It’s often said that the game of women’s college basketball is in good hands, and there’s usually good reason for that. The overall landscape of talent continues to grow, and the freshman class of 2022-23 was chock-full of dynamic and versatile players who seem destined for big things throughout their collegiate careers. While it would be quite the undertaking to list every such player, we’ve highlighted five sophomores who are poised to take over entering the 2023-24 NCAA season.
Janiah Barker (Texas A&M)
The Aggies may be rebuilding in their second season under head coach Joni Taylor, but in Barker they have one of the most gifted players in the country to build around. Expectations are understandably high for her sophomore season.
At 6-foot-4, Barker does things rarely seen from players of her height: between-the-legs crossover dribbles, stepback 3-point jumpshots and smooth step-through finishes in transition. Barker’s ability to attack and finish with either hand makes covering her in the high post an unenviable task. Defensively, she’s capable of both jumping passing lanes and…
