Pirate Preview: Baylor Franz

Published: Saturday, November 2, 2024

by Darren Worrell

When reflecting on the great women’s basketball players from Seton Hall, names like Lauren Park-Lane, Ka-Deidre Simmons, Azana Baines, Debbie Hartnett, Phyllis Mangina, and Ozelina Gorham come to mind. Now, there’s a new name to watch: freshman Baylor Franz. Although she has yet to play her first college game, she is already generating excitement.

On April 3, Franz committed to Seton Hall, a program with a rich history under legendary coach Tony Bozzella. In another article, Bozzella expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “It’s been a long journey recruiting Baylor, but one that will definitely be worth it.” With the departures of several key players from last season’s roster — including Micah Gray, Shay Hagans, Azana Baines, Kae Satterfield, Ajah Davis, and Brazil Harvey-Carr — Franz has the opportunity to do something special.

Franz’s high school career speaks for itself. A two-time captain at Edmond Memorial, she was named the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year and selected to the Oklahoma Big All-City First Team. She set school records for assists (293) and steals (218) and, standing at just 5 feet 6 inches, truly embodies the phrase "heart over height." Her impressive stats include 1,300 career points and 600 rebounds as a point guard. While her athletic accomplishments made a name for her throughout high school, it’s important to note that she is also highly intelligent.

Throughout high school, she maintained a 4.0 GPA and was named valedictorian of her graduating class. Not many people can achieve what she does as a true student-athlete. She excels on the court as well as off it.

As the Seton Hall women’s basketball season kicks off this Saturday against Jefferson, Pirate fans should keep an eye on Franz. With her talent and determination, the sky is the limit for this promising young freshman. As Coach Bozzella said, she is worth the wait.

Darren Worrell can be reached at darren.worrell@student.shu.edu. 

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