Arkansas' best high school girls basketball players: Meet the state's top post players
By Kyle Sutherland I Photo by Jaison Sterling
With the high school basketball season wrapping up, SBLive is looking at the best girls players in Arkansas. Today, we feature the top posts (power forwards/centers) for all classes. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list as there are hundreds of great basketball players in the state.
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 match up situations, an athlete might 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 posts in the state.
Keller Bigham | Warren | 6-0 | SR
Bigham will join two other Arkansas hoopers continuing her playing career on the next level at Mississippi College. The Lady Jacks struggled this season so her talents may have gotten lost in the shuffle, but Bigham was an effective player as she has been throughout her career as shown by a huge double-double performance in a December game against McGehee when she scored 32 points and snagged 11 rebounds.
Riley Brady | Episcopal Collegiate | 5-10 | JR
Brady is a standout three-sport athlete playing basketball, soccer, and volleyball. She has already been tabbed all-state twice and averaged a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds per game.
“She plays with intensity like no one else,” Episcopal head coach Micah Marsh said. “She thinks every rebound is hers. Her physicality and toughness is what sets her apart from the others.”
AbbiGrace Cunningham | Atkins | 6-0 | SO
Cunningham has established herself this season as not just one of the premier sophomores in the paint, but in all the 3A-5 conference. Now that she has continued to develop a mid-range shot this season her progress will only continue to trend upward. She posted multiple double-doubles this year and averaged 15.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.
“The future is bright for her,” Atkins head coach Luke McAnulty said. “One of the best rebounders in our conference and is very good at playing with her back to the basket.”
Destine Duckworth | North Little Rock | 5-10 | SR
The Southern Illinois-Edwardsville signee, and one of multiple consistent players for the Lady Charging Wildcats, Duckworth is a versatile power forward with a tireless work ethic. She is not only a finisher around the rim but can also get it done on the perimeter.
Taleigha Ealy | Russellville | 6-0 | SO
In her young career, Ealy has already developed into a force in the front court, typically winning battles against opponents not only her skill, but also strength. She also excels in track participating in the shot put. She contributed for the varsity team as a freshman and was named the Player of the Game against Van Buren following a dominating double-double performance (17 point, 17 rebounds and 3 blocks).
Alyson Edwards | Mansfield | 5-10 | SO
Edwards has been one of the top underclassmen on a young Lady Tigers squad that has just two seniors on the roster. She averaged a double-double with 13.8 points and 10.2 rebounds this year.
“Alyson has great leadership qualities,” Lady Tigers head coach Ethan Bowman said. “She is one of the hardest-working kids in the gym and I am very proud of her and our young team.”
Da’Kariya “Lia “ Jackson | Jacksonville | 5-10 | SR
Jackson’s length gives her the ability to effectively play about every position, particularly at the guard spots, on the floor, one of the many reasons she has developed into a college prospect. After enduring injuries last season, Jacksonville head coach Marian Kursh mentioned she has come along well.
“She is a special kid with God-given ability,” Jacksonville head coach Marian Kursh said. “Her game just comes natural.”
Kamie Jenkins | Southside Batesville | 6-2 | JR
Jenkins has become a force this year with multiple double-doubles which has in turn made her frequently command double teams. She had a stellar performance in December’s Lonoke Goldfish Classic in which she was named to the all-tournament team and she continued to fill out stat sheets on end to conference play.
“Kamie plays with a lot of physicality and body control,” Southside head coach Jenkins Michael Harville said. “She is a sponge. Each night she learns things that we worked on and uses them the next chance she gets.”
Ashley Hopper | Little Rock Christian | 6-0 | SR
Hopper’s senior year came to an end in the state semifinals, but she will continue her playing career at Mid-America Christian University. The Lady Warriors were more known this year for their long-range shooting, but Hopper was a big-time player in the paint and absolutely took over in a second-round state tournament game against Paragould scoring 21 points along with a surplus of blocks and rebounds.
Jenna Lawrence | Farmington | 6-2 | JR
The University of Arkansas commit helped Melbourne continue its dynasty run last season and is now at Farmington trying to help the Lady Cardinals, the defending Class 4A runners-up, win a state title. She has been outstanding shooting 67% from 2-point range averaging 18.1 points, 10 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 2 blocks per game.
“Jenna stuffs the stat sheet every night, scores from all three levels, and impacts the game on both ends,” Farmington head coach Brad Johnson said. “Defensively, she changes the game with her ability to block shots, change shots, get deflections and steals. Her activity level is off the charts, she has an elite work ethic, is a phenomenal teammate, and is tremendously coachable.”
Dessie McCarty | Mount Vernon-Enola | 6-0 | SO
As a highly successful team with a roster loaded with sophomores, the Lady Warhawks will be in great hands for at least the next few years and McCarty is one to watch with extremely high potential. She uses her height to her advantage rebounding on both sides of the floor who also has an improving mid-range shot.
Pacious McDaniel | Har-Ber |5-9 | JR
McDaniel averaged 20 points per game as a sophomore along with multiple postseason honors and has continued to be one of the Lady Wildcats’ key players this year. She is exceptional on the defensive end, particularly at taking charges. She helped Har-Ber win the 6A-West title.
Alex Newland | Greenbrier | 5-11 | JR
Newland was key in Greenbrier’s triple overtime victory over Alma on homecoming leading the Lady Panthers with 25 points. She contributes heavily in the paint with her length, but can also score on the perimeter as she averaged 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks per game this year.
“Alex does such a great job for our team inside both offensively and defensively,” Greenbrier head coach Payton Edmondson said. “She really helps us protect the rim with her ability to block shots and rebound.”
Allie Pollock | Lakeside | 6-1 | JR
Pollack was named All-Conference for her sophomore year as one of the young leaders for the Lady Rams squad. One of the great things about her game, she may not consistently put up 25 or 30 every night, but she can certainly score but also get it done on the boards, block shots (maybe her biggest strong point), whatever needs to be done she does it.
Clemisha Prackett | West Memphis | 6-2 | JR
Prackett has received offers from Central Arkansas and Auburn last summer and is another on this list who uses her length as a highly productive frontcourt player. She is a great inside shooter but just as great on the defensive end at blocking shots and winning rebounding battles.
Laylah Reese | Cabot | 5-10 | JR
Reese contributes at every position on the floor depending on the opponent or situation. After playing more of a wing role last season she has transitioned to more of a power forward and averaged 13.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game this season.
“I think what sets Laylah apart from other players is her versatility,” Cabot head coach Jay Cook said. “She has become a more physical player on both ends of the floor and her leadership from day to day has improved a great deal.”
Haitiana Releford | Fort Smith Northside | 5-8 | SR
Longtime Lady Bears head coach Rickey Smith has had many great players come through his program in 30 years and Releford is the latest one. On a team loaded with current Division I players last season, Releford scored 20 points in the state 6A championship game, but none of those were more important than her game-winning shot in double overtime against Fayetteville.
Tyra Robinson | Parkview | 6-2 | SR
Robinson holds an offer from Arkansas that she earned in July of 2019 and is an imposing force in the paint for the Lady Patriots as one of the state’s top bigs. She consistently demanded attention around the rim facing double teams and is a force defensively.
Brooke Ross | Siloam Springs | 5-10 | JR
Ross is stands out on the basketball and volleyball courts. She was a regular double-double producer this past year helping the Lady Panthers to the state tournament and will be one of not only the best bigs in not just Northwest Arkansas next season, but the state overall.
Savannah Scott | Conway | 6-5 | JR
Scott has really picked up the pace from the start of the season up to this point and that attention really began to take notice following a strong performance during the Sandra Meadows Classic in December where she averaged a double-double. She is as dominant as anyone in Arkansas in the paint and colleges have taken notice as she boasts offers from Auburn, Cincinnati, and SMU to name a few.
Destiny Thomas | Jonesboro | 6-3 | SR
The Memphis signee was a key player for the Lady Hurricane’s state title run last season and has averaged just shy of a double-double throughout her high school career. She had a dominant state tournament to begin March beginning with a 22-point, 19-rebound performance against Sheridan.
Kaleigh Thompson | Lonoke | 6-1 | SR
Thompson has always been a threat to score when around the basket, but the UCA signee has really improved on her game from the inside out.
“We really challenged her to grow her game past her limits,” Lonoke head coach Chris Brown said. “We worked extremely hard on her mid-range game as a junior so she could start expanding to the arc. Her being able to score at all three levels is what attracted colleges along with her versatility at several positions.”
Amauri Williams | North Little Rock | 6-4 | SR
Williams is Arkansas’ top-ranked prospect for 2022 as the 93rd-best player in the nation per ESPN, 12th for her position. She signed with Vanderbilt in November over offers from Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Florida State. Williams is extremely physical in the paint and uses her leverage to win the battles against each opponent.
Kiki Williamson | Mayflower | 5-11 | SO
Of all the great young talent on Mayflower’s roster, Williamson may have the highest ceiling due to her length and ability to score inside and out. On the season she was just shy of averaging a double-double with 16 points, and 8.5 rebounds along with 3.9 assists.
“Kiki has so much potential,” Mayflower head coach Coty Storms said. “I really look forward to having her for the next couple of years.”
