Impact Freshmen in AIA
In this article:
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…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe 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.
Jocelyn Chavez Jocelyn Chavez 4'0" | C La Joya Community | 2023 AZ (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 Talia Dial Talia Dial 5'10" | PF PHH Prep | 2022 State AZ to PHH Prep.
Elli Guiney Elli Guiney 5'9" | CG Millennium | 2024 State AZ (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 Ali Zelaya Ali Zelaya 6'4" | PF Millennium | 2020 State AZ (North Carolina), Jasmine Singleton Jasmine Singleton 5'6" | CG Millennium | 2020 State AZ (UNLV) and Zion Walters from last year’s 5A championship team. To make matters worse, the Tigers also lost highly ranked Trayanna Crisp Trayanna Crisp 5'7" | CG PHH Prep | 2022 State AZ (2022) and Amoret Maxwell Amoret Maxwell 5'10" | SF PHH Prep | 2021 State AZ (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.
Eanae Dagons Eanae Dagons 5'3" | PG Desert Vista | 2024 State AZ (Desert Vista, PG) – Desert Vista lost 2 high profile point guards to Prep Schools. Jaida Brooks Jaida Brooks 5'7" | CG PHH Prep | 2022 State AZ , top 5 ranked in the class of 2022 , transferred to PHH Prep. The top incoming 2024 player in Arizona, Shay Ijiwoye Shay Ijiwoye 5'6" | PG Desert Vista | 2024 State AZ , 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.
Mia Singstock Mia Singstock 5'9" | SF Pinnacle | 2024 State AZ (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 Ally Stedman Ally Stedman 5'9" | CG PHH Prep | 2021 State AZ (2021, Pepperdine commit) and Kennedy Basham Kennedy Basham 6'7" | C Pinnacle | 2022 State #16 Nation AZ (2022) transferred to PHH Prep and rising star Lilah Moore Lilah Moore 5'8" | CG Arizona Elite Prep | 2022 State AZ (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.