Freshman Spotlight: When Age Doesn’t Define Impact

This basketball season, several freshmen have stepped onto the varsity stage and proven they belong. These young athletes are proving that age is just a number when it comes to competing at a high level. Here's a closer look at five standout freshmen who have not only met the challenge but are already standing out as key contributors for their teams.    MontMarquette is a scrappy, tenacious defender with excellent footwork. She rarely allows opponents to gain an angle to the basket. MontMarquette averages 7 points per game and shoots 48% from the field for Appleton East, but her impact goes far beyond her stats. She makes smart passes, cuts to the basket when off the ball, and takes good, high-quality shots. As a freshman, she plays like an experienced varsity player. MonteMarquette also contributes 2.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game for her team. She is active and constantly crashing the boards for rebounds and extra possessions on offense. Emilia has a nice shot from the perimeter – most recently, she went 4 for 6 from three-point range in her 15-point game against Appleton North.     Waldrop averages 7.1 points per game as a freshman at Notre Dame. She is incredibly quick and a fierce defender. She plays very intensely on defense and is a great anticipator which leads to many steals. She has an impressive shot and is consistent from both mid-range and the perimeter. Waldrop handles the ball with ease and effectively manages ball pressure. She is especially good at attacking the paint and either pulling up for jumpers or finding open teammates. Her patience and basketball IQ are noteworthy for a freshman as they allow her to make smart decisions on offense and take high-percentage shots.     Lewinski is a strong ball-handler and does a great job at setting up the offense. With her quick bursts of speed, she is able to maneuver around defenders and can exploit angles to drive all the way to the basket and finish at the rim. She also poses a shooting threat from the perimeter – although she doesn't take many shots, she makes them count when she is open. She demonstrates impressive maturity for her age, especially as a freshman playing the point guard position at the Division I high school level. Currently, she is averaging 5.4 points per game for Bay Port and has an impressive shooting percentage of 46% from the field.     Thompson is an outstanding defender who can hold her own against anybody in the paint. She is also an excellent passer and finds her teammates effectively when catching in the paint or on the perimeter. Offensively, she is a dominant presence in the post. She makes strong moves to the rim, finishes well, and battles for offensive rebounds against the defense. Her strength and basketball IQ  allow her to play well through contact, using it to her advantage to create shots or angles to the rim. She adds significant value on both ends of the court as she averages 8.3 points and 8.5 rebounds while shooting 49% from the field for Bayport.     The first thing that stands out about Schwem is how incredible she is defensively. She is extremely fast and can keep up with anyone on the court. She also has a smooth left-handed shot, and she has proven to be a threat from beyond the arc. Schwem can beat defenders off her first step and often draws fouls when driving to the basket. She is an excellent passer with great court vision. She effectively leads the fast break and delivers crisp passes that allow her teammates to catch the ball in stride. She is particularly good at driving into the lane, drawing the defense, and making precise passes to her perimeter shooters. Currently, she is averaging 22.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 6.1 steals, and 2.5 assists per game for Viroqua, which highlights her all-around contributions on both offense and defense.

This basketball season, several freshmen have stepped onto the varsity stage and proven they belong. These young athletes are proving that age is just a number when it comes to competing at a high level. Here's a closer look at five standout freshmen who have not only met the challenge but are already standing out as key contributors for their teams.