With three freshmen coming into the season for Iowa State, the Cyclones are expecting the new young players to contribute right away on the court.

ISU coach Bill Fennelly brings in freshmen Emiah Bingley, Nicole Blaskowsky and Madison Baier to the 2012-2013 season. Fennelly said he will need his freshmen to be ready to play, but mostly the two guards Bingley and Blaskowsky.

“If you look at our team, we have some great post players and some experience there, but our guard court is very young,” Fennelly said. “We will have a sophomore point guard, [guard] Brynn [Williamson] is a sophomore, and then two freshmen guards. Those two freshmen are going to have to play and learn quickly what it means to wear an Iowa State uniform and play guard at the Big 12 level. That’s a challenge.”

For Blaskowsky, known as “Kidd” by her coaches and teammates, the transition for being in high school to being a freshman at Iowa State has been a smooth one.

While she may have started off being a little behind with the learning curve that takes place from high school to college basketball, Blaskowsky said her teammates have been helpful and everyone has been like a family so far.

“Coach [Fennelly] has definitely done a good job with knowing how to keep the team in line and the responsibilities that each individual has, so with that in mind, we all have had each others’ backs,” Blaskowsky said.

Since arriving in Ames, Bingley said she transitioned well into the ISU system and has already felt the effects of the strength program during summer workouts.

The bond with the other freshmen, for Bingley, has been a strong one so far in the young season.

“In our first few interviews together, we were going everywhere together and were attached at the hip, so it’s really good,” Bingley said of the freshman bond. “We have great chemistry with one another.”

Baier, who rolled her ankle in summer workouts, said she has taken a little time off to make sure she is fully healed but is starting to run with the training staff again and hopes to be back practicing with the team very soon.

Juniors hope to provide spark for Cyclone offense

Fennelly does not hide that he has a certain appreciation for small-town Iowa players.

Two juniors on Iowa State’s roster fit that category with Hallie Christofferson, a native of Hamlin, Iowa, and walk-on Ashley Hagedorn, a native of Irwin, Iowa.

Fennelly said he will need Christofferson, a third-year player in the program, to continue to develop as a versatile player.

“She’s one of the best people I’ve ever been around,” Fennelly said of Christofferson. “We’re going to play her all over the court. We’ve got to be creative and move her around. She’s like a football player that you put in the slot, you put in the backfield, you snap the ball to them; you just figure out ways to get her the ball because she can score it.”

Christofferson expects the team to have a great start to the season because, for one of the first times, she feels everyone on the team is healthy going into the season.

“In high school, it was kind of you just do whatever because I’m from a small school,” Christofferson said of her versatility. “I kind of worked on it a little bit last year but not as much as I did coming in preseason. Now, [I work more] with [developing] jumpshots and taking your person off the dribble.”

Hagedorn comes to Iowa State as a walk-on from Des Moines Area Community College and grew up a fan of Iowa State. Hagedorn has a great support system of family and friends from her hometown awaiting to see her play her first Division I level minutes for the Cyclones.

“I’ve only been able to watch it, so to step out on that Hilton floor, it’s just really exciting,” Hagedorn said. “There’s a lot going through my mind right now, but I’m looking forward to it and excited for it to happen. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.”