The 2023-2024 basketball season is underway, and while a lot of the women’s basketball chatter has been about top talents in the sport, this year’s freshman class has been making noise.
In November, For The Win listed five first-year students who needed to be on your radar, like USC’s JuJu Watkins, who has been playing lights out all season and leading her team. In ESPN’s latest ranking of impactful freshmen, Watkins is mentioned, but so are several other first-year players.
If you want to follow the development of some underrated talent, here are nine other players that you need to get into:
KK Arnold - UConn
UConn is dealing with many injuries this season, placing severe strain on head coach Geno Auriemma to figure out ways to keep the team productive.
KK Arnold and her counterparts Qadence Samuels and Ashlynn Shade have stepped up to fill in the gaps, but Arnold has taken the opportunity in stride.
She plays with a solid pace, and her vision is the best part of her game, allowing UConn to avoid an offensive dropoff that many would have reasonably expected.
KK Arnold 🔥
16 points on 8-for-8 shooting and 4 steals in the first half! pic.twitter.com/dsf9YLgU6x
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) December 20, 2023
S'Mya Nicholas - Kansas
Whew, boy. S’Mya Nichols is a HOOPER. Her production is so good for a first-year player (she leads the team in scoring), making you quickly forget that she’s still new to the college basketball world.
Also, if you like a three-point specialist, Nichols shoots lights out from beyond the arc at just over 40 percent.
So, so impressed by KU freshman S'Mya Nichols yesterday. She will be STAR in Lawrence@SmyaKNichols @KUWBball pic.twitter.com/FPpab0b7M0
— Glenn Kinley (@glenn_kinley) December 17, 2023
Addy Brown and Audi Crooks - Iowa State
When Iowa and Iowa State played each other earlier in December, many might only recall Caitlin Clark’s stat line, but she didn’t get there without a lot of work.
Iowa State went bucket-for-bucket with Iowa, and it had a lot to do with the production it got from its freshmen duo. Addy Brown is a surefire scoring source (she had 14 points, 12 rebounds and five assists against Iowa), and Audi Crooks backs her up, unraveling whoever dares to get in the paint.
Crooks’ confidence is evident no matter the opponent and that has a lot to do with the nearly 68 percent shooting percentage she maintains.
Iowa State Freshman Are Underrated 🔥
Audi Crooks ❗️
• 21 points
• 9 rebounds
• 2 assistsAddy Brown ❗️Double Double ‼️
• 13 points
• 14 rebounds
• 6 assistsIowa State beats Troy 105-68! pic.twitter.com/4FVKo19GRR
— Women’s Hoopz #WBB (@WBBWorldWide) December 17, 2023
Natalie Potts - Nebraska
Natalie Potts is a highly underrated player that you’ll want to keep watching. Her quick processing skills on the court allow her to switch effortlessly from guard to wing as needed.
Potts naturally spends more time at the forward position, but it works so well for how Nebraska operates offensively. Her efficiency there helps to open up those critical defensive opportunities the team needs.
Every time I watch Nebraska, freshman Natalie Potts just pops
Has a good feel for where to be, how to get there, moves well with her guards
Can drive, post, stretch a little, make the right pass
Reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Expect we hear her name throughout the year pic.twitter.com/x2CWxXFRDi
— Mark Schindler (@MG_Schindler) December 2, 2023
Madison Booker - Texas
If you’ve seen Texas star Rori Harmon, you can’t miss the Robin to her Batman in Madison Booker. Simply put, Booker is a TALENT.
Booker moves and thinks like a guard but floats like a forward, something that can’t be taught. She’s very patient and thoughtful about where she puts the ball on the floor and has been critical to Texas’ 12-0 start.
Taliah Scott - Arkansas
Taliah Scott is officially known as “Taliah Scoring” from this moment forward because — WOW — she is a walking bucket. You won’t find very many freshmen near the top of the highest scorers in women’s basketball, but Scott’s name is appropriately there with 22.9 points per game.
She can get the points in a hurry, whether it’s smartly drawing fouls or making the shots herself. Arkansas’ engine moves and grooves because of her contributions.
Kailey Woolston - BYU
At BYU, Lauren Gustin is a human highlight reel who averages a double-double. Yet, I think she’s continued to look great this season because she has Kailey Woolston not far behind.
Woolston is a “go big or go home” shooter who isn’t afraid to toss it up from three-point land (she averages over 50 percent). However, the underrated parts of her game, like her underneath-the-basket work, come out when she’s in sync with Gustin.
Halftime in Provo | BYU 37, Boise State 26.
Kailey Woolston has 10 points, 3 assists and Cougars held Broncos to 1-of-6 shooting to start the 2nd quarter to turn a 2-point first-quarter edge into 11-point halftime lead.
Lauren Gustin: 12pts/7reb.pic.twitter.com/ZT6kKk6lJ7
— Sean Walker (@ActuallyDSW) December 9, 2023
Oluchi Okananwa - Duke
The dribbling and the vision. Duke’s Oluchi Okananwa has some of the filthiest handles that women’s college basketball offers. She’s a shifty guard who can use her speed to get north and south in a hurry, leaving defenders guessing and often on the floor.
Something else hoops fans should appreciate about her game is that she’s not afraid to hit the boards. Okananwa averages just over six offensive rebounds a game, as she’s always ready for the next opportunity to quickly score.
😎 @oluchi_okananwa: Certified ankle breaker#NCAAWBB x 🎥 @DukeWBB
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) November 17, 2023
