Womens college basketballs top 20 freshmen: USCs JuJu Watkins leads the pack

With the advent of the transfer portal, it’d be fair to assume there are fewer opportunities for freshmen these days. And that might be true. But when I sat down to put together my list of the 10 freshmen I’m most excited to see play this season, the group quickly expanded to 15 … and then 20. Some of these players will have opportunities to impress because of the roster churn at their program and others are going to be good enough to leapfrog over older, more established players.

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These 20 players — for a variety of reasons — are the 20 I’m most intrigued to see this season as they make the jump from high school (or international) ball to the NCAA.

USC guard, 6-2
Sierra Canyon High School, Los Angeles

In working on this story, I talked with a bunch of college coaches. At first, my question was: “Which freshmen are going to have freshman all-American-type seasons?” I quickly needed to add: “Other than JuJu.” There seems to be a solid consensus that Watkins — the No. 1 player in the 2023 class — has the potential to live up to the hype, and many expect her to do just that. Coach Lindsay Gottlieb can, and should, give Watkins the keys to the car as they work to rebuild the Trojans into a West Coast (soon to be Big Ten?) powerhouse. Watkins will be a scoring threat every time she touches the ball, and for USC to be as good as it wants to be, she’ll need to be that player. And it’s hard to do that as a freshman, especially when every opponent will know Watkins is the A, B, C and D plan, but Gottlieb has plenty of contacts in the NBA who can empty their playbooks to show how they get their star players into space against opponents 82 games a year. Let’s see whether Gottlieb and Watkins can do that for 30-plus games this year.

2. Mikaylah Williams

LSU guard, 6-0
Parkway High School; Bossier, La.

OK, OK, this full list isn’t going to go entirely by the ESPN recruiting rankings, but it’s hard not to put these two at the top of the list. I was in Baton Rouge for the Tigers’ first practice of the 2023-24 season so I had a chance to see Williams, the No. 2 player in the 2023 class, in person. My first reaction when she ran out of the tunnel? To do a double take of the roster because I thought, “Did LSU accidentally put a junior in the No. 12 uniform?” Physically, Williams won’t need any kind of adjustment to the college game — and sometimes with freshmen, that can be half the battle. Then you see Williams move on the court, and when I’ve talked with coaches, all I’ve heard is how she’s just so emotionally and mentally ready for this level. Obviously, there is a lot of talent at LSU and she won’t have the kind of opportunities as someone like Watkins at USC, but look for Williams to have an impact on the game, still. After all, LSU is trying to build a dynasty in Baton Rouge, and to do so, it can’t just build around juniors and seniors. Williams can be LSU’s future, and we should see glimpses of that as early as this season.

3. Milaysia Fulwiley

South Carolina guard, 5-10
W.J. Keenan High School; Columbia, S.C.

Fulwiley is the definition of a Swiss army knife on the basketball court. The guard can hit 3s from NBA range and she can dunk; as a senior, she averaged six assists and six steals a game. She’s going to be a player who, in the future, will be on triple-double watch night in and night out (and she could pick that up with points, rebounds, assists or steals). It’s hard to know what exactly to expect out of her freshman season at South Carolina just because the Gamecocks are a bit of a mystery coming into this season, but she’s a freshman whom I can’t wait to watch grow this season. Dawn Staley showed last season that she had no fear putting the ball into a freshman point guard’s hands when she turned to Raven Johnson over fifth-year senior Kierra Fletcher at times. Fulwiley’s impact this season will rely on how much the Gamecocks coaching staff can trust her, and if they do? Oh, boy. She’ll be a blast to watch.

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4. Qadence Samuels

UConn guard, 6-2
Bishop McNamara High School; Forestville, Md.

Like always, talent abounds on the UConn roster. This year is no different. The Huskies have three top-50 recruits so this felt like more of a question of which player will be on the floor the most? At the guard spot, there’s just so much upperclassman talent and depth among Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and Nika Mühl. Assuming they stay healthy, they will get the bulk of the minutes at those spots. KK Arnold (No. 6) and Ashlynn Shade (No. 15) will fall into that rotation, but it doesn’t seem as if there will be as many moments to impress there as at the wing, where Samuels could make an immediate impact. This summer, during the European trip when Caroline Ducharme was out with injury, coaches plugged Samuels into the starting rotation. Overall, the Huskies will likely be a team whose veterans occupy most of the minutes, but Samuels is my pick for a freshman who could break into the top rotation.

5. Hannah Hidalgo

Notre Dame guard, 5-6
Paul VI High School; Haddonfield, N.J.

With Olivia Miles unable to start the season, I expect Hidalgo to get the nod at the point, and I’m excited to see what she does with that opportunity. As a senior, she averaged 29 points, five assists, six rebounds and seven steals per game. So, she clearly fits into the mold of that impact-everything, ballhandling guard whom Niele Ivey really likes (see: Miles, Sonia Citron, Dara Mabrey, etc.). And don’t let her size fool you — even at 5-6, she can finish over taller, bigger opponents, and she’s an expert at drawing double-teams and finding the open player. I’m extra excited because Hidalgo, the No. 5 player in the 2023 class, will start her college career on a huge stage — in Paris as Notre Dame and South Carolina open the season. First start, first international college game. Talk about pressure.

HANNAH HIDALGO FROM DEEP AT THE BUZZER 😮‍💨@HannahHidalgo | @SCNext pic.twitter.com/CzIXQSU17g

— ESPN (@espn) March 29, 2023

6. Addy Brown

Iowa State forward, 6-2
Derby High School; Derby, Kan.

Even if the Cyclones hadn’t lost four of their top five scorers off last year’s roster, Brown would have found a way to make an impact. But Iowa State did lose the bulk of its roster and four of its starters, so Brown will have an opportunity to make an impact that could put her in contention to be the Big 12 freshman of the year. The comp I’ve heard for Brown is Bridget Carleton — which is no small compliment (or ceiling) for a player in Ames. She can score at all three levels and has good enough handles to be a big guard at the three, but she also has the size and length to be a stretch four. Emily Ryan will need a target for her assists this year, and Brown seems more than ready to be that person.

7. Aga Makurat

Vanderbilt guard, 6-2
Sopocka Akademia Tenisowa; Sierakowice, Poland

The younger sister of Anna Makurat (UConn) and Ola Makurat (Utah), Aga is no stranger to college hoops. The Commodores have been near the bottom of the SEC the last two seasons, but in Year 3 under Shea Ralph, they have a chance to take a step forward thanks to transfers like Jordyn Oliver (Duke) and Justine Pissott (Tennessee) and talented freshmen like Makurat. She’s a big guard who can finish at the rim and play through traffic, and a strong enough outside shot that you have to respect her as a shooter. When you’re building a program, you look for edges anywhere you can get them, and by bringing in a freshman who has pro experience and sisters who’ve played at the highest level of U.S. college hoops? That’s an edge.

8. Madison Booker

Texas forward, 6-1
Germantown High School; Ridgeland, Miss.

Booker — the No. 12 player in the 2023 class — is a model of efficiency. This summer, during the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup, she averaged seven points, five rebounds and one assist while playing just 12 minutes a game. Extrapolate that to a 30-minute-per-game player, and Booker would be averaging 18 points, 13 rebounds and three assists per game — that’s an impactful player. Coach Vic Shaefer will like that she’s a player who’s in the right place at the right time and makes the right decision (that will aid her on defense, no doubt). And offensively, she’ll bring a scoring punch to a Texas offense that could use another beneficiary of Rori Harmon’s point guard play. With the talent around her, she might not have a chance to be the star of the Longhorns, but she’ll have plenty of chances to impress during games.

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9. Courtney Ogden

Stanford forward, 6-1
Westminster School, Atlanta

The Cardinal have a shorter bench than usual so I feel very confident in saying freshmen are going to earn significant minutes, but Ogden — the No. 10 player in the 2023 class — seems like a player with the potential to carve out a major role, potentially even as a starter. She’s listed as a forward but played wing in high school, averaging 22 points and nine rebounds a game. She’ll be able to consistently hunt a 3 alongside or opposite Hannah Jump, which could help open up the offense for Cameron Brink. But she’s also active on defense (averaging three steals and one block per game as a senior), which Tara VanDerveer will need, because outside of Brink in the paint, the Cardinal really don’t have a stout stopper. After a disappointing end to last season and the departures of so many players, Stanford is a bit of a question mark entering the season. But that roster churn opens up opportunities for young players to make their marks, and Ogden appears primed for the push.

10. Gretchen Dolan

Illinois guard, 5-11
Williamsville South High School; Buffalo, N.Y.

In addition to being the daughter of a former collegiate player and current high school coach, Dolan’s three older siblings also played/play college ball. So it’s fair to think her adjustment to the college level might come a bit easier than most considering her driveway family pickup games during the holidays have probably gotten pretty competitive. Though Dolan likely doesn’t have a huge shot to slide into the starting lineup in Champaign since all five Illini starters return, she has a chance to be an impact player with her deep 3-point range that is rare in any player, let alone freshmen. The top half of the Big Ten has a bunch of teams that are veteran laden, but Dolan can be the sixth player who makes an outsized contribution due to her scoring ability.

11. Karlee White

Harvard guard, 5-10
Oak Park High School; Burbank, Calif.

One of these seasons more than one Ivy is going to make the tournament. Could it be this year? The non-conference slates put together by Harvard (Maryland, Baylor, Michigan, Boston College), Princeton (UCLA, Oklahoma, Indiana, Rutgers) and Columbia (Duke, Georgia, Florida) guarantee opportunities for some power conference wins (which translates into national recognition). If the league stays competitive at the top, you’ve got to think the committee has to give two Ivies a look come March. … So, on those three teams, which freshman could be a difference-maker? My money is on White. She should step into former captain Maggie McCarthy’s role, giving her the chance to complement junior guard Harmoni Turner in the backcourt. Given the attention Turner garners from opposing defenses, White will have opportunities to score. What makes her story especially interesting is that she sat out last year after being deemed ineligible following a transfer. So after averaging 20 points, 12 rebounds and six assists as a junior, she spent her senior season coaching. Could that season off the court pay dividends in terms of how she sees and thinks the game? We’ll see.

12. Hawa Doumbouya

Maryland center, 6-7
Our Lady of Mount Carmel; Bronx, N.Y.

In the last decade, Brenda Frese has had only six players (total) taller than 6-3 on her roster. So, a 6-7 freshman center? Yeah, that draws my eye. Last season, the Terps outrebounded their opponents in only 16 of their 35 games and they grabbed the fewest offensive rebounds (per game) since at least the 2009-10 season. Can one player — even if she is 6-7 — change that completely? No. But if Doumbouya can contribute to cleaning up the glass, that’s a big start. Given how fast Maryland would like to play, having someone her size able to initiate the transition offense and help the Terps get out fast is a boon to the offensive skills of players like Shyanne Sellers and Brinae Alexander.

13. Breya Cunningham

Arizona forward, 6-4
La Jolla Country Day School; Chula Vista, Calif.

Cunningham, the No. 14 player in the 2023 class, is one of three top-25 recruits (and one of four top-100 recruits) to join the Wildcats this season. Given her size and abilities as a traditional low-block presence, Adia Barnes should be able to have a lot of fun with the Cunningham-Maya Nnaji–Isis Beh rotation. Once she’s in position on the low block, Cunningham is the kind of player who’s a problem. The Wildcats were average to above average at the rim last year, but with Cunningham helping them own the paint on both ends, she should help Arizona play like it wants to this season.

14. Taliah Scott

Arkansas guard, 5-9
St. Johns Country Day School; Orange Park, Fla.

The Razorbacks return three starting guards, as well as Sasha Goforth — who missed the 2022-23 season to focus on her physical and mental health — who started 32 games during the 2021-22 season for Arkansas. So this is a group that has talent, experience and depth at guard. Even in that crowded backcourt (and even if Scott doesn’t start), she could be a 25-minute-a-game player for the Razorbacks. As a senior, she averaged 36 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals a game. Plus (and Arkansas fans will love the sound of this), she’s automatic from deep — she hit 11 3-pointers in her team’s state semifinal game last season — which is a huge benefit for Arkansas this year. Because, per usual, the Razorbacks were good at getting to the free-throw line last season, but their 3-point shooting struggled as they hit only 30 percent from long range — the program’s lowest percentage since 2017-18. Scott helps that mightily.

15. Amari Whiting

BYU guard, 5-10
Burley High School; Burley, Idaho

BYU will be an intriguing team this season. Jeff Judkins, who led the program for the last two decades, retired before last season, and Amber Whiting (Amari’s mother) took over. The Cougars went 16-17 last season, but they return their top six players in 2023-24. Whiting steps into a team that had some growing pains last season but also has serious cohesion and an established leader in Lauren Gustin, who averaged 16 points and 17 rebounds a game last year. For other freshmen, I might not be as intrigued to see them play with this group, but Whiting is different. There’s a blatant challenge ahead of her, but she also has a level of comfort (and her own kind of cohesion with the coach) that could make her transition to the college level less difficult. Plus, she missed her senior season with an ACL tear, so she’s going to be hungry as she makes her return to the hardwood. BYU missed the NCAA Tournament last year after making it the previous three tournaments. I’ve got a good feeling about the Cougars this year, and Whiting will become a big part of their success.

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16. Taylor Woodson

Michigan forward, 6-0
Hopkins High School; Minnetonka, Minn.

A lot of factors can prepare a player to come into college ready to contribute. A high school that has a track record of producing the likes of Paige Bueckers, Nia Coffey, Maya Nnaji, Amaya Battle? Yeah, that helps. Hopkins knows how to prepare players for the next level, and that should help Woodson as she attempts to make an impact on a Michigan team that lost three starters off last season’s NCAA second-round team. Woodson’s versatility should help her break into the rotation and, potentially, the starting five. She can play the three or four while defending one through four. She’s quick off the bounce but always looking to get out in transition.

17. Sofia Bell

Oregon guard, 6-1
Jesuit High School; Portland, Ore.

Oregon was at its best when it was led by a dynamic and versatile backcourt player who was a scary threat from deep. In Bell, the Ducks might have just that. As a senior, she averaged 19 points, five rebounds and three assists while shooting nearly 50 percent, including 39 percent from beyond the arc. She can play the one through three for the Ducks, which will allow coach Kelly Graves to run screen action through her and Chance Gray, giving both players opportunities to be ballhandlers and catch-and-shoot assets. The Pac-12 has a few heavy hitters at the top of the league this season in UCLA and Utah, but there’s room for others to filter into that top third/top half, too. If Bell can stretch this offense and be an elite defender at the other end, she could help move the Ducks up the pecking order.

18. Marija Avlijas

Ole Miss guard, 5-11
Art Basket High School; Belgrade, Serbia

Ole Miss has five freshmen and eight newcomers on the roster, but with all the talent it has at the guard position — returner Marquesha Davis, transfers KK Dean and Kennedy Todd-Williams, and top-100 recruit Zakiyah Stephenson — it might be a bit of a surprise to see Avlijas on this list. But I have a feeling Avlijas won’t be a surprise to SEC opponents by the end of the season. She might not be a starter, but I expect her to play heavy minutes. She has a leg up on the competition given that she has international experience. She led the Serbian national team at the FIBA U18 competition this summer, averaging 21 points, four rebounds and five assists a game while shooting 40 percent from the floor.

19. Zoe Brooks

NC State guard, 5-10
Saint John Vianney; Plainfield, N.J.

The Wolfpack lost their top four scorers off last year’s team, so Wes Moore will be looking for many different players to step into contributing roles. And given that five of the 12 players are freshmen, you’ve got to bet at least one of the main scorers will be a first-year player. Enter Brooks. She gained major recognition when she won the WNBA skills challenge alongside Sabrina Ionescu at the 2022 WNBA All-Star weekend. However, it’s her change of speed and direction, ability to get to the hoop and finish through contact and overall physicality that will have her on the floor in major minutes through ACC play. At the end of the year, I won’t be surprised if she and Saniya Rivers are the Wolfpack’s two leading scorers.

20. Aalyah Del Rosario

LSU center, 6-6
The Webb School; Bronx, N.Y.

Del Rosario probably isn’t going to get a lot of minutes in Baton Rouge this season, but that’s no knock against her. She just happens to be a very talented freshman on one of the most (if not the most) talented rosters in college hoops this season. But I am intrigued to watch her play this year because I can’t wait to see how she develops through the year — to see how the November Del Rosario compares with the March/April Del Rosario. While at LSU’s first practice late last month, I had a chance to see how Angel Reese pushed Del Rosario through drills (and in one tip drill, literally pushing her to help her get up and down the floor). When you have a player like that leading the way, it helps.

(Illustration: Eamonn Dalton / The Athletic; photos from left of Mikaylah Williams, JuJu Watkins and Milaysia Fulwiley courtesy of LSU Athletics, courtesy of University of Southern California Athletics and courtesy of South Carolina Athletics)

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