Though the college basketball season is still months away, teams around the country have been getting together for summer workouts.
These offseason stints give incoming freshmen their first taste of life as a college student-athlete. They also remind us where the stars of the most recent high school graduating class are taking their talents.
It’s hard for first-year players to carve a niche. College basketball represents a massive leap in talent, size and speed that younger players must adapt to. But it’s not uncommon for a freshman to find a role and thrive quickly. Oluchi Okananwa (Peabody, Mass.) did so last year at Duke, and Anna Foley (Andover, Mass.) was an instant-impact starter at Quinnipiac.
Here are 10 players who, given their talent and their team’s potential needs, could quickly jump into important roles.
Ahnay Adams, Miami
Guard, 5-6
High school: Tilton
Hometown: New Bedford, Mass.
Adams was the highest-ranked New England native in the national 2024 class, checking in at No. 41 on ESPN’s list. The point guard’s elite burst and relentless motor powered her to three New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the Year awards. Adams also helped Tilton reach the NEPSAC AA title game this past spring by averaging 19.8 points, 7.2 assists, 6.4 rebounds and 3.8 steals. Miami has an experienced, guard-heavy roster, so we’ll see how quickly Adams can break into the rotation.
Dani Ceseretti, Villanova
Guard, 6-0
High school: Northfield Mount Hermon
Hometown: Barrington, R.I.
Ceseretti led Northfield Mount Hermon in points (18.7), assists (2.3) and steals (2.7) per game while grabbing 7.8 rebounds. At 6 feet, she sees the floor at a high level, can capably lead an offense, and knows how to work her way into the paint to score or kick out to teammates. She’s one of three freshmen on a Villanova roster that added four transfers, but lost six to the portal.
Maddie Fitzpatrick, Maine
Guard, 5-11
High school: Cheverus
Hometown: Cumberland, Maine
Maine does a great job recruiting locally, and Fitzpatrick is now on the list as the state’s two-time reigning Gatorade Player of the Year. She stuffed the stat sheet with 23 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.9 steals, and 4.7 assists in a Class AA title-winning effort for Cheverus. Maine won the America East championship last season to book a March Madness berth. Most of the roster is back, which will make playing time competitive, but Fitzpatrick will jump right into winning college basketball.
Ayanna Franks, Rhode Island
Guard, 5-9
High school: Windsor
Hometown: Windsor, Conn.
The Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year ended her high school career in the illustrious 2,000-point club. Her senior year averages are ridiculous: 25.7 points, 13.1 rebounds (at 5-foot-9!), 4.2 steals and 2.4 assists. Franks is a quick-twitch athlete with a dizzying array of dribble moves that help her drain shots at all three levels.
It often takes time for young scoring guards to find their footing in college, and Rhode Island has plenty of guard depth, but I would bank on Franks figuring things out before too long.
Orlagh Gormley, Providence
Guard, 5-6
High school: Dexter Southfield
Hometown: Quincy, Mass.
Gormley was one of New England’s most dominant players during her high school career that culminated with Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year honors. The point guard racked up 22.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists in her final year at Dexter Southfield. Gormley has a nose for the basketball and was nearly impossible to stop when she found a driving lane.
Providence has room for an impact guard in its rotation, and though Gormley will need to adjust to bigger, stronger college opponents, she’s a good bet to find her way quickly.
Cecilia Kay, American
Forward, 6-2
High school: Bishop Fenwick
Hometown: Melrose, Mass.
Kay was arguably the best player in MIAA last year even though she was overshadowed by Bishop Fenwick’s state tournament ban. She still amassed 20.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and a monster 4 blocks per game. Kay does most of her dominating in the paint, but she can step out and knock down 3-pointers. She will need to adjust to college-level bigs after playing against few physical peers in high school.
The Eagles only have three true interior players including Kay. She has a good chance at meaningful minutes, as does classmate Ellie Pingree (Bow, N.H.), another 6-foot-2 forward who starred at St. Paul’s. Keep an eye on both New England natives.
Lana McCarthy, Purdue
Center, 6-4
High school: Bedford
Hometown: Bedford, N.H.
McCarthy is physically ready for high-major basketball. She’s a 6-foot-4, strong, athletic center who won New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the Year — in volleyball. On the basketball court, McCarthy helped Bedford go undefeated and capture the NHIAA Division 1 championship. She has great touch around the basket and can move her feet well for a post player, though competing in the Big Ten is another level entirely.
Purdue lost its entire starting lineup from last season, meaning there are plenty of minutes up for grabs.
Grace Oliver, Colorado
Forward, 6-1
High school: Nobles
Hometown: Norwell, Mass.
For some rare players, it doesn’t matter the roster situation — they’ll find a way to contribute. Oliver is such a talent. She won Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022-23, but she was willing to take a back seat whenever necessary while winning two NEPSAC AA titles in two years at Nobles. Oliver can shoot the ball at a high clip, battle for rebounds and paint points, and shut down most wings and forwards. ESPN slotted her 84th in the 2024 class.
Colorado ended the season ranked No. 15 in the AP poll. They’re a national power; we may get to see Oliver on the March Madness stage soon.
Cameron Rust, Penn State
Guard/forward, 6-1
High school: Worcester Academy
Hometown: Wakefield, R.I.
Rust put together a prolific final season in NEPSAC, averaging 18.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game as a Class AA All-Star. She’ll step through or spin her way to the basket with tough drives, and she has deep range on her catch-and-shoot 3s. Penn State lost its top six bucket-getters from last season; Rust could step into a scoring role early.
Nasi Simmons, Columbia
Guard, 5-8
High school: Nobles
Hometown: Brockton, Mass.
The Lions are routinely in the hunt for Ivy League championships, and Simmons can help them fight off the likes of Princeton and Harvard. She was part of two Nobles championships with Oliver, and Simmons fit in as a slashing guard who could make plays collapsing the defense. Columbia’s 2024-25 roster is smaller and guard-heavy. Simmons is one of five freshmen battling for playing time.
Five more players to follow: Camryn Collins (Rider/Foxboro, Mass.), Mary Gibbons (Navy/Holden, Mass.), Claire Keswick (Northwestern/Wrentham, Mass.) Payton Richard (Richmond/Bolton, Mass.), Jess Ross (UMass/Eastham, Mass.)
