Top 10 impact freshmen in women’s college basketball
We are a little more than a month into the women’s college basketball season, and already some of the top freshmen in the country have started to show out.
To think, around this time a year ago, they were high school seniors who were signing their national letters of intent.
Now? They’re greatly influencing the national rankings and our bracketology. Here are some of the top impact freshmen this season.
1. Aliyah Boston
F, South Carolina
espnW HoopGurlz ranking: 3
The top low-post high school player in the country in 2019 was Boston, and she has stayed on the right track at South Carolina. She is averaging 13.7 points and 7.6 rebounds, and is among the top shot-blockers in the country. Boston has started all 10 of the Gamecocks’ games.
2. Haley Jones
G, Stanford
espnW HoopGurlz ranking: 1
The former No. 1 prospect on the current No. 1 team in the country is averaging 10.3 points and 23.5 minutes per game through the first eight games of her college career, earning three starts. Jones is also shooting over 50% from the floor.
3. Samantha Brunelle
F, Notre Dame
espnW HoopGurlz ranking: 6
Brunelle didn’t have a choice when she arrived in South Bend; she had to play and perform immediately. The Irish were in a numbers crunch, having lost all five starters from last year’s Final Four team, including No. 1 WNBA draft pick Jackie Young. So far, Brunelle has delivered, averaging 13 points and grabbing 6.5 rebounds in 11 starts.
4. Ashley Owusu
G, Maryland
espnW HoopGurlz ranking: 7
Owusu is among the nation’s leaders in assists at 5.9 per game (No. 16 in the country). What’s more, she is a physical, tough guard who is more than a capable scorer, averaging 13.1 points per game for the Terrapins.
5. Hayley Frank
F, Missouri
espnW HoopGurlz ranking: 26
Frank is spending a lot of quality minutes on the court for the Tigers, starting four of 10 games and averaging 25.2 minutes per contest. A skilled perimeter prospect, Frank is scoring 14 points per game while shooting 43.6% from the arc and 92.9% from the stripe.
6. Taylor Jones
F, Oregon State
espnW HoopGurlz ranking: 43
Jones was slowed in high school due to injury, but has made impressive strides. She has been solid thus far in Corvallis, averaging 13.5 points and six rebounds per contest while shooting an impressive 64.7% from the floor. Her stock began to rise as a high school junior and is continuing to do so at the college level.
7. Lavender Briggs
G, Florida
espnW HoopGurlz ranking: 49
Briggs was known in the prep basketball world as one of the nation’s prolific 3-point scorers, and she has kept draining the deep ball for the Gators. She is Florida’s leading scorer with 13.3 points per game and is shooting over 31% from beyond the arc. Oh, and she’s also bringing down 6.3 rebounds per game, too.
8. Leilani Correa
G, St. John’s
espnW HoopGurlz ranking: 83
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Correa originally signed with West Virginia, but transferred to St. John’s in September. After receiving a waiver that allowed her to play immediately, she is flourishing, averaging 14 points in nearly 25 minutes per game. She’s also draining the 3-ball at a 38% clip and making 88% of her free throws.
9. Rickea Jackson
F, Mississippi State
espnW HoopGurlz ranking: 5
Jackson has started in almost every game for the Bulldogs thus far, averaging 11.6 points and over 25 minutes per game. She is shooting 45.5% from the floor and has made 7 of 15 3-pointers this season as well.
10. Kierstan Bell
G, Ohio State
espnW HoopGurlz ranking: 8
Bell is proving to everyone early on that she is the real deal. She earned Big Ten rookie of the week honors earlier in December. An athletic and poised 6-foot-1 guard, Bell is averaging 11 points and 21 minutes per game for the Buckeyes.
Other notable freshmen: G Anaya Peoples, Notre Dame; G Zia Cooke, South Carolina; F Laeticia Amihere, South Carolina; G Haley Cavinder, Fresno State; G Hanna Cavinder, Fresno State; G Lola Mullaney, Harvard