5A 2025 Bigs: Talented Yet Underrated

In high school basketball, a team with a really good big is usually destined for greatness. In the 5A classification of Arkansas high school girls basketball, the depth of the post group is deep, but these few players are why their teams are expected to be excellent in 2024/25.    For schools just now learning about [player_tooltip player_id='875498' first='Anna' last='McCarn'], she is already off the board after committing to Division I Lindenwood University in June. However, Lindenwood was one of the few D1 schools that offered McCarn after she picked up a plethora of D2 offers. It is difficult to see why more top schools did not send an offer her way with her incredible two-way skillset.   Offensively, McCarn is very different than a lot of other centers equivalent to her size. She of course plays with her back to the basket and scores however she wants, but she cuts extremely well for a big. You would think that at 6'4", defenders will not lose her if she starts moving without the basketball, but she somehow finds ways to shake them off to score uncontested layups.   On defense, McCarn uses her length extremely well to block shots. She is also patient and has impeccable timing on her blocks. As far as rebounding is concerned, the opposition can not do anything to keep her off the boards. McCarn uses her frame well to grab rebounds, but she is very fundamental in that department, too. McCarn boxes out well and makes sure she grabs every board with both hands.   [player_tooltip player_id='875498' first='Anna' last='McCarn'] is one of the best centers in the state of Arkansas, but she still deserves more respect nationally. If she has a strong senior season like I think she will, expect that respect to come pouring in.     Hannah Pitts can play either the 4 or the 5 spots on the floor. Lake Hamilton has used her at both positions. Pitts has her role with Lake Hamilton and she does it well.   Pitts is best when playing along the perimeter as a spot-up shooter. She has a nice form and can knock it down from any spot along the 3-point line.   On defense, Pitts is solid at reading passes and taking them away for her team. If there is a lazy pass in her area, she is recording a steal and finding a guard to push it ahead. She is also great at breaking up entry passes into the post.   Hannah Pitts is a solid 3&D big. Though she has a fairly small role with Lake Hamilton now, with a higher usage percentage, do not be surprised if she becomes a formidable weapon to gameplan against in the 5A South.     Renee Nduku is a solid role player for the Lady Trojans. Her offensive game is not very expansive, but as a defender, she makes plays all over the place. The Lady Trojans struggled in 2023/24, but if they want to improve this coming season, Nduku must take a step up for her team.   Nduku is certainly undersized for a big, but she still makes plays when her team needs her. Creating offense was a struggle for the entire team last season, but Nduku gave her teammates numerous opportunities to create for themselves by causing turnovers. Nduku was especially great at stealing the ball, and would pick the opposing ball handler's pocket or deflect a pass. Either way, she was creating chaos for the other team. Nduku can also block shots well. She has shown that she is able to provide help-side defense. She can cut off the driving lane for the opposition or come from behind and swat the shot away.   Renee Nduku's role is small for this Hot Springs team, but her defense is admirable in the 5A South. With more of a role in 2024/25, expect her game to grow.     [player_tooltip player_id='876049' first='Myiah' last='Butler'] is an absolute force down low! Whether it is on offense or defense, Butler is nearly unstoppable and very dynamic. Butler is ranked high on our site, but she still lacks the popularity and recognition she deserves.   Butler is the definition of a shot blocker, but she is not like your typical shot blocker. Most bigs will leap at every shot attempt to swat a shot into the rafters. But for Butler, she is patient and waits with her arms straight up in the air. She will establish her position and with her tall standing reach, she blocks a lot of shots simply by standing straight up. These blocks are also mean, making each rejection more and more demoralizing for the other team.   Butler is also a fantastic rebounder. She crashes the glass well on both ends and uses her length to box out the opposition.   On offense, Butler's game is mainly confined to the painted area, but she has shown that she can move without the ball. Greene County Tech has run designed plays to get Butler open in the paint by having her run around screens at the free throw line. Butler is a great finisher with a soft touch around the rim, resulting in a lot of assists for her squad.   Greene County Tech know they have a weapon in [player_tooltip player_id='876049' first='Myiah' last='Butler'], and pretty soon, so will the entire state.     Another Lady Trojan makes her way on to this list. Though Hot Springs HS struggled last season, they have had a few bright spots. One of them being in the form of Heaven Jacobs. Her role may have been small in 2023/24, but if she improves heading into her senior season, Hot Springs will be better off because of it.   Jacobs has solid two-way abilities. Most notably on offense, Jacobs has the ability to knock down the triple, showing the potential for being a stretch 5. Jacobs was not used much with her back to the basket, but if the Lady Trojans use her in post-up scenarios, expect her to find success down low.   Defensively, Jacobs takes up a lot of space, especially in the paint. Players find it difficult to shoot over Jacobs in the post, and she is always in a great position to grab their misses.   Heaven Jacobs needs a role increase with the Lady Trojans. Once that occurs, expect more attention to fall upon Hot Springs High School and Jacobs.     Greene County Tech is loaded with talent, which includes a solid frontcourt, headlined by [player_tooltip player_id='876049' first='Myiah' last='Butler'] as mentioned previously. But every great starting center needs a solid backup, and Greene County Tech has that in Miranda Smith.   Miranda Smith has a very small role, but every team needs a reliable role-playing big like Smith. She is a consistent finisher, shooting 50% from the field as a sophomore and 61% as a junior. Smith is also a low-turnover player with solid defensive abilities.   Smith is great in help defense. She is not necessarily a threat to block a lot of shots, but she can freeze the offense and cause them to have issues in their execution. Smith is also really good at not picking up too many fouls. A lot of times, bigs have difficulties in committing too many fouls, but Smith continues to be the reliable veteran center her team needs her to be. In addition to this, Smith rebounds the ball very well on both offense and defense.   Miranda Smith is a trustworthy role-playing center that every team would love to have on their roster. She makes few mistakes, is efficient, rebounds well, and defends well, showcasing she is the total package. Keep an eye out for Greene County Tech's frontcourt, it is deep.    The 5A classification has both solid starting and backup bigs. Each player has their role and they execute to near perfection for their teams. I will now be on to the 4A classification which also offers so many talented players. Be on the lookout for my next article analyzing potential breakout 4A guards in the 2025 graduating class.

In high school basketball, a team with a really good big is usually destined for greatness. In the 5A classification of Arkansas high school girls basketball, the depth of the post group is deep, but these few players are why their teams are expected to be excellent in 2024/25.