior Lauren Ware will get minutes too. But with only four true forwards on the roster, Nnaji should factor heavily in the frontcourt rotation. She’s 6-4 with a guard-like handle and a quick first step, finishes at the rim, and has the ability to block and alter shots on defense. Reese and Ware will be solid mentors as Nnaji will be a Wildcats building block going forward.
7. Timea Gardiner, Oregon State
Aside from starting guard and leading scorer Talia von Oelhoffen, the Beavers will have a new look this season, especially in the frontcourt. Former five-star recruit Kennedy Brown and Taya Corosdale transferred to Duke, and Ellie Mack exhausted her eligibility. Oregon State has a young roster with only three forwards. There’s room to grow, and as the second-ranked forward in the 2022 class, Gardiner can come in and play right away. Paired with top-10 recruit Raegan Beers in the post, the Beavers have a budding tandem in the making.
6. Justine Pissott, Tennessee
Pissott is a highly-touted freshman, ranked second overall among wings in her class. Though Tennessee already has a full roster of talent, Pissott gives coach Kellie Harper even more range and versatility. Only 18.5 percent of their points last season came from 3-pointers — among the worst in college basketball, according to HerHoopStats. Pissott can hit the outside jumper and stretch the court beyond the arc, expanding Tennessee’s scoring options. Her scrappy defense should also be an asset.
Grace VanSlooten is a top-15 recruit who could provide a punch for Oregon. (Stacy Revere / Getty Images)
5. Grace VanSlooten, Oregon
Most of the Ducks scoring from guards last season came from Rogers and Paopao, who combined to average 27.9 points per game. Nyara Sabally (15.4 ppg) was the Ducks’ go-to player in the frontcourt, and she’s now in the WNBA. This is all to say that Oregon has frontcourt needs, in both bodies and scoring. Enter VanSlooten. At 6-3, she has the length and agility to stretch the floor and score from all three levels. Simply put, VanSlooten is a mismatch nightmare and a player Oregon should be happy to scheme for.
4. Ayanna Patterson, UConn
When the Huskies are stacked, it’s hard for even some of the most talented freshmen to get solid minutes off the bench. But UConn lost a significant amount of scoring from last season: Christyn William, Evina Westbrook and Olivia Nelson-Ododa are no longer on the team. Paige Bueckers is sidelined with an ACL tear. Freshman Ice Brady (knee) is also out for the season. Dorka Juhász (wrist), Caroline Ducharme (hip) and Aubrey Griffin (back) are coming back from injuries. Patterson is a talented small forward with guard-like skills. She can hit shots from the wing, and is expected to get into the lane often. As the top-ranked recruit at the wing position, she should get quality minutes on a thin Huskies roster.
3. Janiah Barker, Texas A&M
Barker was ranked as the No. 1 high school recruit at forward. And unlike some other top prospects, she’ll be playing for a team that has needs to fill. Texas A&M lost its top four scorers from last season, and Barker can slide right in and play a significant role. Coach Joni Taylor landed a player with size and skill who can rebound and finish at the rim but can also hit from midrange. There’s a lot to love about Barker’s game, as Aggies fans will quickly find out.
2. Lauren Betts, Stanford
A Cardinal frontcourt with Betts and Cameron Brink holding down the paint is a scary thought. But that’s exactly what’s going to happen. At 6-7, Betts has incredible length but she’s also agile and gets down the floor in transition. She’s a pure shot blocker and a stout defender on the block. Stanford’s roster is stacked from top to bottom, and it will be interesting to see how Tara VanDerveer uses the rotation and manages minutes with senior Ashten Prechtel in the mix as well.
1. Kiki Rice, UCLA
Rice joins a Bruins squad that went 18-13 overall, finished seventh in the Pac-12 and missed the NCAA Tournament last season. As the No. 2 high school recruit and 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year, Rice has incredible handles, court vision and an innate ability to create her own shot. She’s a program-changing player. The combination of talent and the opportunity to play big minutes for coach Cori Close is the perfect recipe for UCLA to get back on track, and for Rice to shine.
Two of the biggest names who would have been on this list are notably absent: UConn’s Ice Brady, a 6-foot-3 forward who was ranked as a top-five recruit, will miss the season with a knee injury. USC’s Aaliyah Gales, the nation’s No. 8 recruit, is redshirting as she recovers from gunshot wounds suffered in April.
Taking that into consideration, as well as factoring in talent along with team-specific needs, I came up with a list of the top 15 freshmen who will have the most impact this season.
15. Chance Gray, Oregon
Gray is the second-best point guard recruit in the nation, though how many minutes she’ll get on an Oregon team loaded with guards remains to be seen. Both Endyia Rogers and Te-Hina Paopao are back for the Ducks this season and will resume control of the backcourt as one of the best tandems in college hoops. Still, Gray certainly will be involved in the rotation, and it has to be comforting for coach Kelly Graves to know that he has a skilled floor leader ready to step in and make plays in case injuries become a factor, as they did last season.
14. Ruby Whitehorn, Clemson
After going 10-21 last season, the Tigers needed to find their footing in a highly competitive and talented ACC. Whitehorn, a top-15 recruit, can help with that. She’s an athletic guard who can hit jumpers as smoothly as she can get to the rim. She excels at creating her own shot and is the kind of dynamic player who can help turn the Tigers’ around. Clemson’s leading scorer last season, Delicia Washington (17.2 ppg), graduated, and Whitehorn has the potential to fill her shoes.
13. Ta’Niya Latson, Florida State
Morgan Jones led the Seminoles at guard last season with 13.8 points per game, so with her departure, Florida State needs to fill a void. Though transfer guards Jazmine Massengill (Kentucky), Sara Bejedi (Arizona State) and Taylor O’Brien (Bucknell) certainly help in the backcourt, having the top-ranked guard recruit at the Seminoles’ disposal is going to have a direct effect. Latson can attack the rim, beat players off the ball, defend and capitalize on turnovers. A Massengill/Latson backcourt could be a potent combination.
12. Cotie McMahon, Ohio State
The Buckeyes are solid in the backcourt, as Taylor Mikesell and Jacy Sheldon combined for 38.3 points per game last season. The frontcourt, however, needs some scoring help, and McMahon has the ability to solidly contribute from the wing. She gets to the lane often and has the physicality to finish and benefit from the foul line. Her high energy and endless effort on both ends of the court are a coach’s dream. McMahon can help stretch the floor and give Ohio State a more balanced scoring attack overall.
11. Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Baylor
Aside from having the best jersey name in all of college basketball, Littlepage-Buggs is a perfect fit for Baylor. At 6-foot-1, she can offer versatility by playing forward or guard. She can crash the boards, hit from midrange and gets out in transition. Playing time will depend on how coach Nicki Collen works Littlepage-Buggs into the rotation, but she’s got the talent and skill to make an immediate impact should she get the minutes.
10. Flau’jae Johnson, LSU
Khayla Pointer and Alexis Morris were the heart and soul of the Tigers last season, combining for 34.6 points per game. Morris is back for a fifth year, but Pointer is not. And coach Kim Mulkey brought in Johnson with hopes of potentially filling that role. Johnson is ranked as the sixth-best guard in the nation. She’s shifty, gets into the lane and can hit jumpers with ease from anywhere on the court. With eight guards on the roster, Johnson might have to compete for minutes. But Mulkey didn’t lure a four-start recruit to LSU to just ride the bench.
9. Maggie Mendelson, Nebraska
Nebraska had a balanced scoring attack last season across the board, but could use a little more power in the post. At 6-5, Mendelson brings height and size to the Cornhuskers’ frontcourt, and will be a welcome addition at center. She’s a low post player who can rebound and defend the rim, and she has great awareness around the basket. A four-star recruit, Mendelson has potential to add to her overall game and develop into a dominant paint force.
8. Maya Nnaji, Arizona
Arizona staple Cate Reese is back for a fifth season, and junior Lauren Ware will get minutes too. But with only four true forwards on the roster, Nnaji should factor heavily in the frontcourt rotation. She’s 6-4 with a guard-like handle and a quick first step, finishes at the rim, and has the ability to block and alter shots on defense. Reese and Ware will be solid mentors as Nnaji will be a Wildcats building block going forward.
7. Timea Gardiner, Oregon State
Aside from starting guard and leading scorer Talia von Oelhoffen, the Beavers will have a new look this season, especially in the frontcourt. Former five-star recruit Kennedy Brown and Taya Corosdale transferred to Duke, and Ellie Mack exhausted her eligibility. Oregon State has a young roster with only three forwards. There’s room to grow, and as the second-ranked forward in the 2022 class, Gardiner can come in and play right away. Paired with top-10 recruit Raegan Beers in the post, the Beavers have a budding tandem in the making.
6. Justine Pissott, Tennessee
Pissott is a highly-touted freshman, ranked second overall among wings in her class. Though Tennessee already has a full roster of talent, Pissott gives coach Kellie Harper even more range and versatility. Only 18.5 percent of their points last season came from 3-pointers — among the worst in college basketball, according to HerHoopStats. Pissott can hit the outside jumper and stretch the court beyond the arc, expanding Tennessee’s scoring options. Her scrappy defense should also be an asset.
Grace VanSlooten is a top-15 recruit who could provide a punch for Oregon. (Stacy Revere / Getty Images)
5. Grace VanSlooten, Oregon
Most of the Ducks scoring from guards last season came from Rogers and Paopao, who combined to average 27.9 points per game. Nyara Sabally (15.4 ppg) was the Ducks’ go-to player in the frontcourt, and she’s now in the WNBA. This is all to say that Oregon has frontcourt needs, in both bodies and scoring. Enter VanSlooten. At 6-3, she has the length and agility to stretch the floor and score from all three levels. Simply put, VanSlooten is a mismatch nightmare and a player Oregon should be happy to scheme for.
4. Ayanna Patterson, UConn
When the Huskies are stacked, it’s hard for even some of the most talented freshmen to get solid minutes off the bench. But UConn lost a significant amount of scoring from last season: Christyn William, Evina Westbrook and Olivia Nelson-Ododa are no longer on the team. Paige Bueckers is sidelined with an ACL tear. Freshman Ice Brady (knee) is also out for the season. Dorka Juhász (wrist), Caroline Ducharme (hip) and Aubrey Griffin (back) are coming back from injuries. Patterson is a talented small forward with guard-like skills. She can hit shots from the wing, and is expected to get into the lane often. As the top-ranked recruit at the wing position, she should get quality minutes on a thin Huskies roster.
3. Janiah Barker, Texas A&M
Barker was ranked as the No. 1 high school recruit at forward. And unlike some other top prospects, she’ll be playing for a team that has needs to fill. Texas A&M lost its top four scorers from last season, and Barker can slide right in and play a significant role. Coach Joni Taylor landed a player with size and skill who can rebound and finish at the rim but can also hit from midrange. There’s a lot to love about Barker’s game, as Aggies fans will quickly find out.
2. Lauren Betts, Stanford
A Cardinal frontcourt with Betts and Cameron Brink holding down the paint is a scary thought. But that’s exactly what’s going to happen. At 6-7, Betts has incredible length but she’s also agile and gets down the floor in transition. She’s a pure shot blocker and a stout defender on the block. Stanford’s roster is stacked from top to bottom, and it will be interesting to see how Tara VanDerveer uses the rotation and manages minutes with senior Ashten Prechtel in the mix as well.
1. Kiki Rice, UCLA
Rice joins a Bruins squad that went 18-13 overall, finished seventh in the Pac-12 and missed the NCAA Tournament last season. As the No. 2 high school recruit and 2022 Gatorade Player of the Year, Rice has incredible handles, court vision and an innate ability to create her own shot. She’s a program-changing player. The combination of talent and the opportunity to play big minutes for coach Cori Close is the perfect recipe for UCLA to get back on track, and for Rice to shine.