These 2A 2025 bigs will make their names known in 2024/25

I have mentioned this a number of times already, but it is hard to find good post players at this level of high school basketball. In the smaller associations of Arkansas high school basketball, the post players might lack some size, but they do not lack ability.    [player_tooltip player_id='465537' first='Kate' last='Nabholz'] has been in the Prep Girls Hoops system for a while now, and she keeps on getting better every year with Conway St. Joseph. Of course, she is one of three Nabholz girls that will dominate this season with the Lady Bulldogs, so this team will be intriguing to watch in the 2A-5.   Nabholz put up big numbers with Conway St. Joseph last season, and she plans on repeating that effort in the post. She is a solid finisher inside and is very active on the offensive glass, leading to a lot of putback opportunities. Nabholz also has the mid-range jumper in her bag, and lets it fly whenever she is left open.   On defense, Nabholz uses her size to crash the defensive glass, pulling down board after board. She also provides solid defense in the post. With her 6'0" frame, she is a shot-blocking threat, but she is also just a solid all-around defender, contesting shots well.   [player_tooltip player_id='465537' first='Kate' last='Nabholz'] does the little things well too. She runs the floor, sets good screens, and is always ready for a pass. Expect the same and possibly more from her in 2024/25.     McKenna Daniels is a role-playing center for England, but every time she steps on to the floor, she makes plays. Daniels might not be a threat to go off for 30 every night, but she can make winning plays for her team.   Daniels is at her best when she is going up for a rebound. No matter if it is on offense or defense, Daniels is fighting for that board, and if she has to, she will rip the ball out of the opponent's hands.   On defense, Daniels is a strong shot-blocker. She is very active on help defense and if she is not blocking a shot, she is either contesting the shot or poking the ball free before the opponent ever thinks about going up for a shot.   On offense, Daniels is always ready to receive a pass from her teammates in the post. She is not an outside threat, nor is she going to go to work with her back to the basket, but she is going to be open in the paint. Once her teammates find her down low, they can rack up a number of easy assists.   Considering how many good shooters play for England, that should open up the painted area for players like McKenna Daniels to feast. Keep up with the England team in 2024/25.     [player_tooltip player_id='1244340' first='Jaiden' last='Mayo'] seems taller than 5'6", but regardless of her height, she makes winning plays for the Lady Panthers. Mayo had her moments during her junior season, but I would like to see more use from Mayo on the offensive side of the ball this coming season.   Mayo is an excellent rebounder. Height is not an issue here; she uses her athleticism and aggressiveness to go up and grab every board she sees. She does need to work on her passing once she pulls down the board, but she still sets her team up for fastbreak opportunities with her defensive rebounding ability.   Mayo has the ability to put up points in a hurry if her team calls upon her. Most of her work on that side is done in the paint, but her work on the defensive side is even more expansive.   Mayo is a shot-blocking threat, but her active hands are best applied to steals. Mayo can jump the passing lanes, especially when it comes to interrupting the entry pass into the post. She is not afraid to reach in and poke the ball free if the defense shows it. Mayo has also shown her ability to move her feet well on defense, shutting down guards along the perimeter if she is called upon to do so.   [player_tooltip player_id='1244340' first='Jaiden' last='Mayo'] needs more touches on offense, and if that were to happen, expect Bigelow to make some noise in the always-tough 2A-5.     [player_tooltip player_id='1051636' first='Kyla' last='Harston'] was a double-double machine last season for EPC, averaging 14.6 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. For the people of Lepanto, Arkansas, this was not out of the ordinary, as Harston has been a go-to scorer for her team since her freshman season on varsity. After averaging a hair over 10 points per game as a freshman, Harston has continued to improve her game, and everyone in the 2A-3 should be afraid of her latest improvements.   Harston can put up bunches of points, and even on big stages. During her sophomore season, East Poinsett County played on the Memphis Grizzlies court at the FedEx Forum arena. Though they were not playing in front of tens of thousands of fans like the Grizzlies do on any given night, most players might have been discouraged to play on the big stage, but not Harston, who had 20 points and 10 boards. Harston had plenty of games like this.   More often than not, the defense cannot stop her from scoring anytime in the paint. She can score with either hand, though her left is her strongest. She finishes through contact and can raise up and finish plays off lob passes. Harston is not an outside shooter, but she improved her field goal percentage as a junior, jumping from 47% as a sophomore to 51%. Because she draws a lot of contact, Harston goes to the charity stripe multiple times a game and adds a lot of easy points to her team's total.   On defense, Harston has shown her versatility by averaging 1.1 blocks and 1.2 steals per game as a junior. She uses her length and athleticism to deny shots in the paint. She also uses her active hands to break up passes and take advantage of sloppy ball-handling by the other team.   [player_tooltip player_id='1051636' first='Kyla' last='Harston'] is without a doubt the best center in the 2A-3, and one of the best in the 2A classification. East Poinsett County might make some noise in 2024/25, and expect Harston to compile another double-double season.     Quitman High School is one of the few schools at this level fortunate enough to have two serviceable bigs at their disposal. One of them being stretch-5 [player_tooltip player_id='1186798' first='Emma' last='Fenley'].   As I mentioned, Fenley is a stretch-5. She hits the 3-ball well, and in part because she played guard with Quitman's junior varsity as a freshman. I assume she had a growth spurt and her guard skills are translating to her current position. Fenley is also a threat to score inside, and when she runs the floor, her teammates reward her for the effort.   Fenley's defense is mostly centered around her ability to block shots. She has shown she can poke balls away, but she can block shots well.   [player_tooltip player_id='1186798' first='Emma' last='Fenley'] is a weapon for this Quitman offense, and it will be interesting how she is used this upcoming season.     [player_tooltip player_id='1245000' first='Cailyn' last='Sullivan'] is the more traditional and defensive-minded center compared to her teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1186798' first='Emma' last='Fenley']. Fenley makes the defense pay by knocking down triples, Sullivan makes the defense pay by finishing in the paint. Fenley is a good shot blocker, Sullivan is an even better shot blocker.   It is not unusual for Sullivan to record multiple blocks on any given night. Sullivan's timing is excellent and she swats those shots into the stands every time she can. She is also a great rebounder, and double-digit rebounding nights are the norm with her.   Offensively, Sullivan is at her best in the paint. She has shown the ability to hit contested mid-range shots, but easy baskets and baby hooks in the painted area are her bread and butter.   Quitman has a 1-2 punch at the center position, and Fenley's outside shooting makes her a formidable weapon at the 4 position. With Sullivan and Fenley on the court, there is not any other team in the 2A classification with a better center duo than Quitman High School.    There were a lot of solid role-playing bigs in this group, but they all have the potential to break out and star for their teams. Now on to 1A! The smallest sanctioned classification of Arkansas high school sports is expected to be a good one, so be on the lookout for my article covering 1A 2025 guards.

I have mentioned this a number of times already, but it is hard to find good post players at this level of high school basketball. In the smaller associations of Arkansas high school basketball, the post players might lack some size, but they do not lack ability.