These freshmen be ballin’!
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These first-year players really can’t be called freshmen, anymore. Not after going through the fire and battles of tough schedules and growing up under the pressures and adversities of a high school season, that’s doing them all a disservice. Here…
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Continue ReadingThese first-year players really can’t be called freshmen, anymore. Not after going through the fire and battles of tough schedules and growing up under the pressures and adversities of a high school season, that’s doing them all a disservice.
Here are a few of the names standing out in the initial 2025 rankings:
Zaniah Zellous Zaniah Zellous 6'2" | PF George Washington | 2025 State WV , Linsly, PF, 6-1 – Okay, so technically Zaniah Zellous Zaniah Zellous 6'2" | PF George Washington | 2025 State WV stood out all season long to this point, it is the reason she’s at the top of the list, after all.
However, the Linsly newcomer continues building on her post game with more moves, while gaining confidence each time on the floor. Her willingness to openly differ or take over a game even as a freshmen came into play even more as the Cadets wound down their season. She looks comfortable in the paint and is only going to grow playing against top level competition with the W.Va. Thunder this summer.
Alexis Bordas Alexis Bordas 5'8" | SG Wheeling Park | 2025 State WV , Wheeling Park, SG, 5-6 – When talking about players who have shown a significant ability to adapt in their frosh season, you have to talk about Alexis Bordas Alexis Bordas 5'8" | SG Wheeling Park | 2025 State WV .
After dropping 50 points against Parkersburg South, she’s consistently drawing opposing teams’ best defender every night. All she’s doing now is making it even harder for teams to lessen her impact. Much harder. How hard? Try turning into the team’s leading rebounder, one of the Patriots’ top defensive players, someone capable of getting her shot off even with someone in her face, and a scorer whose calling for the ball in the post. And if that opportunity isn’t there? She’ll create for her teammates.
Coaches should nab W.Va. Thunder coaches Scott Johnson’s or Brian Mallory’s number for a chance to talk to Bordas during the upcoming summer period.
Brooke Adkins Brooke Adkins 6'0" | PG Wayne | 2025 State WV , Wayne, CG, 6-0 – College coaches may want to see her play another position besides point guard. While she handles the position well, and does what the Pioneers ask, her skill set hints there’s much more. Namely, she can reliably play at the 1 through the four without missing a beat thanks to her ball handling skills. She fires off a quick shot and even displays a reliable pump fake in her first season at the high school level.
Haylen Cook Haylen Cook 5'9" | PG Linsly | 2025 State WV , Linsly, PG, 5-5 – Linsly’s Haylen Cook Haylen Cook 5'9" | PG Linsly | 2025 State WV tries to tap into her vast potential in every game.
Occasionally, she’s successful.
A wicked nice pass here or a nicely timed shot there.
It’s all adding up into something special.
There’s still a bit to go, but the makings of a successful college player are right there on the surface. All she’s got to do is find those moments more often and then things are really going to start cooking. Of course, that doesn’t many there aren’t plenty of encouraging things about Cook right now. There certainly are. She’s clearly comfortable with the ball in her hands and doesn’t mind finding the open teammate if it means her team gets a better shot. The vision is great. Coaches should take comfort in the fact that her game is only going to improve as she is also a West Virginia Thunder kid.
Dria Parker Dria Parker 5'10" | SF Spring Valley | 2025 State WV , Spring Valley, 5-10 – She is definitely a key part of a Spring Valley team that has a bright future ahead of it. Thanks to graduations all over the Mountain State Athletic Conference, George Washington along with the Timberwolves are poised for at least one meeting in the MSAC title game in the next three years.
What will Parker bring to the table?
A little bit of everything.
There’s her drive that just doesn’t stop. She looks good leading SV’s 2-2-1 press. There’s her feel for playing a great trapping defense. She’s smooth. Judging her scoring wise in high school isn’t fair, though. The Timberwolves possesses multiple scorers who can get the job done, and to her and her teammates credit, they all recognize it. Coaches who love a team-oriented system should definitely consider keeping two eyes on Parker.