Arkansas' best high school girls basketball players: Meet the state's top shooting guards
By Kyle Sutherland I Photo by Karen Schwartz
With the high school basketball season wrapping up, SBLive is looking at the best girls players in Arkansas. Today, we feature the top shooting guards for all classes.
This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, as there are hundreds of great basketball players in the state. Let us know anyone you think should be added.
Important note on position: In today’s position-less era of basketball, it is very rare that teams list one starter at all five positions, and many players are fully interchangeable across positions. For example, depending on game or matchup situations, an athlete may play the 1 or 2 guard spots, possibly a guard/forward role as a wing, or some have the talent to play all of the 1-5 positions. Please use the comments section to discuss other standout players in Arkansas that you want to nominate.
Soon, you will have a chance to vote on who you think is the top girls shooting guard in the state.
—
Olivia Allen | Southside Batesville | 5-6 | SR
Allen is the heartbeat of a Lady Southerners squad that fully expects to go on a deep state tournament run. Southside head coach Michael Harville knows the future Henderson State Reddie is one the opponent will key on but it does not phase her.
“Despite having the attention of every opponent, she still impresses,” Harville said.
Parris Atkins | Bryant | 5-7 | SR
After averaging 16.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.6 steals as a junior, Atkins will continue to improve on her all-around game before heading to play for the University of Central Arkansas following graduation. Atkins is valuable to the team as a scorer, but Lady Hornets head coach Brad Matthews knows she brings much more to the table.
“Parris has been rebounding and defending well,” Matthews said. “When she rebounds well, we are able to get out in transition.”
Clare Barger | Harrison | 5-8 | JR
Barger is a lightning-quick guard who can break a press and get to the rack before you even know she did it. She played significant minutes for the Lady Goblin’s state championship team last year and is averaging 15.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. She is a natural shooting guard but has played more of the point this year.
“Clare is just an athlete, good at everything,” Harrison head coach Stacie Klott said. “She has figured things out and just getting to know her teammates has been a big thing. She has improved by leaps and bounds from the very beginning until now.”
Wynter Beck | Fayetteville | 5-7 | JR
Beck’s story that is continuing to write itself has been noteworthy so far as she has been filling out stat sheets all season with 14.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.1 steals, an 2.5 assists per game this year a young leader for the Lady Bulldogs.
“Wynter’s got a lot to her game,” Fayetteville head coach Vic Rimmer told SBLive’s Steve Andrews. “She’s good off the bounce, her 3-point shot has gotten much, much better, and when she decides to go get an offensive rebound, there is not a lot the other team can do about it. She’s just so strong and athletic.”
Whitley Bolen | Corning | JR
Bolen has been one of the top scorers for the Lady Bobcats this year finishing second in the 3A-3 conference forming a great duo with senior Makenna Lunsford (23 points, 6 rebounds on senior night).
Ella Campbell | Bentonville | 5-9 | JR
Campbell has emerged as one of the top shooters in the state, and she recently broke the school record for more 3-pointers made in a season and counting. She hit 13 threes in two games in mid-February, including 7 with 22 points in a big win over Roger Heritage, and has hit over 50% of her shots from deep this year.
Madison Cartwright | Greenwood | 5-10 | JR
Cartwright can play any position on the court and has led the Lady Bulldogs to an impressive season so far with wins over multiple top teams. She is has averaged around 16.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3 steals per game while shooting 40% from the field.
“Mady loves to compete and play the game,” Greenwood head coach Clay Reeves said, “She has done a great job handling the basketball, (as wells as) shooting, rebounding, and defensively.”
Carlee Casteel | Rogers Heritage | 5-6 | JR
Casteel boasts a 4.29 GPA and a 34 ACT score but also takes care of her business on the court shooting 50% from the field averaging 18 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game.
“Carlee’s dedication to improving her strength in the weight room has paid dividends in her ability to finish at the basket as well as rebound on both ends of the floor,” Heritage head coach Josh Laymon said. “She has grown her game this year on the defensive end by increasing her off the ball awareness and looking for steal and charge opportunities.”
Jaycie Cook | Cabot | 5-6 | SO
Cabot has a lot of youth on this year’s team which has forced Cook, as well as multiple other underclassmen, to step up for the Lady Panthers. She has answered the call putting up 11.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2 steals per game.
“As Jaycie’s physical strength and maturity increase, so does her productivity,” Cabot head coach Jay Cook said. “She sees the floor and plays with the pace of a more experienced player. This carries over to the defensive end as well.”
Kate Denton | Little Rock Christian | 5-8 | JR
After contributing off the bench, Denton was inserted into the starting lineup against Mills and the Lady Warriors have continued to improve since that happened. During the course of the season, she has averaged 9.5 points, 2 assists, and 3 rebounds per game.
“Kate will do whatever she can to help the team,” LRCA head coach Ronald Rogers said. “She is an extremely unselfish player who puts in a lot of hard work.”
Ashton Elley | Little Rock Christian | 5-10 | SR
Elley is described by LRCA head coach Ronald Rogers as “the best shooter he has ever coached,” and that attribute is a big reason she has gotten plenty of attention from division one schools and will continue her career at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“She has instincts that you just say ‘wow’ when she makes a spectacular play,” Rogers said.
Hailey Francis | Mayflower | 5-4 | SO
No ball handler is safe once Francis gets in the area as we have seen from her 4.7 steals per game. She is one of multiple underclassmen to step up for the defending state champions who should be in great hands for the foreseeable future. She has averaged 15 points per game this year.
“Over the course of the season she has really came into her element,” Mayflower head coach Coty Storms said. “One of the most athletic kids I have coached. Has started really attacking the basket and can shoot it from the outside.”
Kloey Fullerton | Harding Academy | 5-5 | SO
To know the extent of Fullerton’s improvement you do not have to look any further than her continued production as the season has gone on. For the year she is averaging 12.6 points per game and hitting 37% of her shots from 3-point range but has increased that to 16.7 points per game and a very good 46% from deep in conference play. She also averaged just over 12 points per game as a freshman last season.
“Kloey can really handle the ball and score it well,” Harding Academy head coach Rusty Garner said. “Her development over the last year and a half is a reflection of her growing confidence. She has a great motor and just continues to improve every day.”
Chelsea Hamilton | Salem | 5-7 | JR
Playing mostly shooting guard, Hamilton has averaged 17 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.7 steals per game this year while shooting 43.8% from 3-point range. She scored 19 in loss to state juggernaut Melbourne in the 2A state championship last season.
Carolina “Bean” Hoffman | Marmaduke | SR
Hoffman has over 2,000 career points and has been a consistent reliable contributor for Marmaduke since her freshman year after initially beginning her career at Riverside where she helped them reach the 2019 state title game. Her and fellow senior standout Heidi Robinson are looking to lead Marmaduke on another deep tournament run before they put an exclamation mark on their high school careers.
Maddi Holt | Bergman | 5-7 | JR
Holt and the Lady Panthers have been on a tear this season and they could very well be the favorite in a very deep Class 3A. She is already closing in on 2,000 points just as a junior and is possibly the best in the state at the charity stripe shooting just under 91%. She has averaged 19.3 points per game shooting 46.9% from 3-point range and has scored 35 points or more in multiple games.
Ava Knoedl | CAC | 5-6 | SR
Knoedl has helped lead the Lady Mustangs to a second-place conference. The Mississippi College signee is one of the top shooters in the state but has been back to her normal self as the year has gone along following a slow start against tough competition.
“She has been much better,” CAC head coach Steve Quattlebaum said. “Most importantly she has been playing some outstanding defense and providing leadership on what still is a fairly young team.”
Jaidyn Koerdt | Pulaski Academy | 5-11 | SR
The Purdue-Fort Wayne signee was a force last season averaging 19 points per game and has put up 14 a contest this year.
“Jaidyn plays very hard,” PA head coach Rick Treadway said. “She is another coach on the floor.”
Caylan Koons | Har-Ber | 5-9 | SR
Koons will continue her athletic career playing volleyball for UCA, but her current focus is getting a basketball state championship for the Lady Wildcats. She has been a double-double machine as Har-Ber’s leading scorer and has earned multiple Player of the Week awards.
Avery Marsh | Episcopal | 5-7 | SR
Marsh maintains 4.3 GPA in the classroom and that work ethic translates to the court which is why it makes sense she is the driving force behind the success playing strong defense and scoring 18 points per game. She has scored over 1600 career points and has shot 41% from the field.
Jordan Marshall | LR Central | 6-0 | SO
Marshall moved up to the varsity squad last season as a freshman and has really turned it up this year averaging 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. She was named as the Most Valuable Player in early December’s Great 8 Classic Tournament and was honored as the Arkansas High School Girls Player of the Week at the Downtown Tip Off Club on Jan. 18.
“Jordan has become more versatile for us and can play multiple positions,” Central Coach Marlon Williams said. “She is young so she is just trying to keep growing. We are looking for big things from her.”
Kaitlyn McCarn | Melbourne | SO
Her older sister Kenley is putting the finishing touches on her legendary career for the Bearkatz as Kaitlyn is beginning to write hers. She has effectively contributed all season and has been rewarded being named NEA Tournament and George Kell Classic All-Tournament teams as well as helping Melbourne defeat multiple quality teams in higher classes.
Reese McDonald | Clinton | JR
McDonald recently helped the Lady Jackets to a district tournament championship and is hoping to lead the team to much more down the stretch. She has averaged 16.1 points, 4.2 steals, and 2 assists per game this year.
“Reese has really become a strong vocal leader on this team and works very hard every day in and outside of practice,” Clinton head coach Matthew Post said. She has gotten stronger and quicker this year which has helped her score at all three levels.”
Hannah Meeks | Drew Central | 5-6 | JR
Meeks has continued to progress this year after helping Drew Central win a conference championship last season. She is the second-leading scorer on a very balanced offense averaging 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals per game.
“Hannah has been a consistent scorer and rebounder for us all year,” Lady Pirates head coach Michael Goad said. “She is a hard worker and aspires to play at the next level. She excels in the classroom and in the community. She represents are program well.”
Kayden Porter | Sheridan 5-10 | SO
Porter has caught the early attention of college coaches currently possessing an offer from UCA. She leads the Lady Jackets in just about every category averaging 21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks, and 3 assists per game.
“Kayden is a standout sophomore that is a top-notch player both on the offensive and defensive end,” Sheridan head coach Jamison Ingram said. “She continues to put up big numbers offensively even though she goes against a box and 1 or is face guarded nightly.”
Sadie Roberts | Mansfield | 5-9 | SR
Roberts has been a senior leader averaging 14.6 point per game for a young Lady Tigers team that has made a lot of noise this season. She has been a streaky shooter at times but has been able to make plays in multiple ways using her length.
Kori Sanders | Lamar | 5-8 | FR
Lamar is one of the Class 3A teams that probably does not get discussed enough as a state title contender, but one young player who has gained attention is Sanders as she has scored 14.9 points per game. Her natural position is running the point, but Warriors’ head coach Brandon Schluterman mentioned there is not much she cannot do effectively.
“She has unlimited potential and works hard at making her game better,” Schluterman said. “She can score, pass, rebound, and defend. On defense she is going to guard the other teams best guard and she is going to pressure you the whole game.”
Marleigh Sellers | Salem | 5-8 | SO
A natural point guard, Sellers earned all-stateas a freshman last season on the Lady Greyhounds team that was the Class 2A state runner-up, including a 22- point performance in the quarterfinals against Acorn. This season she has averaged 14 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.1 steals, and 5 assists per game.
Josie Storey | Mountain View | 5-10 | SR
The UT-Martin signee is a gifted scorer shooting around 50% from the field over the course of her career. Per her usual play, she has produced multiple games scoring over 20 points this season.
Leigh Swint | Booneville | 5-9 | JR
Swint is one of the many reasons the Lady Bearcats have had the best start in school history and counting. She leads the team in steals with 3.9 per game, and second in points (9.9), rebounds (5.1), and assists (2.7) and has Booneville in great position to make a run for the 3A state title. She sat out some of the end of the regular season and into the district tournament, but she is ready to lead her team on a state title run.
