Wing Wing! Coaches, answer and offer these 5A 2026 wings!

Gotta admit, that title makes me cringe, but it is true, college coaches need to offer these players ASAP! There are some serious hoopers in the 2026 class, especially in the 5A forward group. Some of these players might already be on our radar, but they still need more recognition.    [player_tooltip player_id='876657' first='Disyah' last='Christon'] is pretty highly ranked on this site, but I feel like she has the potential to go higher in 2024/25. Christon can make plays all over the court, and she played with a maturity you rarely see in sophomores. Now entering her junior year, I suspect Christon becomes one of the best wings in the entire state, and one that no one can stop talking about.   Christon has excellent two-way abilities. She has size, length, and athleticism to go along with her solid defense and inside-outside offensive game. Christon can put up points when she is called upon to do so. She can knock down catch-and-shoot triples, especially when she has a good look in the either corner. Christon can also cut inside and she records a lot of easy baskets once her teammates find her. Now on defense, I think that is where Christon makes her largest impact.   Christon's length makes her a difficult player to get around. Her wingspan and quick feet allow her to keep her assignment in front at all times, and if there is a loose ball, you better believe she is already there scooping it up. A lot of Christon's offense last season came from forcing turnovers. Whether she was stealing a pass or picking someone's pocket, Christon had the opportunity to take the ball to the other end on the fastbreak, leading to a fair amount of easy layups.   [player_tooltip player_id='876657' first='Disyah' last='Christon'] is going to be a major contributor for a Lake Hamilton team that is primed to win the 5A state championship game. If that happens, expect Christon to start to hear from the next level.     Lilly Reid is a sniper, and she has one of the smoothest shooting strokes out of any player in the state of Arkansas. Of course, Reid is more than just a shooter for the Lady Yellowjackets, but her outside ability alone can garner collegiate attention.   Reid is one of Sheridan's best players, especially on offense. Her outside shooting is her calling card, with a release so quick that if you blink, you won't even know the ball was in her hands. Slowmos of her shooting form still seem like she is shooting in real-time. She puts perfect spin on the ball and every make rips through the net. But her release is also effortless. Reid can pull it from well beyond the 3-point line, and she acts like she is shooting from ten feet out. Her form never changes, which is a great shooting quality, and one that most high school hoopers lack. Her catch-and-shoot ability is fantastic, and she can drill threes any time she wants.   On the inside, Reid can drive to the basket and finish or draw contact. Once at the free throw line, Reid continues to show off her smooth form and drains every free shot.   Defensively, Reid can rack up the stats. She has good awareness and picks up every loose ball in her area. She is aware of errant passes and can take those the other way too. Reid's on-ball defense is solid. She stays in front of her assignment and cuts off their driving lanes, forcing them to pass.   Lilly Reid is a very solid basketball player, who is already one of the best shooters in Arkansas. Reid's stock is rising, so colleges better start contacting her before it is too late.     Eliza Barger is already a soccer star for the Lady Goblins, but now she is becoming a basketball star. Barger's two-way abilities and her willingness to be rough and tumble at times give her the edge over other 5A forwards, and she has a great chance to blossom into a top player in the state by the end of the 2024/25 season.   Barger can play some defense! Like I said, she can be rough and tumble, and I mean that in the sense that she does not shy away from physicality and can overwhelm opponents with her tough play. Barger plays sounds on-ball defense and knows how to strip the ball away whenever she has the chance. She is also an aggressive shot-blocker who can play some power forward or small-ball center if she needs to. Her excellent rebounding also makes Barger a prime candidate to play in the post.   Offensively, Barger can do a little bit of everything. Barger can shoot the long-ball off the catch, but she is better when she attacks the defense on drives to the basket. She uses her strength to barrel her way through the teeth of the defense. Even if the contest is there, Barger finds a way to finish.   Eliza Barger can and will be a great player for Harrison. Actually, she is already a great player for the Lady Goblins, but with a strong junior season, she will assert herself as a premiere player in the 2026 class.     [player_tooltip player_id='1060855' first='Kale' last='Elrod'] is a solid player for Benton High School with a dynamic offensive game. She does need more exposure, but if she can have a successful junior season with the Lady Panthers, she will get that and more.   In a game against Camden Fairview last season, Elrod made an instant impact for her team, even as a sophomore. She recorded 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals. For those 15 she scored, she did so in a variety of ways. She showed that she can hit the 3-ball, even with a hand in the face, off the catch. Elrod has a nice shooting stroke with an appropriate arch and solid shot elevation. Elrod also showed off the ability to hit floaters against tough defense and her shot fakes, which allowed her to free up some breathing room to get a shot off inside.   In that game as well, Elrod recorded 5 steals. She pressured ball-handlers and forced a number of turnovers, mostly from being in a perfect position to take away a pass or to capitalize on a loose ball.   [player_tooltip player_id='1060855' first='Kale' last='Elrod'] has already shown what she can do to provide for her team, but it is time for her to show the entire state what she can do to provide for her team at the next level. Keep an eye out, there might be something brewing in Benton.     [player_tooltip player_id='1275326' first='Mason' last='Wilson'] is the second Lady Yellowjacket on this list, but she is a tiny bit different that Lilly Reid. Wilson is one of those players whose offense is dictated based on the way she plays defense. Let me explain:   Wilson is a phenomenal defender, the type of player who can cause turnovers and take almost every one of those turnovers and turn them into points for her team. Wilson has great length and pressures the opposition into losing the ball. Then, she takes it to the other end and can score, even through some tough contests. That does not mean she cannot score in other ways though.   In the half-court setting, Wilson is a threat to hit the 3-ball at a high clip. If Wilson is posted in the corner and the ball comes her way, she will not hesitate to pull it if she has space. Plus, Wilson has a very quick release and solid shooting fundamentals, making her a deadly shooter.   [player_tooltip player_id='1275326' first='Mason' last='Wilson'] also uses her 5'10" frame to her advantage on the glass, making an impact on offense and defense with her solid rebounding. Overall, [player_tooltip player_id='1275326' first='Mason' last='Wilson'] is a good player who can make plays on both sides of the ball. Sheridan might have something cooking this year, and it starts with their impactful juniors.    This forward group has so much star potential, it makes me want the season to get here even sooner. There is not a single reason why these players should not be making headlines this year, so keep your eye out for these hoopers and their squads. Coming soon: 5A 2026 bigs, and it is a going to be a good read.

Gotta admit, that title makes me cringe, but it is true, college coaches need to offer these players ASAP! There are some serious hoopers in the 2026 class, especially in the 5A forward group. Some of these players might already be on our radar, but they still need more recognition.