December Rankings: Forwards making their 2025 Rankings debut

Of course, there is a lot to unpack with the 2025 rankings. A lot of players added for the first time, players moving up and moving down the rankings, and players newly added to the Watch List. Of course, these players might not be in the same position after the next rankings update, and there should be more players added by then. For the moment though, let us talk about some of the newest forward additions to the 2025 rankings.    [player_tooltip player_id='1049413' first='Karolina' last='Kiraga'] committed to DII Pittsburg State over the summer, but this is her first time on the 2025 rankings. She can play the forward and guard positions, and her versatility makes it a no-brainer for why she is #17 in the state.   Kiraga is a natural outside shooter, but a born slasher. She uses her length and athleticism to shoot over the defense inside, then using a soft touch around the basket. She handles the ball well, and she can create her own shot, whether it is on the inside, or along the perimeter. Her jumpshot is smooth, and she has a quick release, making her tough to stop when she is in a catch-and-shoot scenario.   Kiraga is more than just an offensive player, as she can can be a major disruptor on the defensive end. With her ability to steal the ball, she is capable of going for big games with multiple steals. She can turn these turnovers into points, streaking down to the other end of the court for a score.   [player_tooltip player_id='1049413' first='Karolina' last='Kiraga'] should help Providence Academy make a deep run in the 3A state tournament, and she could find herself moving up the rankings sooner rather than later.     [player_tooltip player_id='1049425' first='Hannah' last='Johnson'] has already proven to be an excellent player in the 5A classification. She has already won multiple conference awards, and she has been offered by Central Baptist College and Coahoma Community College. Though her offer list is short, I still think that #48 is a bit too low for her.   So far this season, Johnson is averaging 14.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. Through Beebe's 4-0 start, Johnson has shown her two-way abilities, but in the season opener against Russellville, her 24 points stood out from the rest.   Johnson hit two 3-pointers in the win against Russellville, and they were both pure shots off the catch. She uses a fantastic arch and great shot elevation on her jumper, and I think she can be a lethal spot-up outside shooter for the Lady Badgers.   Throughout each of the four games, Johnson has proven that she is a viable option to shut down the opposition's best forward or their best guards. She jumps out in front of passes and takes them the other way for easy layups. She can block shots too, swatting away two coming over from the help side in the Russellville game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1049425' first='Hannah' last='Johnson'] is in a prime position to have a great senior season, and if she can continue to impact the game on both sides of the ball, she will be featured on a stock riser article later this year.     Like Kiraga, [player_tooltip player_id='1093304' first='Alexis' last='Duck'] is committed to play basketball at the next level, but with Central Baptist College. Benton High School is off to a solid 4-1 start to the 2024/25 season, and Duck will be one of the keys to their success throughout the year.   Duck is one of those rare players who can essentially play all five positions on the floor. Her height allows her to be a great center, but Benton lists her as a guard, considering she is a fantastic 3-point shooter. On this site, she is right in the middle as she is most natural playing either forward position.   Like I mentioned, Duck is a stellar outside shooter. She has one of the smoother shooting strokes you will see from a player of her stature, and it seems that every one of her makes singes the net on its way through. She is great off the catch, and she can hit open and contested shots with similar accuracy. If a shot is somehow too contested for her, she can put the ball on the deck and drive inside. She particularly thrives when driving along the baseline, and with her 6'3" frame and long arms, there are not many players who are capable of blocking her.   [player_tooltip player_id='1093304' first='Alexis' last='Duck'] is a valuable offensive weapon for this Lady Panther offense. She is more than capable of moving up the 2025 rankings, so keep an eye on the positionless 6-footer.     I will admit, I was not familiar with [player_tooltip player_id='976766' first='Joniya' last='Lewis'] until recently, and after seeing what she has done so far this season, she will definitely be ranked higher than #71 after the next ranking installment.   Lewis is a do-it-all player for Marion, and she is one of the reasons why they have started the season off so well, posting a 4-2 record after defeating multiple out-of-state schools and a talented 6A squad. In Marion's season-opener, Lewis had a modest all-around game of 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. In the win against 6A Central Cabot, Lewis had a larger impact, posting 9 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals, and 2 blocks. In Marion's next game against Parkview, Lewis exploded onto the scene with a 22-point, 13-rebound performance over their 5A rival. In Lewis' most recent game against a team from Tennessee, she had another successful outing, finishing with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block.   Lewis scores most of her points on the interior, whether it is off putbacks, fastbreak layups, hard dribble drives, or when cutting from the perimeter. She is an excellent finisher, but she can step out and hit jumpshots as well. Lewis is very comfortable taking and making mid-range jumpers, even if they are on the move. She has also shown that she can hit 3-pointers with a quick release.   [player_tooltip player_id='976766' first='Joniya' last='Lewis'] can stuff the stat sheet on any given night. Like I mentioned earlier, I have a strong feeling that Lewis will be much higher up than #71 in the next 2025 rankings update, and it is because of what we have seen from her so far.     [player_tooltip player_id='1092581' first='JB' last='McNay'] is one of LRCA's most critical pieces to their success. She is a role player, but she is one of the best role players in the state. McNay's job is to do whatever it is her team needs, and to create as much havoc on the defensive end as possible.   Over the last three games, McNay has averaged 3.0 steals per game, mostly from acting as a lockdown defensive back, intercepting every pass that comes her way. She must not mind getting court burn, because she will stretch out and dive after every loose ball, and she is often successful at scooping them up.   McNay's defense typically turns into offense, as she can take those steals and turn them into points on the fastbreak. In the halfcourt setting, McNay is a solid cutter and gets a lot of easy points that way. She is also a solid corner 3-point shooter, and she can stretch out the defense, helping the shot-creators on her team get comfortable.   [player_tooltip player_id='1092581' first='JB' last='McNay'] might not be a name you hear much about throughout the season, but she plays a very important role to Little Rock Christian's success. Because of that impact, I thought she deserved a spot on the 2025 rankings, especially since I believe she could make a similar impact at the next level.    There were a lot of solid forwards added to the 2025 rankings for the first time, and I will be talking about some of the new post players added to the rankings tomorrow. Also, keep an eye out for another article of mine that will soon be released, which features some of the best performances from around the state over the past week.

Of course, there is a lot to unpack with the 2025 rankings. A lot of players added for the first time, players moving up and moving down the rankings, and players newly added to the Watch List. Of course, these players might not be in the same position after the next rankings update, and there should be more players added by then. For the moment though, let us talk about some of the newest forward additions to the 2025 rankings.