2A Senior Guards who will put their names on the map this season

The 2A classification features 66 small schools in the state of Arkansas. I mentioned this when first discussing 3A schools, but these schools may be small, but they are backed by the small towns they represent, and their community supports their team, win or loss. These 2A schools are often the pride and joy of these small towns, and these senior guards are expected to lead their squads to victory this season.    FYI: [player_tooltip player_id='465514' first='Jakyra' last='Jackson'] is no longer at Central West Helena High School, she is now at Barton High School.   [player_tooltip player_id='465514' first='Jakyra' last='Jackson'] is a very confident basketball player who has no issue being the number one option on offense. Jackson does move from a 3A-8 squad to the 2A-6, but this should be a great opportunity for Jackson to show off her skills.   Jackson was able to show off her solid perimeter abilities at Central West Helena, and it should be no different at Barton. Jackson has a fluid form from beyond the arch, and if the defense gives her too much space, she has no problem cashing in on those open shots. Jackson can hits these shots off the catch or off the dribble.   Jackson can control the pace of the game well. She has no issue turning up the tempo and driving inside for some tough contested layups. She can also drive and step back for a short jumper if the defense cuts off the driving lane. Jackson can slow the tempo down and set up the offense. Here, she is able to display her solid handles.   [player_tooltip player_id='465514' first='Jakyra' last='Jackson'] has shown off some skill so far in her high school career, so look for her to have a very strong senior season in 2024/25.     Lyon College, University of the Ozarks, and East Texas Baptist University have already offered Gibson, but for colleges who have yet to do so, Gibson's senior season will be a great opportunity to slip her an envelope with an official offer.   Gibson is mostly known as a shooter for Conway Christian, but she has the potential to do so much more. As a junior, Gibson did showcase her ability to be her team's primary ball-handler who can initiate the offense. She can drive with both hands and uses the behind-the-back dribble effectively on her drives to the basket, where she can finish with both hands as well. Gibson can also hit dribble pull-ups around the free throw line and knock down long floaters. She is also not afraid to crash the defensive glass and start the fastbreak.   Of course, shooting is Gibson's specialty. She can hit a hot streak at any moment during a game and is a lethal weapon for the Lady Eagles. She is at her best off the catch-and-shoot, especially on the wings. Gibson's form is quick and she gets plenty of arch on her shot. Once her shot is off, it is usually going through the bottom of the net.   [player_tooltip player_id='885915' first='Conley' last='Gibson'] has potential to be the best player in 2A, and she may already be one of the best players in the 2A-5. Keep an eye out for Gibson and the Lady Eagles in 2024/25.     There are not a lot of players at this level who can do literally everything for their team, and when I say "everything," I mean that. Pratt has been Conway Christian's most versatile and complete player since she was an underclasswoman, and that is saying something because [player_tooltip player_id='885915' first='Conley' last='Gibson'] is on that team. According to the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA), Pratt is one of the few players in Arkansas high school girls basketball history to record a quadruple double in a game back in 2022. Since then, Pratt continues to stuff the stat sheet on a nightly basis, and sooner or later, colleges need to start paying attention to that.   Pratt is a defensive pest, an offensive weapon, and a rebound chaser. With a lot of players, it is one or the other, but Pratt is able to become all of these whenever the Lady Eagles need her. On defense, Pratt sprints after loose balls and is very active in intercepting passes. She will then take the rock back the other way for easy fastbreak buckets. Some games, it is not uncommon for Pratt to finish with more than 4 steals.   On offense, Pratt is finishing hard inside. It does not matter if the defense is in her grill, she is finding a way to finish. Pratt also has solid passing abilities, and she can find her teammates if the defense is too tight. Pratt is also a threat to pour it on from beyond the arch.   For a guard, Pratt is a scrappy rebounder. It does not matter if she is crashing the offensive or defensive glass, she is pulling down every board she sees. Pratt works very hard for these boards and is nearly unstoppable, so double-digit rebounds in a game are not out of the ordinary for her.   [player_tooltip player_id='1051634' first='Brooklyn' last='Pratt'] is one of those players that will be impossible to replace once she graduates. Not many guards can pass, shoot, finish, rebound, dribble, and defend at near elite levels, but Pratt can. If I were a college team, she is getting an offer yesterday.     England High School has a lot of talented perimeter players, especially some talented shooters in [player_tooltip player_id='465507' first='Jordan' last='Blake'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1049437' first='Madison' last='Bryant']. Blake might be the best shooter on that team (we will learn more about her in my article covering 2A 2025 forwards), but Bryant has the potential to give her a run for her money for that title.   Bryant is a lethal catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter. Corner, wing, top of the key, does not matter, Bryant is swishing her deep shots. She has a quick release, high arch, and solid follow through on her shot. These are all excellent tools to be a successful outside shooter. Another excellent tool is having teammates that just know she is open for them to make the extra pass.   Bryant is also a solid defender. England used presses throughout the 2023/24 season, and Bryant was often deflecting passes and taking the ball to the other end for easy layups.   [player_tooltip player_id='1049437' first='Madison' last='Bryant'] is a bonafide markswoman, and if England wants to make a run at the 2A state tournament, they need to draw up a lot more catch-and-shoot opportunities for her.     [player_tooltip player_id='1049439' first='Kelly' last='Middleton'] is a fantastic defender who is a nightmare for opposing ball-handlers. Middleton has the ability to lock down the opposition's best ball-handler and to create so many extra opportunities for her team on offense.   Middleton plays the passing lanes well, but picking pockets is her specialty. You cannot hold on to the ball too long or dribble it sloppily because Middleton will not hesitate to swipe it away. Her defensive prowess is frustrating for other teams. In one highlight on Middleton's Hudl account, after stealing the ball from a player on the opposing team, that player just stood there visibly defeated and let Middleton take it to the other end. That was one of the several steals she recorded in that particular game.   Once Middleton records the steal, she races to the other end to score an easy fastbreak layup. When the defense is able to recover on the fastbreak and pick her up, Middleton uses her solid handles to prevent the opposition from enacting revenge and taking the ball back.   The North and Northwest regions of the state produce great talent at every level of Arkansas high school basketball, even in 2A. [player_tooltip player_id='1049439' first='Kelly' last='Middleton'] is proof of that claim, and she might just be the best defender in the 2A-1.    The 2A classification has solid talent, with plenty of players who can contribute at the college level. At this level, it is hard to receive offers, which makes the senior year for these players that much more important if they have aspirations of playing at the next level. On deck...2A 2025 forwards who will make their mark on the Arkansas high school girls basketball season in 2024/25.

The 2A classification features 66 small schools in the state of Arkansas. I mentioned this when first discussing 3A schools, but these schools may be small, but they are backed by the small towns they represent, and their community supports their team, win or loss. These 2A schools are often the pride and joy of these small towns, and these senior guards are expected to lead their squads to victory this season.