Freshmen I’m Excited About: Part I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a freshman in high school, I had the opportunity to meet new friends in high school and play the sport I loved with those friends.  It was a great time to shine while trying to figure out who I wanted to be and what I wanted to contribute to the world.  The following freshmen, though, already know who they are on the basketball court and how they can contribute.  Let's take a look at some of the freshmen (at least for a little bit longer) that I am excited about seeing grow in this great sport.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["505455"],"_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_0_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='505455' first='Autumn' last='Washington'] already has excellent height that she uses to make an impact on all areas of the court.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe flashes all over the court making sure she's a big target for her teammates to get the ball, elevate up and over her defenders, and knock down shots.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe can use her own handles to attack the basket and pull up for some jumpers in the paint, too.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eHer versatility is apparent on defense being able to guard a range of players from those posting up on the block to the quick guards around the perimeter.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["622017"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='622017' first='Tiara' last='Thompson']'s composure throughout every game I've seen her play is well beyond her age, especially since she has the ball in her hands most of the time.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe sees the floor well knowing how to create plays with her passes, and she is quick with her decision making knowing when to explode to the basket for some points.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe plays well on both ends, too, even showing off her ability to block shots getting back on fast breaks or grab steals jumping into passing lanes.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["509519"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='509519' first='Gabrielle' last='Troy-Mebane'] recently announced that she will be continuing her high school career at Link Academy in Missouri, so I am taking this opportunity to write about her one more time as a student in North Carolina.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eWith the ball around the perimeter, she sees the floor well knowing how to whip the pass into her teammates on the block or hit the target in stride as someone cuts to the hoop.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe doesn't need to make the pass, though, as she can certainly knock down her shot from deep.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe hustles on both ends of the court, especially finding ways to score quickly in transition.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["509587"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='509587' first='Miley' last='Malcolm'] already stands at 6 feet tall, and she is sure to show off her services as a shooting guard.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe can definitely shoot well around the arc no matter what kind of defender is on her.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe is constantly moving on the court finding the open looks and shifting the defense.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eHer height is also an asset grabbing rebounds as she crashes the boards on both ends.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eHer vision is apparent as she can make nice passes into the paint to her teammates getting set, or she makes the long pass up the court for some fast break points.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["509876"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='509876' first='Lyla' last='Bagwell'] is a pesky defender showing that she doesn't “know when to quit” constantly jumping in front of her opponents to grab the steal or strip the ball away from them.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe pushes these turnovers up the court showing off some nice takes on the way to points as she makes the dish to her teammates, or she takes it all the way herself.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe can certainly shoot from deep, too, showing off her ability to score on all levels.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["573551"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='573551' first='Jeanna' last='Baskerville'] has already mastered her footwork in the paint knowing how to consistently get her some points.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe easily seals off her opponents waiting for an entry pass, and she uses this same knowledge as she drives to the hoop keeping her defender just out of reach from knocking the ball out of her hands.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e  u003c/spanu003eShe's a shot blocking machine on defense, too, and she is sure to grab rebounds on both ends.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6470d175a2b18"} /-->