January freshman report: 5 prospects to know

Allen Pettigrew

January 31, 2024 @ 12:00 AM

A week before the postseason begins underclassmen around the state are being moved up into the varsity ranks. Some will join senior laden teams as they fight to prove they belong. For a select few freshmen, they've already put their stamp on the season, and we'll talk about a few of them right here.   [player_tooltip player_id='2294547' first='Tavaris' last='Slaton'] is a promising 6'6 guard. The young frontcourt player is a long, jittery athlete who's only played basketball for a year. He moves well in the paint, runs the floor, and has the speed to move faster than other bigs.   [player_tooltip player_id='2294511' first='Aaron' last='Britt Jr.'] is a smooth scoring guard who's finding his way at the varsity level. The way he gets to his spots and the confidence he has in taking difficult shots point to a long history of scoring. In the games I've watched he hasn't been efficient but finished with or near double digits. Britt has good on ball speed and is growing as a playmaker.   [player_tooltip player_id='2514156' first='Bishop' last='Wenze'] is a 6'6 forward with good physical tools. While Wenze still has the baby deer feel to him on the court, he's a capable rim runner and rebounder. He boxes out, competes on both ends of the floor, and has flashes of being a solid shot blocker. Wenze's next step will be developing defensive discipline to really take advantage of his size. The 2027 product has signs of being a good offensive rebounder who will score on putbacks.   Brady Kearns is a 6'5 wing with a smooth jumper. He has good length, a nose for moving the ball, and helps on the board. Kearns is still growing into his body but his natural feel for the game helps him contribute to the varsity game. He doesn't pop athletically, but between his floor spacing and length, he'll have what it takes to contribute on both ends.   [player_tooltip player_id='2294514' first='Quincy' last='Douby Jr.'] is a 6'2 guard with a high level of feel. The game doesn't feel fast to him. He contributes on both ends of the floor with smart plays and a solid base of athleticism. Douby plays with a surprising level of physicality for a young player.

A week before the postseason begins underclassmen around the state are being moved up into the varsity ranks. Some will join senior laden teams as they fight to prove they belong. For a select few freshmen, they've already put their stamp on the season, and we'll talk about a few of them right here.