These Hoopers will be Graduating in May...and they are balling!

It is officially the new year! That means that hoopers in the class of 2025 will be graduating in 5 months. I do not mean to cause worry or anxiety, but for these seniors, the next 2 months or so will be the end of their high school basketball careers. Whether these players are offered, unoffered, committed, or uncommitted, I have seen some great basketball that has been played this season, with numerous players taking advantage of their last few opportunities.   The players that I mention in this article are flying under the radar, but they have been balling in their final high school season.    D'Mya Eason is a player that somehow slipped through the cracks of the 2025 ranking, but she will be on there as soon as we have another update. Eason is having a great final season, and it was really special on November 26th. In that game, Lonoke faced off against Warren High School and Eason had the best game of her career.   For a lot of players, they might not score as many points in a 10-game span as Eason did that night. Eason put up 56 points during the win, which is the 3rd-most points scored in a game in Arkansas high school girls basketball history according to the Arkansas Activities Association's record books.   Eason had a statline of 56 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 steals against Warren, and she was all over the floor. Scoring-wise, Eason was doing a bit of everything, from both inside and outside. Her shot is pure, having a quick release, solid arch, and a good release point. She was in a rhythm, knocking down triples off the catch and when working off a screen. If a perimeter shot was not there then Eason was driving hard to the basket, finishing through contact.   Eason's 13 rebounds came from both ends. She was crashing the boards hard, either getting putback opportunities or triggering the fastbreak.   D'Mya Eason looked like one of the best players in the state on November 26th, but this is customary for Lonoke. She has played well over the course of the season and I imagine she is not even close to being finished. More people need to hear about her 56-point performance, because I do not think colleges would be able to stay away from her.     [player_tooltip player_id='1183265' first='Atesa' last='Johnson'] has had quite the season so far for Lafayette County. She is averaging 17.9 points, 5.3 rebounds (2.2 offensive rebounds), 2.5 assists, and 3.0 steals per game, all while shooting 47% from the field. Her scoring has been consistent over the course of the season, but there are plenty of times where she looks utterly unstoppable.   Lafayette County played in the South Arkansas Shootout in early December against Fouke, and Johnson put up 30 points and 5 rebounds in the loss, accounting for about 44% of her team's scoring. She has had similar performances throughout the season, finishing games with 30, 38, and 42 points.   Johnson was a solid shooter at Magnolia High School last season, and now that has carried over into her first and only season with the Lady Cougars. She is a great perimeter shotmaker, shooting the best off the catch. When Johnson is not playing along the perimeter, she is usually streaking inside and finishing at the rim. She also rebounds well, especially on the offensive end.   2.2 offensive rebounds per game is a great number for a guard. She is physical and pushes around taller players in order to grab these boards. On the other end, she will grab them and go, starting the fastbreak instantly. The fastbreak can also start when Johnson steals the ball, which she does 3 times a game. She plays aggressive on-ball defense, and as soon as a pass hangs in the air too long or a ball is loose, Johnson is the first to gain control.   [player_tooltip player_id='1183265' first='Atesa' last='Johnson'] is another player who will definitely be in the 2025 ranking before long, and she has certainly taken advantage of every opportunity she has had with her new team.     Everyone should start to take notice of [player_tooltip player_id='1186808' first='Destin' last='Lewis'] out of El Dorado. El Dorado recently competed in the Little Rock Christian Holiday Classic and Lewis made the all-tournament team. She is starting to put herself on the map, and she has done so with her stretch-5 abilities.   Lewis helps stretch out El Dorado's offense with her outside shooting. She has great arch on her shot and shoots well off the catch. Some players are disrupted when a teammate throws them a bad pass, but Lewis does not seem to be bothered, as she shoots the same off any pass.   On defense, Lewis shows that she is a solid shot-blocker. She uses her length and wingspan to contest looks at the rim, getting a hand on it multiple times a game. Most players will panic and attempt a bad shot once they see Lewis at the basket. Causing the opposing offense to overthink when they get inside is an under-appreciated skill for a big to have.   [player_tooltip player_id='1186808' first='Destin' last='Lewis'] has been able to carve out a nice role for herself, and for whatever reason, she is one of the few efficient 3-point shooting centers in the 5A classification. I imagine conference season will be a perfect time for Lewis to shine.     After only averaging 2.8 points per game as a junior with cross-town rival Fort Smith Northside High School, Brewer has broken out with the Lady Mavericks of Southside High School. She may be a bit of a late basketball bloomer, but it is clear that she is capitalizing on newfound opportunities in her senior season.   Brewer has had a major impact on both sides of the ball for Southside. She has played with constant activity on defense, stealing passes left and right, creating utter chaos for opposing offenses. Causing turnovers is her specialty, but she can also utilize her length and athleticism to block shots.   Brewer did not get to show her offensive skillset much with the Lady Grizzlies of Northside, but now she can. She is a solid outside shooter who is best off the catch. She uses a high arch on her shot and has a solid release. Brewer has shown that she can create separation in order to shoot the long-ball, specifically showing that she can step back and shoot over the defense. A lot of her points also come off the fastbreak, usually from causing turnovers on her own.   [player_tooltip player_id='1186612' first='Anniyah' last='Brewer'] has become a solid two-way player for Fort Smith Southside. She is one of the many cases of players who play well when they finally have a chance to perform at their best.     [player_tooltip player_id='465516' first='Stephan' last='Steen'] is mistakenly on the Watch List for the Class of 2025. She will be one of the highest risers in the 2025 ranking as she has become one of the most well-rounded players in the 3A classification.   Steen is at her best when she can run out in transition and score easy baskets. Speed kills, and Steen is lethal, outrunning everyone on the court. Steen usually creates the fastbreak opportunities herself when she intercepts a pass or picks someone's pockets. If the opposition somehow gets back down the floor in time to step in front of her, Steen has no issue shooting over them.   Steen scores well on the interior, using her athleticism to raise over taller defenders. On the outside, Steen has shown that she brings another element to Dumas' offense with her sharp 3-point shooting ability. She has a smooth jumper and is great off the catch. Steen has also displayed her playmaking this season. She is great at setting up teammates and is a very accurate passer.   Looking at Steen's numbers from some of Dumas' games so far, it is no wonder why I am considering putting Steen well into the top 30 in the 2025 ranking. Against Crossett on December 20th, Steen put up 18 points, 3 assists, and 10 steals in the 46-point win. Against Warren just a night later, she poured in 19 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 steals in another victory. Most recently against Flippin, Steen had a modest performance, but she still showed her impact in multiple areas, putting up 11 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals.   [player_tooltip player_id='465516' first='Stephan' last='Steen'] can do seemingly everything on the floor, whether it is scoring (inside and out), rebounding, playmaking, and defending. Dumas is 13-1 on the season because of her performances, and they have become one of the favorites to snag the 3A state title.    The 2024/25 season is far from over, but for the players graduating at the end of the semester, I imagine they feel as though time is running out. Some senior hoopers may have worries about making an all-conference or all-state team, taking their team to the playoffs, or if they can be able to play at the next level. Those are all legitimate concerns, but as long as they can continue to put in the work day after day, night after night, the outcome will be worth the sacrifice.   However, I do think that every single player in the state should have a goal in mind: cherish these moments. Cherish the times with teammates, coaches, and fans. There is nothing like playing for a team, and whether it is at the high school level or beyond, every player will have memories they will treasure for a lifetime. For the seniors graduating in May, these next couple of months might be the most emotional, but they can have the sweetest endings, and are usually packed with the most important moments.

It is officially the new year! That means that hoopers in the class of 2025 will be graduating in 5 months. I do not mean to cause worry or anxiety, but for these seniors, the next 2 months or so will be the end of their high school basketball careers. Whether these players are offered, unoffered, committed, or uncommitted, I have seen some great basketball that has been played this season, with numerous players taking advantage of their last few opportunities.