Trifecta! 2026 Guards, Wings, and Bigs who will star in 1A

To cap off the 2026 article group, we have the entire 1A classification in one article. Though these are very small schools, they still have some excellent players to talk about, whether they are a guard, a forward, or a post player.    I do not usually highlight players who are already highly rated on this site, but it is hard to not talk about [player_tooltip player_id='876300' first='Jada' last='Maples']. Maples is by far the most accomplished 1A player in the state, and one of the most noteworthy of all Arkansas players. She has already picked up offers from Virginia Tech, Cleveland State, Texas-Arlington, Charlotte, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Southern Mississippi and more! Of course, they are all Division I schools, and there is a good chance that she racks up more offers as a junior.   In my mind, Maples was ready for D1 basketball as a sophomore. Wherever she goes, I imagine they will bring her in as a scorer, and for good reason, as she can get to any spot she wants and do anything she wants on the court. Her isolation game is second to none, and if you have the misfortune to be on Maples island...sorry...you are stranded and no one is coming to save you.   Maples' handle, quick first step, length, and athleticism allow her to move around the court with the ball so effortlessly. She can slice and dice her way into the paint and score at the rim, or she can back it out and hit contested mid-range pull-ups and step-backs. On the perimeter, if she is not driving past you, then she is likely stepping back and shooting over you, nailing three after three.   [player_tooltip player_id='876300' first='Jada' last='Maples'] is too good, and now that Earle High School is dropping from the 2A-3 to the 1A-3, expect her to feast on everything the opposition throws at her.   Oh, and I have to say, Maples is a top 2 player in the 2026 class, but not 2.     [player_tooltip player_id='1196054' first='Cheyenne' last='Newberry'] is a solid inside-out scorer for Viola High School. She has already started the junior season off well, showing improvements in her offensive game, but as the season moves forward, I would expect that Newberry continues to impact the game.   Newberry is a solid 3-point shooter who is lethal off the catch. If she catches the ball in rhythm and with enough space, she will hoist a long-ball and nail it. On the interior, she is an excellent finisher. Whether she has the ball in transition or is coming down the lane, Newberry can finish through contact. For a lot of players, making plays that trigger the fastbreak usually mean that they did something to start the break, and the same logic applies to Newberry.   On defense, Newberry has a knack for deflecting passes and picking them up to start the break. Once she is out and running, she uses her solid handles to fly past the defense and get to the bucket.   [player_tooltip player_id='1196054' first='Cheyenne' last='Newberry'] can make plays on both sides of the ball, and she can score in multiple ways. Viola has a fair amount of talent, so keep an eye on this 1A-2 squad.     Jasper has a great guard rotation, and [player_tooltip player_id='1196052' first='Jadeyn' last='Middleton'] is one of their better two-way players in that rotation. Middleton was a part of the 2023/24 all-tournament team as just a sophomore, but expect her to have an eye on the all-state team this year.   On offense, Middleton is automatic off the catch. If she has a clean look from the 3-point line, then she will not hesitate to pull it. Her form is quick, and she has great shot elevation along with a great follow through.   On defense, she is actually creating her own offense. Jasper runs a full-court press that is hard to break, and Middleton is one of the reasons why. When the ball is inbounded, she launches herself to the ball-handler, trying to make her panic and do something rash. Once a bad pass is thrown or a handle is exposes, Middleton will pick it up and score. Even if the defense were to recover, she can still finish against difficult contests.   [player_tooltip player_id='1196052' first='Jadeyn' last='Middleton'] is primed for another all-conference season in 2024/25, and this Jasper team has a great shot at making a very deep run in the 1A state tournament.     [player_tooltip player_id='1186514' first='Trinity' last='McKinney'] is one of the best playmakers on this list. She can make plays for her teammates and for herself. McKinney is definitely the best guard in the 1A-8, and could become even better in her junior season.   Shooting from beyond the arch is a strength for McKinney, as she has a quick release and great shooting confidence. Her 3-point shooting hot zone might be from the top of the key, and she can hit those from a couple of steps back. If McKinney does not have a good outside look, then she can drive inside with her solid handle and finish in the paint.   If the help defense comes, McKinney has the awareness to swing the ball to an open teammate for an easy assist. She also knows that she attracts a lot of defensive attention, so getting the ball to her teammates becomes her focus.   [player_tooltip player_id='1186514' first='Trinity' last='McKinney'] is going to be a great player for Lafayette County this season, and the entire 1A-8 will be sorry to witness her play against them.     [player_tooltip player_id='1092578' first='Ashlyn' last='Cossey'] can do it all on the court for Concord High School. She is without a doubt the best all-around player in the 1A-2 and the best player on her team. As a junior, Cossey will be looking to become one of the top players in all of 1A, and that should be entertaining to watch.   Cossey has the height to play the power forward position, but she has the ball-handling ability to push the ball fullcourt, finishing through contact in the paint. If Cossey misses, she is the first to grab her own miss and put it back up and in. Frankly, offensive putbacks are the best part of her game, and she does not stop fighting for every board. Cossey can also hit some outside shots, but playing in the post, whether off a drive or on the way to box out her opponent, that is her bread and butter.   On defense, Cossey adds her frame to the mix, as she can shut down the interior. On this side of the ball, she becomes a shot-blocking threat, and a player who can capitalize on loose balls. If a shot goes up, you better believe Cossey is the first one to snatch it up.   [player_tooltip player_id='1092578' first='Ashlyn' last='Cossey'] will have a great junior season, and Concord should be a great team to watch in the 1A-2.     [player_tooltip player_id='1195998' first='Peyton' last='Matlock'] is both a stretch-4 and a 3&D player for Omaha High School. She has the length to play well on defense, but she has the shooting stroke to put up bunches of points.   Matlock's shooting form is very quick. She has a low release point, but that allows her to take a couple of steps back and shoot some very long balls. She gains adequate arch and can hit with defenders on her. As a sophomore, Matlock became a player who her teammates knew would be open on the perimeter, and she was able to hit multiple threes a night.   On defense, Matlock has made an impact as a wing who can block shots. Matlock makes her presence felt coming over from the help side, swatting shots out of bounds. Her length gives her the potential to be an influential post defender, as well as becoming a solid defensive rebounder.   [player_tooltip player_id='1195998' first='Peyton' last='Matlock']'s best ability is to knock down the deep shot, and Omaha has other solid players who will attract the defense, so the 2024/25 season could be a big year for the junior.     [player_tooltip player_id='1197530' first='Emma' last='Kivell'] is one of the more versatile players in the 1A classification. She can play small-ball center, but she can also play some small forward. Her most natural position is power forward, where she can make an impact as a stretch-4.   Kivell's 3-point shooting makes her a great weapon to use from outside. She is great off the catch and can shoot over the defense, often just ignoring the closeouts. Her shot has solid arch and once her elbow tucks in, that shot is money. On the interior, Kivell can score, whether off an offensive rebound or on the fastbreak. In transition, that is where Kivell shows off her small forward abilities.   Once Kivell secures a defensive rebound, she does not hesitate to fly down the court and go coast-to-coast. On the defensive side, Kivell has shown that she can block some shots and she can record a fair number of steals, further creating more fastbreak opportunities.   Add in the fact that [player_tooltip player_id='1197530' first='Emma' last='Kivell'] is a solid rebounder, then she becomes the full package, and Kingston High School is lucky to have her on their roster. Keep an eye out, she is a breakout candidate for the 2024/25 season.    All of these players can be stars for their team, and though they play in the 1A classification, I can see several of them have a future in basketball beyond the high school ranks. The updated 2025 and 2026 rankings will be coming out in the following days, with the first installment of the 2027 and 2028 rankings soon to follow.

To cap off the 2026 article group, we have the entire 1A classification in one article. Though these are very small schools, they still have some excellent players to talk about, whether they are a guard, a forward, or a post player.