Week 1: Maryland's Fabulous Freshman

<p>After Week 1, several freshmen have shown they are ready to contribute at a high level. Charlee will be prepared when her opportunity arises. Sloan's defensive presence makes her difficult to remove from the court. Anaiah is poised to be the driving force for St. John's by season's end. Katty's shooting ability will light up the scoreboard. Aubrey is ready to step in and deliver whatever her coach asks of her.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">St. Frances Academy Baltimore, MD</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Charlee, a freshman at St. Frances Academy, is showing signs of major upside. Her growth trajectory was obvious on a sequence where she secured a rebound, pushed the break herself, and navigated through traffic to mid-court before making a poised outlet pass ahead. In the fourth quarter, her interior scoring also stood out. She delivered back-to-back baskets — first with a smooth up-and-under finish, then by spinning off her defender and scoring with her left hand. Her combination of composure in transition and developing post presence points to a bright future.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">St. John's College Washington, DC</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Sloan is a multi-sport athlete whose lacrosse background shows up particularly well on the defensive end. She was tasked with guarding a Division I commit — a clear sign of the trust her coaches already have in her when energy and competitiveness are needed. Offensively, she can contribute inside and out, knocking down a clean three-pointer and attacking the basket with confidence. With continued growth, her role and minutes should trend upward as the season progresses.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Anaiah brings a physical presence that has stood out on the AAU circuit, showing the versatility to impact the game at every position on both ends of the floor. Her blend of size, mobility, and skill gives her a high ceiling moving ahead. She can control the paint, push the ball in transition, and even run the offense when needed. Defensively, she has the agility to guard the primary ball handler and makes it difficult for opponents to get past her. With her versatility and impact, she is poised to play a key role in St. John's pursuit of a national title.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bullis Potomac, MD</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Katty is another rising name from the AAU circuit, and she's trending toward becoming one of the top shooters at the high school level. Her high-arching jumper has a way of drawing silence from the crowd as everyone waits for it to drop cleanly through the net. Beyond her shooting touch, her open-court vision often goes overlooked — she sees plays develop and can deliver the ball to the right spot, adding another layer to her offensive value.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Our Lady of Good Counsel Olney, MD</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Good Counsel has the most underrated freshman in Maryland in Aubrey — a fearless, self-driven multi-sport athlete. She brings the type of motor and competitiveness every coach values, with the agility to defend positions 3 through 5. Her length disrupts opponents defensively, and her volleyball background gives her an edge on the boards. On offense, she shows touch from the mid-range while also being comfortable operating in the post. With her potential and the energy of a young Falcons group, a deep playoff run is well within reach.</p>

After Week 1, several freshmen have shown they are ready to contribute at a high level. Charlee will be prepared when her opportunity arises. Sloan's defensive presence makes her difficult to remove from the court. Anaiah is poised to be the driving force for St. John's by season's end. Katty's shooting ability will light up the scoreboard. Aubrey is ready to step in and deliver whatever her coach asks of her.