One player from each 2A Conference who is flying under the radar

In every classification besides the 6A and 5A, there are 8 conferences, all with teams actively competing for a spot in the playoffs. In the 2A classification, that is no different. From the 2A-1 to the 2A-8, there are solid teams with talented rosters all hoping to make some noise in the postseason. Since these conferences are small, many of the talented players in the 2A may go unnoticed. For this article, let us learn about one player from each conference who I think is wildly underrated.   2A-1    [player_tooltip player_id='1180793' first='Alaina' last='Owenby'] is Lifeway Christian's star player. She has had a ridiculous string of high-scoring games this season, and there is no sign that she will be stopping anytime soon.   For the week of January 27th, Owenby was one of several players who was being considered for the SBLive/SI Arkansas Girls Basketball Player of the Week. This was after she put up 29 points against Eureka Springs.   At one point during the season, Owenby had scored a total of 379 points over a handful of games. Most recently, the sophomore logged 20 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals against Alpena.   Owenby is an excellent 3-point shooter who is great at getting herself open off the ball. She has teammates who are excellent screeners, so she usually has a good look from beyond when she comes off a screen. She can also drive inside and score through contact.   [player_tooltip player_id='1180793' first='Alaina' last='Owenby'] is definitely underrated, but she should be in the 2027 ranking later on. The Lifeway Christian Lady Warriors are only 8-14 on the year, but they do have a winning record in league play, primarily because of Owenby's consistent scoring.    2A-2    Izard County is one of the better teams in the 2A classification. They are 18-4 overall with only 1 loss in conference play. That success has a lot to do with [player_tooltip player_id='1049441' first='Quinn' last='Johnson']'s offensive consistency this season.   Johnson is capable of big scoring outings on any given night. She had 30 points in a victory over Sloan-Hendrix last Tuesday, which propelled her team into first place in the 2A-2. She also had a 28-point outing in a 60-50 win over Southside Batesville, and then a 19-point game earlier this month against Cotter.   Johnson is an excellent 3-point shooter, as she has a quick release and a high-arching jumper. She hit 2 triples against Mammoth Spring on the 25th, going along with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals. In addition to being able to score in the paint and from the perimeter, she can provide on the defensive end and on the glass.   [player_tooltip player_id='1049441' first='Quinn' last='Johnson'] is a great all-around player, and Izard County looks to be a legitimate 2A contender.    2A-3    [player_tooltip player_id='1197502' first='Brooklyn' last='Berry'] recently committed to play at Lyon College, but she is still well under the radar amongst committed hoopers.   Berry's game will be able to translate to the college level. She can create her own offense by driving through the defense into the paint. She can also spot up along the perimeter, ready to catch and shoot a 3.   Berry's 3-point shooting is her strongest attribute. She can come off a screen or sit and wait for a pass, and once she gets the ball, a shot will go up. Of course, what goes up must come down, and for Berry, it is usually right in the basket thanks to her quick release.   [player_tooltip player_id='1197502' first='Brooklyn' last='Berry'] has a college-ready game, but helping 25-3 Riverside take a shot at the 2A title is on the docket first.    2A-4    [player_tooltip player_id='1093351' first='Josey' last='Dollar'] is not underrated by our standards, based on her #14 ranking in the class of 2027, but I am not hearing enough noise about arguably the top player in the 2A-4.   Against Mountainburg a few days ago, Acorn High School walked away with the win, with their star logging 16 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal. Not long before that, she had 21 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals versus Hector. Earlier in the season, Dollar had one of her best games, filling up the stat sheet with 28 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists.   It is clear that Dollar can pop off for solid scoring outings at any moment. She drives hard to the paint, scoring through contact, or she can step out and hit a mid-range jumper. Beyond that, Dollar can cash in from beyond the arch. She has a nice shooting form and is great both off the catch and off the dribble.   Outside of scoring, Dollar is her team's primary playmaker. She is an unselfish player, looking to feed her teammates down low. Not many guards look like floor generals this early in their careers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1093351' first='Josey' last='Dollar'] has a bright future ahead of her in this sport. If she continues to play this way, she will find herself further up the 2027 ranking.    2A-5    Southside Bee Branch is still looking to nudge their way in to playoff conversations. If they want to improve their 5-8 conference record, they need to get Chaning Thorn more involved.   Thorn is a long forward who can easily score inside. She had 14 points against Conway Christian earlier this year. Though that matchup would be a disappointing loss, the junior still played well throughout the night.   Thorn uses her 6'0" frame well. She is not bothered by contact in the paint, and she is tough to stop, as she can simply shoot over the top of defenders.   Chaning Thorn has played well when given opportunities this season. Keep up with this rising junior and the Lady Hornets.    2A-6    [player_tooltip player_id='465514' first='Jakyra' last='Jackson'] is not necessarily "underrated." She holds multiple college offers, including some Division I offers. However, she is still not being mentioned in some of the conversations regarding the state's best guards.   Jackson has played extremely well alongside her star guard teammate, D'Mya Wilson. Jackson is averaging 25 points per game in her first and only season as a Lady Bear after being an all-state selection at Helena-West Helena last year. Against Rivercrest earlier this month, the senior notched 39 points in a huge victory.   If you are matched up with Jackson when she has the ball in her hands, just go ahead and give up. She can score in a variety of ways and from anywhere on the court. Jackson can drive to the basket, finishing with a floater or through traffic. She can find her spots from mid-range, usually off the dribble, or she can take a step back and drop it in from long distance.   She has great handles, making defenders look silly. Now, if you do not have good handles like Jackson, then she will swipe you. The senior is able to use her quickness well on both ends of the floor.   [player_tooltip player_id='465514' first='Jakyra' last='Jackson'] will be playing for a college team next season, but for now, she will be taking another 2A favorite to possibly its first championship in a long time.    2A-7    Dierks has been impressive this season, as they have done well in the 2A-7. They have a lot of talent, especially a lot of talent from their underclasswomen. One of whom is freshman forward [player_tooltip player_id='1180579' first='Addison' last='Hill'].   Hill has been averaging 20 points per game. She led her squad to a tournament win at the Cougar Classic in late December, earning tournament MVP. In a recent game against Cutter-Morning Star High School, Hill did not have her best scoring outing, but she made plays in other areas of the game, finishing with 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals.   With Hill's 6'0" frame, she is an ideal weapon to use in the paint. She can post up her defender on the block, then she can back them down and either spin off of them or turn around to shoot a fadeaway. Hill has that short jumper in her bag, but she can stretch it out further into the mid-range area. Whether it is off the dribble or off the catch, she can knock down that shot with high efficiency.   [player_tooltip player_id='1180579' first='Addison' last='Hill'] is already a star with the Lady Outlaws. At some point in the future, she will be one of the better players at her position in the state.    2A-8    [player_tooltip player_id='1180777' first='Keynizha' last='Moore'] has had several productive games so far this season. She has shown a lot of promise as just a sophomore, and her potential is through the roof.   Moore had 20 points in a 7-point loss to a talented 4A Bauxite team. She was her team's leading scorer in that game, in addition to the team-high 17 points she scored in the overtime win versus Fordyce earlier in the season.   Moore scores well from inside and out, and she has already shown that she can be calm and collected in late-game situations. In that victory over Fordyce, Junction City was tasked with sinking multiple free throws in the overtime period. Moore was one of those players. Despite only being a sophomore, she stepped up to the line and buried some of the most important shots of the night.   [player_tooltip player_id='1180777' first='Keynizha' last='Moore'] has a very bright future with Junction City. I can see all-conference and possibly all-state seasons on the horizon, and she is bound to pick up that award after this season.    There were so many other players that I could have added to this article. Of course, I would have to change up my criteria regarding how many players I plan on talking about, but there are numerous hoopers who are worthy to be mentioned in this classification.   From the 2A-1 to the 2A-8, the talent pool is endless, with many players making major impacts before they move on in May, and many more waiting for their opportunity to dominate.

In every classification besides the 6A and 5A, there are 8 conferences, all with teams actively competing for a spot in the playoffs. In the 2A classification, that is no different. From the 2A-1 to the 2A-8, there are solid teams with talented rosters all hoping to make some noise in the postseason. Since these conferences are small, many of the talented players in the 2A may go unnoticed. For this article, let us learn about one player from each conference who I think is wildly underrated.