Season Rewind: Standout Freshman

The 2021-22 Texas high school basketball season is officially in the books. That makes this the perfect time to take a quick look back at some of the most impressive prospects that I had the privilege of seeing this past year. It’s always noteworthy when a first-year player can make an impact. These young prospects are far from finished products, which only adds to the intrigue of how much better than can become, especially since they are already contributing at the varsity level. With that in mind, let’s take a quick look at some the best freshman from this past season: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="307747" first="Shiloh" last="Kimpson"] | 2025 | 5’7’’ Shooting Guard | Little Elm HS</strong> - Kimpson is already a polished scorer early on in her high school career. The 2025 two-guard gets it done from all three levels and is a dynamic shot maker from the mid-range area, evidence by her ability to bury deep twos off the dribble. Further, she is a timely shot maker. Kimpson also shows some real promise as a defender. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="307762" first="Sadie" last="Sanchez"] | 2025 | 5’5’’ Point Guard | Randall HS</strong> - Sanchez’s IQ and feel for the game is up there with the best of them in her class. She contributes as both a playmaker and scorer, and more importantly, understands when to utilize each of those assets. Moreover, she is a terrific decision maker on the floor with great vision and advanced passing skills. <strong>Mylee Guinn | 2025 | 5’11’’ Combo Guard | Frisco HS</strong> - Guinn is a tall guard who can utilize her height to score vs. mismatches in the post, as well as knock it down from deep off the bounce with some shifty moves. That size shows up on the boards too, as the Frisco prospect was one of the best rebounding backcourt players I saw last season. She has a chance to be one of the best players in her district moving forward. <strong>Allie Swindell | 2025 | 6’1” Power Forward | Prestonwood Christian Academy</strong> - Swindell is a disciplined rebounder who is great at going up to pluck the ball out of the air. The 6-foot-1-inch forward possesses some variety to her offensive game, displaying steady scoring ability down low as well as some solid shooting from the outside when spotting up. Her defense is excellent as well, operating as a deterrent for PCA in the paint. <strong>Saliz Ward | 2025 | 5’10’’ Small Forward | Wylie East HS</strong> - Ward is going to empty the tank every time she steps on the court. Her high motor combined with her versatility makes her a dangerous two-way player. She possesses good athleticism, is an excellent passer, contributes on the glass, and is great at finishing through traffic when penetrating off the dribble. <strong>Sidney Carr | 2025 | 5’5’’ Point Guard | Lovejoy HS</strong> - Carr is an outstanding ball handler who plays with great pace on offense. The Lovejoy underclassman navigates the floor and plays within the flow of the game so well. She is a capable three-point shooter and also an effective scorer from the in-between area with mid-range jumpers and deep runners. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="404749" first="Karrington" last="Jackson"] | 2025 | 5’4’’ Combo Guard | Frisco Reedy HS</strong> - Jackson is another polished ball handler from the 2025 class. She plays fast and downhill, and is fantastic at getting in and out of tight spots with her dribble. That speed and quickness shows up on the defensive end too, where the Frisco Reedy combo guard displayed tremendous lateral quickness and grit while pressuring her opponents. This is a prospect who shouldn’t be flying under the radar for much longer. <strong>Aaliyah Taylor | 2025 | 5’3’’ Point Guard | Lake Highlands HS</strong> - Taylor has shown the ability to consistently create her own shot, particularly from mid-range. She can knock down stop-and-pop jumpers or take it all the way to the basket with her shifty handles and finish with acrobatics off the drive. The Lake Highlands floor general has that killer instinct when it comes to breaking down her defenders, making her one of the most entertaining players in the area. <strong>Kennedy Walters | 2025 | 5’5’’ Point Guard | JJ Pearce HS</strong> - Walters’s ability to manipulate the defense and find her teammates was so impressive when I saw her back in January. She is an unselfish pass-first point guard who can thread the needle with her passes to get her team great looks from the field. She keeps the ball moving and never dribbles the air out of it, always looking to make something happen for her team as a facilitator. I love her style of play. <strong>Tristan Aldridge | 2025 | 5’9’’ Shooting Guard/Small Forward | Richardson HS</strong> - I got to see Aldridge start in a second-round playoff game earlier this year and she was excellent as a shooter from behind the arc. She thrives when shooting from the catch and is always ready to launch whenever she gets a touch on the perimeter. The Richardson wing is already a productive three-and-D player with good upside.