USC's JuJu Watkins is one of the most highly regarded freshmen entering the 2023-24 girls' college basketball season. She is the USA Today High School Player of the Year and the Naismith and Gatorade National Player of the Year. The 6-foot-2 guard contributes 27.5 points, 13.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.7 caps per game as a senior at Sierra Canyon High School in suburban Los Angeles.

Watkins isn't the only freshman capable of making a major impact this season. Here are some of the other freshmen:

Connecticut's KK Arnold: A three-time Associated Press Wisconsin Player of the Year and two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year, Arnold had eight triple-doubles and 2,458 points in his career at Germantown High School in suburban Milwaukee. The 5-foot-9 guard was also a member of the 2023 Nike USA Women's Basketball Summit Team, where Big East coaches named her the league's preseason Player of the Year. She averaged 13 points per game in Connecticut's preseason European tourney.
Jadyn Donovan, Duke: At 6-feet tall, Donovan is a forward from Sidwell Friends in Washington, D.C., who has won three gold medals with the U.S. men's basketball team. She most recently scored a goal to help Team USA go undefeated at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup. Donovan joins Notre Dame freshman Hannah Hidalgo, Louisville transfers Jaida Curry and Kiki Jefferson and North Carolina transfer Lexi Donarski in being selected by the Atlantic Coast League as one of five newcomers to watch in the league. Donovan had 12 points and eight rebounds in the McDonald's All-American game.
Milaysia Fulwiley, S.C.: Milaysia Fulwiley will begin her college career not far from home after graduating from WJ Kenan High School in Columbia. The three-time South Carolina Player of the Year contributed 25.6 points, 9.1 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 5.7 steals per game as a senior. Folwelli scored 17 points at McDonald's. The 5-foot-10 guard had 16 points, six rebounds and five assists in the exhibition game against Rutgers.
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame: Hidalgo set a McDonald's game record with 26 points in that game. She also tied the record with eight steals in that game. She was named co-Player of the Game along with 5-foot-6 guard Watkins, who was named the New Jersey High School Player of the Year by Gatorade during her senior season at Paul VI High School in Haddonfield, N.J. With Olivia Myers expected to miss at least part of the season while recovering from a knee injury, Hidalgo should have an immediate impact on Notre Dame's backcourt.
Courtney Ogden, Stanford: Ogden, a McDonald's All-American, was named the Georgia Gatorade High School Player of the Year her senior season. The 6-foot-1 forward averaged 20.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in her four seasons of high school. In her senior year at Westminster University in Atlanta, she contributed 22.1 points, 89.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.7 steals per game. On Wednesday, Ogden had 16 points and 10 rebounds in Stanford's preseason win over Dominican (Calif.).
Mikayla Williams, LSU: The 6-foot-6 guard was named the nation's Most Promising Player by multiple recruiting organizations. She led Parkway High School in Bossier City, Louisiana, to a state championship her senior season and was named the Morgan Wooten National Player of the Year. She has been the Gatorade Louisiana High School Player of the Year the past two seasons. On Wednesday, Williams scored 20 points in LSU's preseason win over Loyola (Louisiana).
These are just a few of the many talented freshmen who could have a major impact on women's college basketball this season. It should be an exciting year for those who follow the sport.