Diaper Dandies from the Matriarch Classic

The Matriarch Classic featured some really good teams from the state of Arkansas as well as Mississippi. There were some really competitive games as teams battled it out to win the championship. During those games, there was some really good individual play. This article will bring some light to some players from the 2026 and 2027 classes that played in either the 9th-grade division or the high school division (10th-12th grade). These Diaper Dandies held their own and had a strong showing over the course of the weekend. <strong>Hadlie Goodson | Combo Guard | Woodz Elite/Buffalo Island Central High School | 2026</strong> Hadlie is only an 8th grader and hasn't played one minute of high school ball but you couldn't tell it. She has a calmness about her game that allows her to be successful. She's not afraid of the big moments as there were times when she made plays down the stretch for her team. She has a quick crossover that allows her to shift her defender to create space to get to the rim. Hadlie can also shoot the three-ball, finish in a variety of ways with good footwork, and is a solid on-ball defender. <strong>Maddie Mannion | Wing | Central AR Warriors/AR Shockers/Vilonia High School | 2026</strong> I was very interested in seeing Maddie play during this event. I've seen highlights and heard good things about her game, but this was the first time I got to lay my eyes on her. Maddie is a ballplayer that can play multiple positions. If you need her to run the point she can do that. If you need her on the wing she can do that. You want her operating out of the high post or the low block she could do that too. She has a skill set that allows her to attack off the dribble, knock down shots, get to the rim, finish in traffic and in transition, and she rebounds. <strong>Maggie Tyrone | Wing | AR Shockers/Mt. View Middle School | 2027</strong> I was very impressed with Maggie's game while I watched her play. I was even more surprised to learn that she was just in 7th grade. She has good size and long arms. This makes her an intriguing prospect because she has a solid foundation of skills and when you add size and length you have a problem (if you're the opposition). There's only one way for Maggie to go and that's up. Her length gives her the potential to be a lockdown defender on the perimeter and interior. She handles the ball well enough to get to the rim, she can attack off the catch, get others involved, and rebounds the ball. <strong>Ashlyn Cossey | Forward | AR Shockers/Concord High School | 2026</strong> Ashlyn is a hybrid between a post player and wing player. She plays a lot on the perimeter, but can also operate out of the high post and is effective on the low block. She has the ability to secure the defensive rebound and then push it in transition for the finish at the rim or knock down the mid-range pull-up jumper. When Ashlyn has the ball you have to stay close because she can also shoot the three-ball off the dribble. Defensively, she can provide help and deny the offense with her shot-blocking ability. <strong>Ke'Asia Pearson | Forward | AR Lady Blaze/Nevada County | 2026</strong> When you compete against high school level players you have to bring something to the table in order to be successful. Some are natural scorers others like Ke'Asia, do the things that may go unnoticed, but is needed for every team to have a chance to win. Ke'Asia is a good athlete that's a solid defender. She held it down on the low block but also had the foot speed to switch on-ball screens and defend the opposing team's perimeter player. She also blocked shots, rebounded well, and could attack off the dribble from the high post area. <strong>Brea Biley | Forward | AR Lady Blaze/Gurdon | 2026</strong> Brea is an athletic forward with good length. Her length gives her the potential to be able to defend multiple positions. Her athletic ability isn't just on display on the defensive end of the floor. It's also shown in transition. She really gets out in transition and finishes at the rim. Brea is a threat from the high post area with her ability to put the ball on the floor and attack the rim. She can also finish vs contact, make the pull-up jumper, and her soft touch around the basket allows her to finish many putbacks around the rim. <strong>Shakayla McCarrell | Post/Forward | South AR Lady Hoopsters/Dumas | 2026</strong> Shakayla is a player that is going to play hard from the opening tip to the final buzzer. You have to keep a body on her when the shot goes up because she is going after the rebound. Her athleticism and quick jumping ability allow her to get in position to grab an offensive rebound. Her soft touch allows her to finish around the rim in traffic. A lot of players that are athletes tend to play a little out of control, but Shakayla plays with a good pace. She doesn't force anything and takes what the defense gives her. &nbsp;