5 Instant Impact Freshman

High school basketball season tips off tonight! As the games get started, there will be star freshman that have an instant impact. We're going to look at 5 of those instant impact freshman.

Lucy Young (2028, PF, Kalamazoo Hackett)

She might just be a freshman, but she looks every bit the part of an instant impact player. There may not be a better freshman post defender in the state of Michigan. Young slides across the lane laterally with an ease not seen in many players. For a freshman post player, she's so comfortable with her feet and movement. Offensively, Young is diverse in her attack. She can put her back to the basket and score off the block. But young can also cut and catch, as well as face the rim and attack of a 2 dribble drive.

Paisley Stephens (2028, PG, Belleville)

Next girl up in Belleville. The Tigers have a girls basketball factory going and Stephens is next in line. She's going to be a newcomer that you hear about often this season. Stephens is a wizard with the ball in her right hand, but is more than comfortable and effective with both. As a matter of fact, it's not often that we see freshman come in and be so confident in their handles and intelligent in regards to what to with it. Stephens has the body control and balance to be able to shrug off defenders on her way to the rim. She already holds an elite pull up jumper that she can hit from mid range and beyond the arc.

Josie Ode (2028, SF, Heritage)

Saginaw Heritage has a really nice collection of top notch young talent. Ode is a big part of that talent pool. I put SF next to her name, but in essence she's a wing. Whatever position you put there, her game stands out and fits it. Ode is a freshman that will certainly play a role in her team's success. She does a nice job of playing north and south basketball. Ode goes at the rim off the bounce, not wasting dribbles and giving the defense opportunities to create a turnover. She even attacks the basket without the ball in her hands, going to the rim pass ready.

Myla Talladay (2028, PF, Saline)

Saline has 2 freshman that will be instant impact players. For today we'll cover Talladay. She's just what this Saline team needs - toughness in the paint. Talladay was doing nothing short of battling in the paint this fall, showing a toughness near the rim that most freshman aren't ready to have. With the elite shooters on Saline, her ability to rebound, defend and basically set the tone in the paint will be huge for the Hornets.

Lyla Valentine (2028, PG, HEA)

Sometimes you don't hear or read a ton about homeschool basketball, but trust me when I say that you'll be hearing Lyla Valentine's name early and often. She's one of the better post feed passers that I've in seen in quite some time. Valentine is also an excellent decision maker, especially as a freshman. She seems to make the right pass at the right time and place. I saved her shooting for last. Valentine is a confident shooter that can fire it up from all around the arc. This helps her be versatile enough to effectively play off the ball as well.