Arkansas high school girls basketball Class 5A preview

Eight teams to watch in Class 5A Arkansas prep girls basketball

With a new season tipped off and going strong, SBLive is highlighting Arkansas high school basketball. Today, we feature eight teams to watch from the girls ranks of Class 5A. Over the coming weeks there will be features for each classification as well as player position lists. 

Head over to the website for complete coverage and standings throughout the season. You can also listen to our weekly podcast, Arkansas Prep X-Tra, for even more in-depth coverage.

Greenwood guard Anna Trusty (Photo by Tommy Land)

GREENWOOD BULLDOGS 

Head Coach: Clay Reeves

Conference: 5A-West

2022-23 Finish: 31-2, 5A state champions

Notable Departures

Mady Cartwright | University of Tulsa (Okla.) signee, all-conference, all-state, 2x 5A state tournament Most Valuable Player

Adriana Rusin | all-conference, all-state

Ella Williams

Players To Watch

G Anna Trusty 6-1 SR

G Carley Sexton 5-6 SR

G Brooklyn Woolsey 5-6 SR

G Jenna Honkala 5-6 JR

G Izzy Smith 5-5 JR

G Kylah Pearcy 5-9 SO

Outlook

The Lady Bulldogs are the current standard for Class 5A girls basketball after winning their seventh state title in program history last spring, all of which were under future Hall of Famer Clay Reeves, who now has 10 rings over his prestigious career. The torch from two-time 5A state tournament MVP Cartwright, along with Rusin, has been passed to the stellar senior trio of Trusty, Sexton and Woolsey who hope to lead another loaded Greenwood squad to a third consecutive state championship and fourth in the past five years.

Coach Said

"We have lots of experience returning. Players will have to continue to do what they did and step up and meet the challenge of excelling in additional roles. This team will have to develop an identity, chemistry and understanding of what each player will need to do to help this team be best it can be."

- Clay Reeves

LITTLE ROCK CHRISTIAN WARRIORS

Head Coach: Ronald Rogers 

Conference: 5A-Central

2022-23 Finish: 21-9, 5A state first round

Notable Departures

Kate Denton | Evangel (Mo.) University signee, all-conference 

Mia Smith | Mid-America Christian University signee, all-conference, all-state

Players To Watch

G Eva Stover 5-6 SR

G Ella Watson 5-8 SR 

G/F Whitley Rogers 5-11 SO | all-conference, all-state

G A.J. Jackson 5-7 JR

F JB McNay 5-10 JR

F Laura Morris 5-9 FR

G Adalyn Calva 5-5 FR

Outlook

Despite being an inexperienced squad and coming off of a first round state tournament loss, the goals remain the same for the Lady Warriors. They will rely on talented youth, headlined by Whitley Rogers, who finished her freshman season averaging 17 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 assists per game, while Jackson returns in the backcourt and McNay has already been a force in the young season currently averaging a double-double. Stover is the lone senior leader on the floor for now while Watson continues to recover from ACL surgery with hopes off being back by February. 

Coach Said

"We are a young team with just two seniors and we had to move up two freshmen, but we have to just play games and keep getting better. Class 5A is wide open – Greenwood is still at the top, you have Vilonia up there, but there is a host of teams when you think about the East, what I like to call the SEC, plus in the West and South."

- Ronald Rogers 

MOUNTAIN HOME BOMBERS 

Head Coach: Dell Leonard 

Conference: 5A-West

2022-23 Finish: 16-15, 5A state first round

Notable Departures

Kamryn Mullin

Amelia Rucker | all-conference 

Lauren Wehmeyer | all-conference 

Players To Watch

G Parker Huskey 5-7 SR | all-conference

G Laykin Moore 5-11 JR | all-conference, all-state tournament 

P Anna McCarn 6-4 JR

G Jayla Yonkers 5-10 SO 

Outlook

There were plenty of growing pains to fight through in 2022-23 with multiple sophomores who just needed game experience, mixed with three tenured seniors. Already this season, the Lady Bombers have been challenged with a very tough schedule that has included defending 4A state champion Farmington, Kickapoo (Mo.), Searcy and Cabot. Huskey, a three-year starter, and Moore (college offers including Harding University, Emporia (Kan.) State, Pittsburg (Kan.) State, and Southern Miss) headline the top returnees, along with McCarn (offer from Ouachita Baptist) in the paint, plus Yonkers, are all four to keep an eye on. 

Coach Said

"The team, school, and community is very excited about this group of girls. They have a lot of passion and love for the game, and they spend a lot of time working on their own outside of team practices. The team goal is to get better every day, get in the state playoffs and see what happens."

- Dell Leonard 

Marion guard Ny'asia Jackson (Photo by Tommy Land)

MARION PATRIOTS 

Head Coach: Shunda Johnson

Conference: 5A-East

2022-23 Finish: 14-17, 5A state semifinalist 

Notable Departures

Alyse Holliman | Connors State (Okla.) College signee, all-conference

Aaliyah Taylor | Connors State (Okla.) College signee, all-conference

Kiera Neal | Three Rivers (Mo.) College signee, all-conference, all-state 

Players To Watch

G Ny'Asia Jackson 5-1 SR | all-conference, all-state 

G Z'Kya Cheers 5-8 JR

G Ayanna Hayes 5-7 JR

F Joniya Lewis 5-10 SR

G Jalee Meeks 5-4 JR

F Mariyah Rucks 5-10 SO

G/F Jada Cheers 5-9 SO

G Madison Glaspie 5-7 SO

G Jordyn Wilkerson 5-7 SO

Outlook

One of the more impressive turnaround stories of last season, the Lady Patriots were 3-12 in mid-January and got hot to win 11 of their final 14 games. While the overtime loss to Vilonia may have stung harder than the previous two semifinals finishes in consecutive seasons, they feel they can reach that point again and even take the next step. It all starts with senior floor general, Jackson, who finished last season averaging 11 points per game while also leading the team in assists and steals. Marion will need a collective effort to replace Holliman, Neal and Taylor, but feel the combination of depth between the sophomore and junior classes can achieve that task. 

Coach Said

"We will benefit from playing a tough non-conference schedule with our young team. Doing so has prepared us tremendously for our conference and state tournament play."

- Shunda Johnson 

NETTLETON RAIDERS 

Head Coach: Kevin Frisbee

Conference: 5A-East

2022-23 Finish: 21-7, 5A state first round

Notable Departures

Akyria James | Cottey College (Mo.) signee, all-conference, all-state

Kyla Williams | all-state tournament 

Players To Watch

F Mckenzie Williams 5-11 SR | all-conference, all-state 

P Donna Douglas 6-0 SR | all-conference 

G Carmen McShan 5-4 SR 

G Aubrey Butler 5-6 SR

G Summer Morgan 5-7 FR

Outlook

The Kevin Frisbee era is off to a rocking start with early season victories that include defending 1A state champion Mammoth Spring, Class 6A Bryant, Searcy, plus heavy 5A contender and defending state runner-up Vilonia in the Vilonia Tournament finals. The Lady Raiders did suffer a big loss in that Vilonia win, though, as Shakira Brown – a transfer from Paragould – tore her ACL and unfortunately will miss the remainder of her senior season. Though Brown's presence will be heavily missed, lots of senior experience is back led by Williams and Douglas, while Morgan earned her way onto the varsity squad as a freshman. 

Coach Said

"We’ve had a strong offseason spending a lot of time focusing on improving our strength with inside scoring and consistency with outside scoring. Replacing Akyria James at the point guard position will be a tough task, but Carmen McShan is looking to do that coming off of season-ending injury. We have an experienced group returning, and they have lofty goals for their team. We will rely on senior leadership to get us where we hope to be this postseason." 

- Kevin Frisbee 

SEARCY LIONS 

Head Coach: Kim Sitzmann

Conference: 5A-East

2022-23 Finish: 15-13

Notable Departures

None.

Players To Watch

G Zaniyah "Chip" Johnson 5-6 SO | all-conference, all-state

G Sara McCain 6-0 SR | all-conference 

F Eva Roberts 6-0 SR

P London Flowers 5-11 JR

G Cadence Pettis 5-7 JR

Outlook

They were one of the first two teams out of the state tournament last season, but have their sight set on it this time around, paired with a hopeful deep run, with nearly everyone back from a year ago. The 5A-East will again be a gauntlet, but the Lady Lions are certainly one of the reasons for that, led by superstar sophomore guard Johnson, who averaged 16.1 points, 4.2 assists, 3.3 steals and 4.1 rebounds per game as a freshman. Senior leaders McCain (10.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG) – a college prospect – and Roberts provide great length, while Pettis brings lockdown defense to the backcourt and Flowers adds additional size in the paint. 

Coach Said

"We only graduated one senior from last season. Having the majority of the girls that played last season back and with a year of experience, we are that much stronger. We have several threats on offense, making us harder to guard. We also have size which makes us harder to guard as well. Defensively, we are a force! We work together well and create turnovers."

- Kim Sitzmann

Vilonia guard Sidni Middleton (Photo by Tommy Land)

VILONIA EAGLES 

Head Coach: Jeremy Simon

Conference: 5A-Central

2022-23 Finish: 29-5, 5A state runner-up

Notable Departures

Bailey Sims | all-conference, all-state, all-state tournament

Players To Watch

G Lexy Heston 5-9 SR | all-conference 

G Sidni Middleton 5-10 JR | all-conference, all-state, all-state tournament

G Abby Wertz 5-8 JR

G Maddie Mannion 5-11 SO | all-conference 

G Brianna Burnham 5-8 FR

F/P Brooklyn Burnham 5-8 FR

P Kim Henry 5-10 FR

Outlook

A gritty, but beaten up, Lady Eagles squad had an impressive run throughout the 2022-23 season, winning 12 of their final 13 games before running into the Greenwood buzzsaw in the finals. Sims is a key loss down low, but Coach Simon is confident that Henry, who was moved up to varsity a week before the season, can fill that role, along with her classmate Brooklyn Burnham. Burnham's twin, Briana, also expects to contribute in the backcourt where Middleton and Mannion return as two of the state's overall top players in their respective classes, along with defensive standout and three-year starter Heston, who Simon calls the "leader of the team."

Coach Said

"Our team is not very big, but they run the floor well and we are going to use our speed in an up-tempo offense. We have a good mix of experienced players and newcomers, so it may take us a while to gel together but this group plays hard and are fun to coach."

- Jeremy Simon

WEST MEMPHIS BLUE DEVILS

Head Coach: Erica Leak

Conference: 5A-East

2022-23 Finish: 28-4, 5A state semifinalist 

Notable Departures

Clemisha Prackett | Alabama A&M signee, all-conference, all-state

Janiyah Tucker | all-conference, all-state, all-state tournament

Kayla Hudson | ASU-Mid South signee, all-conference

Players To Watch

G Alayiah Price 5-11 JR | all-conference 

G Aniya Price 5-11 SR | all-conference 

F Tyra Taylor 5-11 JR | all-conference

G Daniah Horne 5-6 SR

F Laila Taylor 5-11 SO 

G Presley McPherson 5-6 SO 

Outlook

Some may not be giving them their due credit as of now, but the Lady Blue Devils are again out to prove they are one of the top contenders in 5A following a semifinal finish where they fell to eventual state champion Greenwood. Prackett and Tucker are major losses in both the front and backcourt, but the production did not stop with them. The Price sisters have logged a lot of minutes as Alayiah will run the point, Aniya is in most cases the shooting guard and Tyra Taylor has been a force at forward for the past couple of years.  

Coach Said

"Some are counting us out without Clemisha and Janiyah, but I have a really good group this year. They work hard and play together and everybody knows their role. We really tried to fine-tune that the first couple of games, but we are continuing to get there. Collectively, they have been very fun to watch and coach. With the chemistry we have, I really believe we can make a run."

- Erica Leak 

OTHERS TO WATCH: Parkview, Russellville, Sheridan  

--Kyle Sutherland | @k_sutherlandAR