Farewell 2025: 5 Freshmen aiming to make noise in 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school season got back underway on Friday after a week-long holiday break. But, really, the winter campaign is just getting started.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a look at the newest faces on Colorado's high school hardwood, a few who we expect to do big things in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["968055"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69586dc952cdc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5-foot-7 point guard leads all freshmen in the state in scoring through the first month of the season. A lot of it has to do with her ability to attack the rim. Some of which comes from her ability to force turnovers, which then leads to easy buckets in transition. So far this winter she's been nuisance for teams trying to get the ball past midcourt. With that smothering on-ball defense, she is averaging six steals per game. Against Silver Creek last month, she showed off more of her athleticism when she outjumped a pair of forwards to secure a defensive rebound before taking it coast-to-coast.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Faith Abraham","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Peak to Peak","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69586dc952ea0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Like Martin above, Abraham is an athletic guard who can force turnovers and turn them into transition baskets. The Pumas graduated Alexandra Eschmeyer, the 6-5 All-American forward now at Stanford University. And though Abraham is just 5-7, she's trying to help fill at least some of the production Eschmeyer left behind. To go along with Abraham's 15.8 points per game this season, the freshman has showcased her high motor on the glass and on defense, averaging six steals and four rebounds per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1223140"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69586dc952f39"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 5-foot-11 freshman has found her 3-point stroke early on this winter season. After going 0 for 8 from behind the arc in her first two games, she's shot 50% or better from 3 in four of her last eight. Her stroke is smooth and quick as she can create her own shot or catch-and-shoot without hesitation. Her offense inside the paint is strong as well. She has great awareness around the hoop and is developing a hook shot that is lethal close to the hoop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Hannah Miano","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Eagle Valley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69586dc95302f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 5-foot-9 shooting guard has looked the part of a talented shooter, averaging 12 points through her first nine high school games. She's shooting 46% from the field and has made 10 of her 19 attempts from deep. She has a smooth stroke and can find it with a quick catch-and-shoot or by creating her own shot. With more volume in the future, Miano looks like a player who could someday be averaging 20-plus points per night. In her final game of middle school, she scored 38 of her team's 43 total points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1114897"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69586dc9530c0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 5-foot-9 combo guard had her coming-out party right before the holiday break, scoring 19 points on 8 of 11 shooting in a win over Heritage. She was 3 for 3 from deep. As part of it, she looked confident as she hit two of her three 3s against the Eagles with a hand in her face. She also showed an ability to attack the rim with penetration or in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->