These 2026 Bigs will dominate the 5A classification this season!

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When these players become seniors, they will be on recruiting radars all over the country, and this season will be important for these players to establish themselves. These bigs have already put their abilities on display as sophomores, but now entering their junior seasons, that is the real test. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1060852' first='Makhiya' last='Tillis']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"El Dorado","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"South Arkansas Wolves","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67200a39ce12e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Think with me for just a second. How many centers can you name that can draw charges on a regular basis? The only player I can think of off-hand is Jaylin Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder (former Razorback and Fort Smith native). But after watching [player_tooltip player_id='1060852' first='Makhiya' last='Tillis'] play, when I think of centers who excel at drawing charges, I can point to her. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tillis' defensive ability is incredibly destructive for opposing teams. If Tillis is the lone defender on a fastbreak, she knows exactly where to plant herself to draw a charge, getting it almost every time. If she is unable to plant herself for a charge, then it is not a problem, she can just rise up and swat every shot she sees away. Her post defense is difficult to deal with if you are the opposition. She is a rim protector, a charge-drawing machine, and a solid all-around post defender. If a shot is somehow able to get past her reach, then she will grab the rebound when it misses. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On offense, Tillis is a more traditional post player. Tillis feasts on the defense when her back is to the basket. Her teammates are always searching for her when she is posted up. Once she receives the ball, she can spin off the defense and score, or Tillis can back them down and shoot over them. Either way, Tillis is dominating in the paint. Add being a dominant offensive rebounder and Tillis is the whole package for an offensive post threat. Oh, and she has the ability to stretch her game out to the 3-point line and knock down triples, so that is another thing defenses need to worry about. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1060852' first='Makhiya' last='Tillis'] is already a premiere post player in all of 5A, and she has a serious chance of asserting herself as one of the best bigs in the entire state of Arkansas with a breakout junior season. Once that happens, offers will no doubt be coming in soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1060850' first='Rhiauna' last='Dorris']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Greenbrier","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"Arkansas Warriors 2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67200a39ce1d5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When I first starting playing basketball, I was taught that the "backboard is your friend." What that means is that every layup should be kissed off the glass, and if you are able to shoot a short jumper at an angle to the rim, use the backboard. However, I have never seen a player use the backboard as much as [player_tooltip player_id='1060850' first='Rhiauna' last='Dorris']. For Dorris, the backboard is her BFF, and she is not shooting any shot without using the glass, and I am all for that. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dorris does not have an expansive perimeter game, but her work in the low and high posts are where she makes her money. Dorris is a phenomenal finisher, who uses that backboard to her advantage like I said. She even uses the backboard when she shoots 10-footers in the paint. These shots are almost always straight on and in the middle of the paint. Utilizing the backboard when shooting from an angle is not hard, but shooting straight on under the free throw line is, but Dorris has perfected that. Plus, she can shoot these short jumpers with the defense draped all over her, using her elevation and length to get these shots off. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dorris is also great in pick-and-roll scenarios. As soon as she sets a screen, Dorris rolls to the basket and is ready to score off the catch. She can also play with her back to the basket, using her length to gain position against the defense, and cuts them off on her way to the basket. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now on defense, I do not know if I have seen a player make blocking shots seem so personal. Not a single one of her rejections were without power, and the crowd was loving her defensive prowess as just a sophomore last season. Dorris keeps her arms straight up throughout the defensive possession, but once the ball goes up, it is no longer safe from her. Dorris is also a fantastic rebounder.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1060850' first='Rhiauna' last='Dorris'] will be one of the best centers in the 5A classification in 2024/25. She has already been recognized as a 5A West all-conference performer as a sophomore, and there is no reason why she is not an all-state performer at the end of the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1060848' first='Bonnie' last='Fagan']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Valley View","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67200a39ce257"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1060848' first='Bonnie' last='Fagan'] can play the center and power forward positions equally well, and she has a skillset that can be used in a variety of ways. Fagan may not be one of the more well-known post players in the class of 2026, but with a breakout junior season, everyone will be talking about her. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fagan was not a go-to scorer for Valley View as a sophomore, but when they did go to her, Fagan was able to score inside and out. Fagan can play a more modern style of big, as she can stretch the floor with her solid corner 3-point shooting ability. Fagan does not need to even go that far to hit jumpers, as she has shown she can hit contested mid-range shots off the catch. Fagan is also a great ball-handler, and once she grabs a defensive rebound (of which she grabs a lot of), she will not hesitate to take it the length of the floor. Once she has a driving lane, Fagan can drive inside and finish tough layups. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If she is used as more of a traditional big, Fagan can make an impact on the offensive glass, as she recorded a number of double-doubles simply from offensive putbacks. On defense, she can have an impact as well, particularly with causing turnovers and shutting down the painted area. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fagan records a lot of steals simply from having her head on a swivel. As soon as a ball is loose, Fagan has it in her possession. If a player has a lane to the basket, they will have the unfortunate fate of meeting Fagan at the rim, where she is going to send their shot away. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If [player_tooltip player_id='1060848' first='Bonnie' last='Fagan'] is utilized more, she can be Valley View's best scorer. I believe she is one of the best all-around bigs in the 2026 class, and she will be worth keeping tabs on in 2024/25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Lexi Owens","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Beebe","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67200a39ce2d6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">5'7" may not be the ideal height for a center or power forward, but Lexi Owens shows that her ability trumps her height. Owens makes plays on both sides of the basketball, and she will be an important piece for Beebe as the Lady Badgers seek a deep run in the 5A state tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Owens' offense is rather limited, as she mostly scores from cutting to the basket and being at the right place at the right time. She does make an impact on the offensive glass, however. Owens is quick and uses her athleticism to leap in to grab a board. Once she pulls it down, she does not force a difficult contested shot. Instead, she will pass it out to a teammate along the perimeter to reset the offense. Owens may not be a top-tier scorer, but she can make excellent plays on defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like I said, 5'7" is not the most ideal height for a post player, especially on the defensive end. Despite that, Owens plays like she is 6'7" with her ability to block shots. If the opposition drives inside, they might think that they have an easy layup over Owens, until she swats the ball into next week. She uses her quickness to gain her position, and then her athleticism and vertical to get a hand on those interior shots. In addition to this, Owens can play the passing lanes, and she intercepts multiple passes each game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lexi Owens is one of the best and most unique small-ball post players in the 5A classification. She was all-state and all-conference last season as a sophomore, but if she can add more versatility to her offensive game, then she will be an unstoppable force in 2024/25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1060845' first='Livi' last='Fosness']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12120","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mountain Home","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='848943' first='MO' last='Phenom Arkansas 2027']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67200a39ce352"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1060845' first='Livi' last='Fosness'] is an underrated, yet soon-to-breakout hooper with Mountain Home. Mountain Home already has a great center in [player_tooltip player_id='875498' first='Anna' last='McCarn'], but she is a senior and Fosness could definitely be a force in the middle next season for the Lady Bombers. However, Fosness can start alongside McCarn, which would be a deadly frontcourt duo. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As I just alluded to, Fosness can play the power forward position in addition to the center spot. Fosness was a solid player as a sophomore, but she showed out the most with MO Phenom, especially at the MO Meltdown Tournament in Branson this past summer. In Branson, Fosness was named to the all-tournament team after posting a double-double in seemingly every game. She even put up 21 rebounds and 17 points in one outing. Obviously, Fosness is a great rebounder, but her offense is her calling card. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fosness can stretch out the defense with her mid-range shooting, which could be a real weapon to be utilized this season with Mountain Home. She is also a problem in the painted area. She finishes off all of her offensive rebounds, and she finishes over all sorts of contact. Fosness can also hit a runner or two, but essentially, whatever the defense gives her, she will capitalize on. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1060845' first='Livi' last='Fosness'] is already a fantastic player, but the sky is the limit for her, and I cannot wait to see this Mountain Home squad play in 2024/25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5A classification is the place to go for colleges in search of quality post players. This 2026 class is evidence of that, and all of these players that I mentioned have chances to dominate for their teams this season. Now on to the 4A classification! There are going to be a lot of great 4A 2026 guards to talk about, so make sure you have enough time carved out of your day to read all about them. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->