Impact Freshmen in AIA

The AIA reversed it’s decision to cancel Winter Sports this week and the season is now scheduled to start on January 20th, 2021.  Many of the top 2024 players will be making their much anticipated high school debuts on the 20th. Several freshmen will be counted on to  make an immediate impact  on Varsity due to Prep School transfers and the graduation of several key 2020 players.  Here are four 2024 players that will have a early and immediate prominent role from day 1. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138099" first="Jocelyn" last="Chavez"]</strong> (Dysart, SG) - I would expect Chavez to be the leading scorer for all freshmen.  She will have the green light and she can score in a variety of ways. Chavez already has a college type body which will allow her to compete with some of the older guards in the conference. Pure shooter from anywhere. Dysart also lost leading score <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="73480" first="Talia" last="Dial"]</strong> to PHH Prep. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="205641" first="Elliison" last="Guiney"]</strong> (Millennium, SG) -  Guiney already proved in the November Lady X tournament that she will be a factor this year.  The Tigers are young this year with the graduations of the 2020 top ranked player <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="36670" first="Ali" last="Zelaya"]</strong> (North Carolina), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="112669" first="Jasmine" last="Singleton"]</strong> (UNLV) and  <strong>Zion Walters </strong>from last year’s 5A championship team.  To make matters worse, the Tigers also lost highly ranked <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="36804" first="Trayanna" last="Crisp"]</strong> (2022) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="217497" first="Amoret" last="Maxwell"]</strong> (2021, Southern Utah commit) to the prep school PHH Prep.  The Tigers has some seniors that will assume leadership roles but Guinney will be heavily counted on give Millennium a fighting chance to repeat as state champions.  Guinney is a rangy player will unlimited range.  She can play multiple positions on defense and she is excellent in the transition game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="205646" first="Eanae" last="Dragons"]</strong> (Desert Vista, PG) - Desert Vista lost 2 high profile point guards to Prep Schools.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="137277" first="Jaida" last="Brooks"]</strong>, top 5 ranked in the class of 2022 , transferred to PHH Prep. The top incoming 2024 player in Arizona, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="203873" first="Shay" last="Ijiwoye"]</strong>, transferred to Arizona Elite Prep.  Both players are excelling.  With Brooks and Ijiwoye no longer part of the Thunder’s plans, Head Coach Dave Williams will rely heavily on Dragons and she will be ready.  She is a polished lead guard, she attacks the basket as well and Dragons will take care of the ball.  A tireless performer. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="205642" first="Mia" last="Singstock"]</strong> (Pinnacle, SG) - Singstock was expected to ease her way into the starting lineup at some point during her freshman year. Pinnacle was expected to be one of the top teams in the state and a team that could compete with the Valley Vista’s and Hamilton’s in the 6A conference. Highly ranked players <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136241" first="Ally" last="Stedman"]</strong> (2021, Pepperdine commit) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="36791" first="Kennedy" last="Basham"]</strong> (2022) transferred to PHH Prep and rising star<strong> [player_tooltip player_id="114259" first="Lilah" last="Moore"]</strong> (2022) transferred to Arizona Elite Prep. Although Singstock has solid guard skills, she will be asked to battle in the paint more since she is probably Pinnacle’s biggest player. She is a glue type performer who will impact the game in a variety of ways. I would expect big seasons out of some of the other highly ranked 2024 players and for sure a solid high school career but they will not be asked to contribute immediately as much as these four players. &nbsp;