Freshman Friday - December 12

Each Friday, we take a look at another group of freshmen who are on the radar or who have delivered strong performances throughout the week. Some are already leading their teams statistically, while others are still waiting for their moment as they continue to develop. Here is our first batch.    Maylee has stepped in as a primary contributor for Bear River in her first season, and she's already proving she belongs in that role. With a new coaching staff establishing fresh chemistry, Maylee and [player_tooltip player_id='1240267' first='Samantha' last='Theurer'] have emerged as the duo driving the Bears in key moments. She's shown poise, instincts, and a growing feel for the varsity game, and the more minutes she logs, the more her impact and confidence will continue to climb.     With a tough Ridgeline squad already proving they haven't missed a beat without Emily Skinner, Sam has stepped seamlessly into a major contributor role. She's been one of Ridgeline's most impactful players to open the season, knocking down 10 threes in the early stretch and showing she can stretch the floor against any defense. And when she isn't scoring, she's just as dangerous—reading the floor, finding open teammates, and keeping Ridgeline's offense flowing. She's emerging as one of the key pieces driving their early success.     McKinley hasn't had the same varsity opportunity as some of the other freshmen this season, but there's a clear foundation for long-term impact. She still has physical growth ahead of her, which will only help as Wasatch eventually replaces the size and interior presence of its current upper-class posts. McKinley isn't afraid to shoot the three and has a distinct, confident release that sets her apart. As she continues to develop strength and gain experience, she has the tools to become a valuable piece of Wasatch's future frontcourt.     The good and bad about being a skilled freshman at Westlake: the upside is that you're surrounded by high-level teammates who elevate your game and sharpen your development every day. The downside is that with such a deep, veteran-heavy rotation, earning consistent varsity minutes becomes far more difficult. Lydia is long, disruptive, and already showing flashes of what she can be, but her opportunities may come primarily when Westlake builds enough of a cushion to open up the rotation. Even so, her tools and upside make her a freshman worth keeping an eye on as the season progresses.     West Jordan has a new rotation this year after graduating a large senior class, and that has opened the door for several players to step into bigger roles — none more noticeably than Kalei. She's already impacting games across multiple columns, logging steals, points, and assists with consistency. Her smooth, controlled lay-in gives her a reliable finishing option, and she does an excellent job keeping defenders on her hip to create advantage. From there, she can either beat her matchup to the rim or kick out to shooters on the perimeter. As she continues to settle into this expanded role, Kalei is shaping up to be one of the primary leaders for West Jordan moving forward.

Each Friday, we take a look at another group of freshmen who are on the radar or who have delivered strong performances throughout the week. Some are already leading their teams statistically, while others are still waiting for their moment as they continue to develop. Here is our first batch.