7 Breakout Featured Freshman

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every year, there's a small group of ninth‑graders who play with a confidence that makes you look down at the roster twice. Here are seven freshmen who've broken through early and are already carving out their identity across the state. Keep us updated on ALL prospects over on “X“ and “Instagram,” just tag @PrepHoops_AR &amp; @VortexSportsArkansas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2430456' first='LeDarius' last='Haywood']</strong> - Stands out as a hard‑nosed, compact guard who plays with real force. Haywood embraces contact, defends with pride, and gets downhill with purpose. His physicality at the point of attack already translates, and he brings a competitive edge that lifts his group every night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2826474' first='Jabarie' last='Welch']</strong> - A small‑frame finesse guard with a smooth perimeter touch. Welch is a confident deep shooter who spaces the floor and takes on closeouts. As he adds strength, his shot‑making and craft give him real long‑term scoring upside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2948703' first='Isaac' last='Shelton']</strong> - One of the more balanced freshmen in the class. Shelton is comfortable pulling up or making the extra pass. His versatility and feel make him a young piece who impacts multiple phases of the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2885473' first='Luke' last='Ipe']</strong> - A smart, tough two‑way guard who understands how to win possessions. Ipe defends with discipline, makes timely rotations, and competes on the glass. Offensively, he plays within the system and picks his spots well, showing flashes of confident shooting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2953905' first='Everett' last='Ejay Patterson']</strong> - Ejay is an athletic built true point guard who checks every box: pass, defend, and score when needed. Patterson pushes the pace, sees the floor, and uses his length to disrupt defensively. As his frame fills out, his ability to control tempo gives him real lead‑guard upside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3232338' first='Traelen' last='Roscoe']</strong> - A forward with a clean shooting stroke and the ability to rebound his area. Roscoe switches across multiple positions defensively and brings a steady presence as a floor‑spacer. His combination of size, shooting, and switchability makes him valuable.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3187631' first='Finn' last='Stolzer']</strong> - A long, developing big with possible future 7‑footer size. Stolzer runs the floor hard, hunts space in the paint, and shows natural instincts around the rim. As his coordination and strength catch up to his frame, he becomes one of the more intriguing prospects in this class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->