The Top 10 Sophomores to Watch
Who has shone the brightest among the sophomores so far? Read on to find out!
Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also buy Her Hoop Stats gear, such as laptop stickers, mugs, and shirts!
Haven’t subscribed to the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter yet?
We are one month into the women’s college basketball season and are beginning to see lots of talent emerge. This piece is going to focus on the top ten sophomores that have played at an elite level and look to continue doing so as the season moves along. Below I have ranked them in reverse order.
*Please note, statistics are for games played through Dec. 4
10. Jenna Johnson, Utah
13.1 ppg, 6.9 rbg, 3.3 apg
Jenna Johnson stood out in the Pac-12 last season after averaging 12.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, earning a spot on the conference All-Freshman team. Johnson is currently shooting 52.5% from the field, including an impressive 60% from inside the arc. What lands Johnson on this list is her ability to be one of the top scorers when her team needs her to be. She’s currently ranked in the nation’s top 2% in offensive win shares, a statistic that estimates the number of wins a player produces through their play on offense. She still needs to continue to grow and develop her game, but she has shown both in her freshman season and in the early stages of her sophomore season that she can do just that.
9. Serena Sundell, Kansas State
12.9 ppg, 6.3 rbg, 5.1 apg
Serena Sundell made her mark in her freshman season by being named to the Big 12 All-Freshman team. She is a great point guard who takes excellent care of the ball, posting an assist-to-turnover ratio is 3.07 this year. Sundell is efficient from inside the arc as she’s shooting 54%. She’s also an excellent free throw shooter, knocking down 83% of her shots from the line. Sundell is in the country’s top 1% in total win shares, which approximates the number of wins a player produces through their play on offense and defense. She has proven in her freshman season and so far in her sophomore season that she can be an elite ball-handler and be one of the top 10 sophomore players to watch.
8. Makayla Timpson, Florida State
13.5 ppg, 10 rbg, 2.3 bpg
Makayla Timpson is one of just four players in the country averaging at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks per contest. She ranks in the top 1% of Division I in both rebounds and blocks per game. On top of all of that, she’s been highly efficient on offense, shooting 61.8% from the field. While there is room for improvement (e.g., she is shooting 65.8% from the free throw line), she’s off to a strong start so far.
7. Talia von Oelhoffen, Oregon State
16.6 ppg, 5.5 rbg, 2.8 apg
Talia von Oelhoffen made her mark early in her freshman season and due to Covid-19, the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to every player. So she played another freshman season last year. She’s picked up where she left off ranking in the top 5% in points per 40 minutes at 22.2 this year. She’s one of just 20 players this season to record a 30-point double-double. She’s also an excellent free throw shooter, currently one of just 13 players hitting at least 90% of her free throws (minimum 30 attempts)
6. Gianna Kneepkens, Utah
14.4 ppg, 45.9% 3P
Gianna Kneepkens, last season’s Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, is having an incredibly efficient season so far. She is one of just eight players in the country on track for a 50/40/80 season (minimum 20 field goal attempts, 20 3-point attempts, and 20 free throw attempts). Kneepkens’ player efficiency rating (PER), a measure of a player’s per-minute value from box score stats, is in the nation’s top 2%. Both win shares and offensive win shares are in the top 3%. Her ability to score, but particularly her offensive efficiency, land her on this list.
5. Laila Phelia, Michigan
17.0 ppg, 2.0 spg, 48.4% 3P
Laila Phelia has elevated nearly every facet of her game this season. Like Kneepkens, she’s also shooting at a high level, knocking down nearly half of her attempts from long distance. She’s getting it done on both ends of the floor, as Phelia is one of just 18 players this season averaging at least two steals and one block per contest. Taking it all together, she’s in the top 1% in win shares. That’s not bad for a player who is continuing to improve her game.
4. Sonia Citron, Notre Dame
15.8 ppg, 7.8 rbg, 2.3 apg
Sonia Citron made a name for herself last year when she won the ACC Freshman of the Year. A member of the aforementioned 50/40/80 club this year, what sets Citron apart from the rest of the sophomores is her ability to step up when her team needs her and to help her team with whatever is needed. Citron is one of just 16 guards in the country averaging at least 15 points and seven rebounds per outing. While there’s been an uptick in her turnovers this season, it’s still been a very strong start to Citron’s sophomore campaign.
3. Olivia Miles, Notre Dame
16.4 ppg, 7.1 rbg, 6.4 apg, 2.6 spg
In her first full season with the Fighting Irish, Olivia Miles joined Skylar Diggins-Smith and Jackie Young as the only players with multiple career triple-doubles in program history. While she hasn’t (yet) posted a triple-double during her sophomore year, she is one of just five players this season to average at least six assists and 2.5 steals per game. Her excellent court vision is what sets her apart from the other top sophomores and places her in third position.
2. Aneesah Morrow, DePaul
26.9 ppg, 12.4 rbg, 3.1 spg, 1.4 bpg
Aneesah Morrow lit up her freshman season and hasn’t looked back since. She won multiple top awards (USBWA, WBCA National Freshman of the Year). She’s the best forward among the sophomores because of her ability to stuff the stat sheet. Only Aliyah Boston has more double-doubles since Morrow’s collegiate debut last season. Just like last season, Morrow ranks in the top 25 in points, rebounds, and steals per game. Her unmatched ability to score and rebound is what puts her in the second position.
1. Azzi Fudd, UConn
20.6 ppg, 53.3% FG, 42.6% 3P, 92.3% FT
Azzi Fudd is at the top of this list because of how much she’s elevated her game since her freshman season. She is one of just two sophomores (along with Morrow) currently averaging 20 points per game is impressive, and her shooting has just been off the charts. Remember the 50/40/80 club discussed above? Fudd is one of just five players (and the only sophomore) currently on pace for a 50/40/90 season (minimum 10 threes attempted and 10 free throws attempted). She has been a significant reason for the Huskies’ strong start without Paige Buckers.
Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.