Arkansas' best high school boys basketball players: Meet the state's top juniors

Some of the top Arkansas junior prep boys basketball players

Lake Hamilton's Ty Robinson

By Kyle Sutherland | Photo by Tommy Land  

With the high school basketball season in full swing, SBLive is looking at the best boys players in Arkansas across all classifications. Today, we feature the top juniors.

There are hundreds of standout boys basketball players in Arkansas, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. You can discuss the other juniors worthy of fans’ attention in 2022-23 by connecting with us on Twitter at @SBLiveARK or by emailing nate@scorebooklive.com.

Bryson Bauer | Bergman | 6-0 | Guard

Bauer is the floor general for the Panthers, who are currently Class 3A’s top team, and has shown consistency in multiple categories all year averaging 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists per game.

Jaxon Berry | Farmington | 6-4 | Wing

Berry handles a multitude of tasks for the undefeated Cardinals and is really strong at finishing around the rim. He has averaged 13 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 54% from the field, highlighted by a 33-point performance against Siloam Springs in mid-December.

Landren Blocker | Little Rock Christian | 6-4 | Guard

Coming from a line of excellent basketball pedigree, Blocker showed out in his sophomore season averaging 14.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3 assists per game in conference play. That production has earned him offers from the likes of Creighton, Missouri, Ole Miss, TCU, and many others. Blocker has averaged 15. Points, 7.5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals per game this year.

Annor Boateng | Central | 6-5 | Guard

The top-ranked player in Arkansas for the 2023 class - and 28th overall - per the 247 Sports composite rankings stars for a Tigers squad not short on depth. He will be able to pick his future with offers nationwide including Auburn, Arkansas, Illinois, UCLA, and many others. Boateng has averaged 16.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game this year.

Tre Brooks | Jacksonville | 6-5 | Wing

After showing flashes of his potential a season ago, Brooks has stepped into a primary role for the Titans averaging 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists per game this year. Brooks had a season high 32 against eStem as well as 20 against Maumelle.

Kade Caldwell | Murfreesboro | 6-4 | Guard

Caldwell has been producing for the varsity Rattlers since his freshman season and can score at will. He eclipsed 1,000 career points in early January and had one of his most recent huge performances in a victory over Spring Hill scoring 40 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. On the season, Caldwell has averaged 27.5 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game.

Jayce Couch | Corning | 6-2 | Guard

One of the Top 5 students academically in his class maintaining a 3.9 GPA, Couch is still somewhat of an overlooked prospect in the far northeast corner of the state. He was injured to start the year, but has since averaged 17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals per game. Some honors from this season include being named to the Williams Baptist University all-tournament team, First National Bank Battle of the Border all-tournament team, and December’s Farm Bureau Player of the Month.

Courtney Crutchfield | Pine Bluff | 6-3 | Guard

All signs are pointing to Crutchfield’s future being in football (offers include Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma among others), but he has made plenty of noise on the hardwood as well after helping the Zebras to the Final Four last season. Crutchfield shines on the biggest stages, as evidenced by his performances in meaningful 5A-South contests against Lake Hamilton (24 points) and White Hall (32 points).

Dee Culberson | Central | 6-0 | Guard

Culberson shined as a sophomore as an effective guard who boasted a two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio and is known for crashing the boards with aggression. He is a primary part of the Tigers’ deep rotation and has averaged 7 points, 4.2 redounds, 3.9 assists, along with 1.2 steals per game while shooting 45.3% from the field. Culberson has been offered by UAPB.

Tristan Cunningham | Riverview | 6-2 | Guard

An effective long-range shooter, Cunningham can also score on multiple levels and is a primary piece of the young Raiders’ squad. He has averaged 15 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds this season. He displayed one of his stronger performances in early January in a win over Rose but putting up 26 points, 20 of those in the second half.

Tucker Cunningham | Riverview | 6-1 | Guard

Alongside his cousin, Tristan, Cunningham has played a major part in Riverview’s success this year in the rugged 3A-6 conference. He had averaged 12 points and 4 rebounds out of the backcourt. Cunningham has also proven his ability to set up his teammates for quality shots averaging five assists per contest.

James Deloach | Sylvan Hills | 6-5 | Forward

Deloach has battled the injury bug at parts of this year after averaging 9.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game as a sophomore. However, when he has been healthy his presence has been felt and he is always a threat to put an opponent on a poster. He was named to December's Coke Classic all-tournament team following one of his best performances of the year (20 points, 14 rebounds).

Braiden Dewey | Mountain Home | 6-5 | Guard

Dewey handles his business in the classroom (4.1 GPA) as well as on the hardwood for the Bombers averaging 15.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while shooting 51.6% from the field. In 5A-West play, Dewey has increased those numbers to 19.8 points and 8.8 rebounds while connecting on 51% of shots from the field and 50% from long range.

Miles Dickenson | Conway Christian | 6-5 | Forward

A true workhorse down low for the Eagles, Dickenson had put together a productive junior season through mid-January averaging just shy of a double-double (10.2 points, 9.8 rebounds).

Jaylon Ento | Mills | 6-3 | Guard

Ento excels both on the football field, as well as in the backcourt for the Comets averaging nearly a double-double this season with 17 points and 8 rebounds per game. Ento had a recent 18 point, 16 rebound performance in a victory over Stuttgart.

My’Kel Fields | Smackover | 6-2 | Guard

Fields grew four inches over the summer and the best is in front of him, though he has been highly successful thus far for the Buckaroos averaging 16.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.6 steals per game and also averages a 3.5 GPA.

Ornette Gaines | Fayetteville | 6-5 | Guard

Gaines stepped up as a sophomore earning all-state and has continued to develop into a consistent back court player and Central Arkansas has taken notice as they have offered. He has averaged 13 points and 5 rebounds per contest this season, one of his top performances being against Osceola in December’s Barry Pruitt Classic when he scored 28 points and pulled down 9 rebounds.

Caden Griffin | Cedar Ridge | 6-2 | Guard

Griffin has been a solid addition to the Timberwolves since coming over from Melbourne where he averaged 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists per game as a sophomore. Despite missing six games due to injury this year, Griffin has mirrored that consistency averaging 18 points and 6 rebounds through late January. He earned Player of the Game honors in December’s Bad Boy Ronnie Brogdon Invitational and has a Division I offer from DePaul.

Robert Griffin | North Little Rock | 6-7 | Guard

North Little Rock lost two McDonald’s All-Americans and needed multiple guys to step up this year. Griffin has done that and showed in the scrimmage game against Bentonville what he could bring to the table pulling down 16 rebounds and blocking 11 shots. Since then, Griffin has averaged 10 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game.

Makale Guy | LISA Academy North | 6-5 | Guard

Guy had a career night on January 18 in a victory over Harding Academy scoring 22 points and pulled down an incredible 20 rebounds. He has eclipsed a double-double in multiple contests this season and overall has averaged 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals per game while shooting 46% from the field.

Jadyn Haney | Fayetteville | 6-1 | Guard

Many of the things Haney accomplishes does not show up on the stat sheet, but the one that sticks out is his average of six assists per game on the year, setting his teammates up for the best shots. He can certainly score when needed, but is a true floor general in directing traffic

Mitchell Hicks | Brinkley | 6-1 | Guard

Hicks serves as the Tigers’ quarterback in the 8-Man ranks, but on the hardwood is one of Brinkley’s premier players in the backcourt. He averaged 16 points per game a year ago and is putting up those numbers yet again. Hicks will likely surpass 1,000 career points before this season concludes.

Richard High | Osceola | 6-4 | Guard

High was tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best player as a sophomore the majority of the time and helped lead the Seminoles to a 3A state title. While he has shown his worth on defense, he is also an effective scorer putting up 16.3 points per game along with 4 rebounds and 3 assists per contest.

Ethan Hopkins | White County Central | 6-3 | Guard

One of the small-school standouts, Hopkins has shined averaging 16.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while connecting on 48% of his two-point field goal attempts. Hopkins was selected to this year’s NEA Tournament all-tournament team.

Collin Johnson | Mountain View | 6-0 | Guard

Johnson leads the Yellowjackets in scoring and rebounding on a mostly senior-laden squad averaging 14.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, along with an impressive 90% free throw percentage. He also averages 2.8 assists and 2.3 steals per contest.

Luke Kirk | Manila | 6-1 | Guard

Kirk led the Lions in steals and deflections as a sophomore while also averaging 9.7 points per game. He has picked up the pace from the first half of the season since Christmas, averaging 10.7 points, 4.4 assists, and 2.2 steals per contest while connecting on 46% of his shots from long range.

Josh Lawrence | Vilonia | 6-0 | Guard

The Eagles have an underrated backcourt that you may have not heard much about and Lawrence pairs nicely with all-state selection Jones White. Lawrence has averaged 11.3 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 52% from the field. He has received interest from multiple Division II schools.

Cole Linville | Rural Special | 6-1 | Guard

An overlooked floor general from the Class 1A ranks, Linvville came on the scene as a sophomore and has continued to display consistency in his 16.3 points and 6.7 rebounds. He also does a great job at setting his teammates up for quality shots as evidenced by his six assists per contest.

Sam Maddox | CAC | 6-1 | Guard

Maddox excels academically (4.1 GPA) and has come on as one of the state’s most effective long range shooters for the red hot Mustangs. As of January 23, Maddox had already knocked down over 70 three-pointers on the season while averaging 14.3 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. In multiple contests this season Maddox has hit a handful, or more, threes in a single game.

Justin May | eStem | 6-0 | Guard

May opened plenty of eyes when he had multiple high-scoring games as a sophomore and has continued making progress as a three-level scorer for the Mets. Under new head coach Monty Patel, May has individually excelled averaging 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals per game. As a long range shooter, he averages two three-pointers per contest.

Caden Miller | Bentonville | 6-9 | Forward

Miller helped the Tigers to the 6A state finals as a sophomore while averaging a double-double (10.1 points, 10.2 rebounds) as well as a solid 3.1 blocks per game. He is once again averaging a double-double this season - 10.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per contest - and blocking 3.1 shots. Miller has Division I offers from Central Arkansas, DePaul, Mississippi State, Missouri, and Oregon State.

JaCorey Mosley | Morrilton | 6-3 | Forward

Mosley averaged 15 points and 7 rebounds as freshman Razorback Joseph Pinion’s right-hand man and his continued development has been evident as he has averaged 18.3 points and 5.7 rebounds while connecting on 56% of his shots from the field through late January.

Tyler Parham | Brookland | 6-4 | Guard

With the exception of northeast Arkansas, Brookland has been a bit of a sleeper in Class 4A and Parham has been one of their primary reasons as one of Region 3’s best backcourt performers. He has averaged 13.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2 assists per game for the Bearcats this year.

Caden Ponder | Bergman | 6-4 | Forward

After starting as a sophomore averaging double-digit points, Ponder battled a high ankle sprain for almost a month earlier in the year that took him a while to get back in the groove. Despite the adversity, Ponder has averaged 10 points and 6 rebounds per contest for the 3A first-place Panthers.

Gavin Raath | Joe T. Robinson | 6-3 | Guard

Raath proved to be one of the state’s best at the free throw line (95%) as a sophomore while averaging 12 points per game and he also averages 12 points per contest this year on a senior-heavy Senators squad. It did not take long for Raath to impress this season, putting up 26 points in an early-season loss to Central, one of the state’s overall best teams. He owns an offer from South Arkansas Community College.

Cooper Rabjohn | Rector | 5-11 | Guard

If eclipsing 1,000 career points as a sophomore, along with already being one of the top scorers in school history, does not prove Rabjohn as one of the premier shooters in Arkansas then nothing else likely will. He has also become a “lockdown defender” per Rector head coach Matt Mills. Rajohn is averaging 20.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game this year.

Tommy Reddick | Dumas | 6-2 | Guard

Reddick is the Bobcat’s second-leading scorer right behind his older brother, Mike, averaging 15 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals per game. He thrives on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor, and posted a double-double (18 points, 11 rebounds) in a victory over Drew Central in early January.

Octavious Rhodes | Hot Springs | 6-5 | Forward

Rhodes’ stock has began to rise on the football field, but his talents also translate over onto the court where he helped lead the Torjans to the 5A state tournament last season. He leads the team in scoring with 16 points per game, along with 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block per contest.

Ty Robinson | Lake Hamilton | 6-2 | Guard

Robinson put Arkansas on notice during the state tournament last year after helping the Wolves to the 5A state semifinals. He has been flat out dominant this season averaging 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals per game while also maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Robinson recently eclipsed 1,000 career points and currently has offers from Ouachita Baptist and Southern Arkansas, but is also receiving interest from Central Arkansas, Elon, and Loyola Chicago.

Melvin Shaw | Forrest City | 6-0 | Guard

Shaw has racked up plenty of accolades this year starting with Player of the Game honors in the NEA Tournament as well making the all-tournament team in the Rumble on the Ridge. He has already eclipsed 1,000 career points and averages 14 points, 6 rebounds, along with three steals per contest.

Taylor Smith | Nettleton | 6-4 | Guard

Smith is a guard who may not be known to many outside of Northeast Arkansas, but very well should be. He can pull up or drive to the basket, and has averaged 21.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.4 steals, along with 1.4 blocks per game for the Raiders.

Deshun Spence | Vilonia | 6-6 | Forward

A highlight play waiting to happen every time he touches the floor, Spence has displayed his ability to jump out of the gym on multiple occasions. He has averaged 13 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while shooting 47% from the field. Spence has offers from Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Northwestern State.

Ethan Stafford | Glen Rose | 6-2 | Guard

Stafford had a 37-point performance in the Beavers’ upset victory of Jessieville on January 17, and he has scored 30+ in multiple games this year. For the season, Stafford is averaging 23 points and 7 rebounds per contest while shooting 50% from the field.

Micah Story | Bald Knob | 6-3 | Guard

The aggressive guard is a threat to not only put up a lot of points on a nightly basis, but also rack up a double-double as a solid rebounder. Story has averaged 16.2 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.3 steals for the Bulldogs. In one of his most recent top performances, Story had 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in a victory over Harding Academy.

Layne Taylor | Farmington | 5-11 | Guard

Arguably the state’s top shooter, it seems like Taylor has been giving opposing teams fits forever and he still has another year to go. He was tabbed the SBLive Arkansas Sophomore of the Year in 2022 after scoring 26 points per game (53% from the field) and is on a tear yet again averaging 26 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 2.1 steals per contest while connecting on 54% of his shots from the field.

Dallas Thomas | Parkview | 6-8 | Wing

Thomas is the second-best player in Arkansas, and 57th nationally, per 247 Sports and has battled some injuries this season after averaging 12.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. When healthy and on the floor, Thomas is a threat to score from anywhere. His offers include Arkansas, Auburn, Houston, Illinois, Oklahoma State, TCU, and Texas A&M among others.

CJ Washington | Central | 6-7 | Forward

Washington can score when the opportunity presents itself, but when there is a rebound in his sight it is essentially a given that he is going to snag it. He recorded his first double-double of the season in a win over White Hall and pulled down a career-high 11 boards in a victory over Christian Brothers (Tenn.) in late December.

Jeremiah “Beans” Wells | Blytheville | 6-2 | Guard

Wells has thrived in a much larger role on a senior-heavy squad after contributing eight points per game as a sophomore for the 4A state runner-up Chickasaws. He has increased his point total to 13 per game, along with 5 rebounds per contest, while shooting 38% from long range.

Jameel Wesley | Little Rock Christian | 6-2 | Guard

Wesley currently has a Division I offer from Southeast Missouri State and many others inquiring. He has increased his point total from six points as a sophomore to 13 per game this season, along with four rebounds and four assists per contest.

Joseph Whitfield | Southwest Christian Academy | 6-1 | Guard

Whitfield recently helped the Lions win the Mingo Valley Invitational in Tulsa (Okla.) and has averaged 16 points, 4 assists and 2 steals per game so far. Whitfield had a stretch in early December when he averaged 26 points per contest.

Zane Widener | Clinton | 6-2 | Guard

Widener also stars for the Yellowjackets on the football field and now that he is fully in basketball mode, he has thrived averaging 15 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals per game while connecting on 55% of his shot attempts from the field. As of late January, Widener has also compiled two double-double contests.

Davion Williams | Marianna Lee | 5-11 | Guard

Though he may not light up the stat sheet every night, many of the underclassmen have done that with help from Williams who puts them in great positions as the Trojans’ floor general. He is a three-level scorer and has averaged nine points per game along with 6 assists.

Kendall Williams | Hot Springs | 6-4 | Wing

Williams is an all-state defensive end for the football team and has received college offers on the gridiron, but has shined for the hardwood Trojans as well. Through late June, Williams has shot 60% from the field while averaging 12 points and 5 rebounds per contest.

Ja’Kory Withers | North Little Rock | 6-1 | Guard

Withers comes from a talented basketball background and has come on strong for the Charging Wildcats averaging 14.2 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. He was named the Most Valuable Player of November’s Rumble on the Ridge Tournament.

BJ Woodruff | Morrilton | 6-0 | Guard

Woodruff has come on strong in the Devil Dogs’ backcourt shooting a solid 63% from two-point range and 55% overall from the field while averaging 11.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per contest.