Freshman Friday - Top Prospect Watch List

Welcome to Freshman Friday, where Coach Lathan and prep girl hoops are delighted to highlight some of Louisiana's top prospects from the Class of 2029. We encourage you to closely follow the progress of these talented individuals in the upcoming season and beyond. These young women are making a significant impact on the court this season, impressing their coaches, teammates, and spectators with their remarkable talent and skills. Among these promising basketball prospects are Ryleigh Larry and Caeley Upshaw from Airline High School, McKinsey Clark, Joci Rogers, Jaidyn Smith, and Brylee Cox from Castor High School, Aliyah Delane from Haughton High School, Isabella De La Cruz from Bossier High School, and Marica Robinson from Zachary High School. All of these young prospects have demonstrated impressive skills on the court. While not all of the athletes listed are starters yet, their abilities are undeniable. Please take a moment to review their player evaluations below.   Did you miss my most recent article? You can access it via Link   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2025/11/the-lady-indians-of-negreet-chopped-down-the-competition/">https://prepgirlshoops.com/2025/11/the-lady-indians-of-negreet-chopped-down-the-competition/</a>   You are welcome to follow me on Instagram or X at @Coachlathan for additional content or upcoming announcements    [player_tooltip player_id='1258517' first='Marcia' last='Robinson'], a combo guard for Zachary High School, demonstrates exceptional ball-handling abilities and complementary footwork. She is a proficient scorer, capable of successfully executing shots from various positions on the court. Her height enables her to play multiple positions effectively, though she particularly excels when handling the ball. With her extended reach, Marcia presents a formidable presence on defense, applying significant pressure to ball handlers and skillfully intercepting the ball. As a member of a strong team at Zachary, she is a valuable asset and has the opportunity to learn from more experienced players.       Caeley Upshaw is a Combo Guard for the Airline High School Lady Vikings, participating in both Junior Varsity and Varsity teams. Coach Cox anticipates significant contributions from Caeley as she continues to develop and mature as an athlete. Currently, she provides an energetic boost to the team when she enters the game from the bench. Her most notable contribution is her defensive prowess; she is an excellent on-ball defender with a strong basketball IQ and quick hands, often forcing turnovers during games. Caeley consistently demonstrates exceptional hustle and effort on the court and is not deterred by challenges. She possesses a refined shot from mid-range and is adept at driving to the basket and attacking the rim. As she progresses and refines her skills, she is expected to become an outstanding floor general in the near future.     McKinsey Clark, the starting point guard for Castor High School, wears number 00. McKinsey is a versatile player who presents a threat from all areas of the court. She is currently averaging 9 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals per game. McKinsey has shown significant improvement in her 3-point shooting abilities compared to previous years. She is also effective from mid-range and demonstrates a strong ability to drive to the basket and finish powerfully. Despite being a freshman, McKinsey has embraced a leadership role, becoming vocal on the court and developing into a promising floor general.     Isabella De La Cruz, who wears number 23, is a combo Guard for The Bossier High School Lady Kats. Isabella primarily plays off the bench, but is expected to make a few starts for the Lady Kats this season. Head Coach Drake commented that Isabella De La Cruz is a very skilled player who understands her role in the game and consistently strives to fulfill her assignments and compete to the best of her abilities. Isabella De La Cruz is highly coachable and possesses a strong drive to learn and improve. In the coming years, she is poised to excel further as she has the opportunity to develop and grow under the guidance of one of the area's top coaches in player development.     Jaidyn Smith, who wears number 14 for Castor High School, is the starting Center for the Lady Tigers. Jaidyn Smith is currently averaging 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 steals per game, and is shooting 50% from mid-range. In the latest game, she scored 15 points against Calvin High School. Jaidyn Smith excels at playing inside the paint. Jaidyn Smith is a skilled rebounder and a strong presence in the paint. She is an elite rim protector. Jaidyn Smith is currently a formidable player and possesses the physical attributes that college coaches seek. With further development and improved footwork, she is expected to become an even more dominant force under the rim.     Aliyah Delaney, who wears number 22, is a starting small forward for the Haughton High School Lady Bucs. Coach Bolin has observed Aliyah's recent development of a passion for basketball, which has led to her becoming a skilled player with natural talent. She exhibits remarkable speed and intelligence on defense, an area where she particularly shines. Aliyah is proficient at creating turnovers with her active hands and feet, and she consistently strives for rebounds. Her coach expects her to continue improving throughout the season.     Brylee Cox, who wears number 1 for the Lady Tigers of Castor High School, is a combo guard who is truly developing into a key player among the four freshmen starting for Castor High School. Ms. Cox is currently averaging 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals per game, while shooting 31 percent from the 3-point line. She is also playing approximately 28 minutes per game. While Brylee Cox is capable of scoring, her defensive skills are particularly noteworthy, characterized by her quick hands and feet, excellent on-ball defense, and ability to navigate screens effectively. Furthermore, Brylee Cox is an excellent communicator on the court, consistently demonstrating hustle and a strong competitive spirit.     Ryleigh Larry, who wears number 32, is the starting center for the Lady Vikings of Airline High School. Ryleigh is truly excelling in her role as the team's primary rebounder and paint enforcer. She demonstrates the skill to effectively control the paint, playing with notable aggression and a strong physical presence under the rim. Ryleigh is so effective at securing rebounds that it is often overlooked that she is also a proficient scorer, possessing a commendable mid-range shot and the ability to execute a bank shot with precision, and her strong follow-through on shots is quite impressive. Ryleigh is an excellent shot blocker and adept at boxing out; she is expected to continue to be a formidable presence both now and in the future.     Joice Rogers, who wears number 15, plays in the forward position for the Lady Tigers of Castor High School. This season, she is currently averaging 7 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals per game. Head coach Ty has indicated that Joice is the most improved player on his team this year, highlighting her significant contributions. Joice averages 24 minutes per game and is capable of playing and guarding all five positions when necessary. She is an excellent communicator on both offense and defense and can effectively drive to the rim. Joice consistently works diligently for rebounds and demonstrates maximum effort while on the court. She is unselfish with the ball, frequently passing to open teammates and creating space for straightforward scoring opportunities. Joice possesses a very high motor, making her a valuable asset to any team.

Welcome to Freshman Friday, where Coach Lathan and prep girl hoops are delighted to highlight some of Louisiana's top prospects from the Class of 2029. We encourage you to closely follow the progress of these talented individuals in the upcoming season and beyond. These young women are making a significant impact on the court this season, impressing their coaches, teammates, and spectators with their remarkable talent and skills. Among these promising basketball prospects are Ryleigh Larry and Caeley Upshaw from Airline High School, McKinsey Clark, Joci Rogers, Jaidyn Smith, and Brylee Cox from Castor High School, Aliyah Delane from Haughton High School, Isabella De La Cruz from Bossier High School, and Marica Robinson from Zachary High School. All of these young prospects have demonstrated impressive skills on the court. While not all of the athletes listed are starters yet, their abilities are undeniable. Please take a moment to review their player evaluations below.