An Underrated Hooper from each 4A Conference

The 4A classification is a little different than the other classifications in the state. Instead of a 4A-2, it skips from 4A-1 to 4A-3, then there is the 4A-5 North and South. Despite the differences, there is no change in the variety of talent. Here is one underrated player from each 4A conference you should be keeping tabs on:   4A-1    [player_tooltip player_id='1186838' first='Mackenzie' last='Stites'] is capable of putting up big numbers on a nightly basis. Pea Ridge has had a dominant season in conference play, primarily thanks to the play of this junior.   One of Stites' best games of the season was against Prairie Grove on January 14th. In the 22-point win, Stites would go for 32 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 7 steals. There was something about the number 7 that night, but her incredible all-around play has been evident all year.   Stites recently had another great game against Gravette, where she put up 19 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 steals. She knocked down 3 triples in the victory, both off the catch and off the dribble. Stites also absorbs contact well and is an acrobatic finisher.   [player_tooltip player_id='1186838' first='Mackenzie' last='Stites'] is a star, quickly becoming Pea Ridge's best player. There is a lot of other great talent in the 4A-1, but I think Stites has the highest ceiling.    4A-3    Blytheville has had a solid season so far, holding on to a 14-7 overall record and a 5-3 record in the 4A-3. [player_tooltip player_id='1196160' first='Mikayla' last='Guess'] has been one of Blytheville's best weapons, and I would expect her to play a large part in what could be a surprisingly deep playoff run for them.   One of Guess' best games of the season was versus Brookland, where she had 20 points and 10 rebounds. It is not common for a 5'6" guard to reach the double-digit mark in the rebounding category, especially against a talented rebounding team.   Guess can score from inside and out, but especially on the fastbreak. A lot of times, Guess's scoring comes from her play on the defensive end. The senior is a lockdown defender who has a nose for the basketball. She plays the passing lanes like a tenured pro, deflecting passes and triggering the fastbreak.   [player_tooltip player_id='1196160' first='Mikayla' last='Guess'] is certainly an underrated player on this Blytheville team. Frankly, this whole team is underrated, and I will be keeping up with them as they look to solidify a spot in the 4A state tournament.    4A-4    [player_tooltip player_id='549973' first='Stevie' last='Tanner'] is one of the more automatic scorers in the state. She consistently burns a hole on the statsheet with her scoring outings, and she continues to impress with her recent play.   Tanner eclipsed the 1,000-point mark in her high school career a day ago, a huge accomplishment for any hooper, especially in just their junior season!   Some of her best play occurred at the beginning of the season. She had 7 3-pointers in a loss to 3A powerhouse Dover, then Dardanelle bounced back and beat Joe T. Robinson, where Tanner went for 25 points and 4 assists. The junior had an even better game against Western Yell County, recording 33 points. In the next game, Tanner did it again, logging 28 points against Huntsville.   Tanner is obviously a great scorer. She can light it up from beyond the arch, step inside to hit some mid-range jumpers, or go right at the defense and score in the paint. She has a solid handle and can maneuver around the court, finding her spots on the floor.   It is hard to ignore the superior play of [player_tooltip player_id='549973' first='Stevie' last='Tanner']. I am surprised more people are not talking about this superstar scorer. I can see college all-conference awards in her future.    4A-5 North    [player_tooltip player_id='1051962' first='Kayden' last='Brown'] just committed to North Arkansas College in late December. She may not be Clinton's go-to scorer most of the time, but this team is not successful without her.   Brown stated during the offseason that she wanted to give "100 percent effort every day," according to 501 Life Magazine. Her head coach, Matthew Post, was quoted by 501 Life Magazine saying that Brown had turned into "one of the best rebounders and defenders" in the 4A-5 North. He was far from wrong.   With Brown's length, she is often playing the 4 position for the Lady Yellowjackets. When she is on defense in the post, she will use both hands to go up for a block. She prevents shots from going up in the paint, and she also prevents them from getting there in the first place, poking passes away. On the other end, Brown is an excellent 3-point shooter.   Brown is lethal off the catch. Whenever her teammates can set her up for a good look from outside, Brown will use her great shooting form and drain shot after shot.   [player_tooltip player_id='1051962' first='Kayden' last='Brown'] is an excellent 3&D player for Clinton. She has been impressive in her senior season, and her play will translate to the college level.    4A-5 South    Bauxite has a talented guard group, but it has not translated into wins, sitting with just a 1-6 conference record. Despite that, [player_tooltip player_id='1196175' first='Jadyn' last='McDade'] has been a bright spot.   McDade had an impressive showing in a loss against eStem in mid-January. She had 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. She also hit 3 triples in that game, all off the catch. McDade has a quick release on her shot and puts plenty of spin and arch on the ball.   On the other end of the floor, McDade makes her mark as a solid perimeter defender. She records multiple steals a night, along with several deflections. Once she pokes the ball free, she will take it down the court, finishing well through contact on the break. McDade can also block some shots, as she recorded 2 against Hall.   Bauxite has some talented players, with [player_tooltip player_id='1196175' first='Jadyn' last='McDade'] being one of them. I would expect McDade to be one of Bauxite's building blocks of the future.    4A-6    [player_tooltip player_id='1197507' first='Kassidi' last='Smith'] is one of the best freshmen in the state, regardless of classification. She has logged some incredible statlines this year, and she is just scratching the surface with her talent.   Smith has been a beast on the boards so far, recording a 20-rebound game against Southside in January. She added 18 points and 2 steals in that game. She also had 17 points, 17 rebounds, and 3 blocks against Wynne.   Smith boxes out anyone who tries to push her around in the post. Despite only being a freshman, she holds her own, dominating more often than not. She will sky for the board, just like she will sky for a block.   On offense, Smith makes her money down low. She scores a lot from second-chance opportunities, but she is always ready to receive a pass from a teammate and immediately go up.   [player_tooltip player_id='1197507' first='Kassidi' last='Smith'] is already one of the best rebounders in the state. She is a force on both ends, and it is hard to believe she is only a freshman. We should all keep up with Smith's career in Forrest City.    4A-7    [player_tooltip player_id='1051648' first='Caroline' last='Dean'] has had some great scoring outings this season. She has had multiple 20-point nights, along with at least one 30-point evening this year, propelling Nashville towards the top of the 4A standings.   Whether she has a look from mid-range or from three, Dean will take and make her shots. If she is chased off the perimeter, then she can drive inside and find a way to finish through tough defensive pressure. She can also hit short jumpers or floaters in the lane.   Outside of scoring, one of Dean's best attributes is her rebounding ability. Heart is more important than stature, and she plays with a heart of fire. There is not a board that can be kept from her, and she will immediately start the fastbreak if she pulls down the defensive rebound.   [player_tooltip player_id='1051648' first='Caroline' last='Dean'] has made some noticable improvements to her game. She also looks more confident and tends to hunt more for her shots. Keep up with this star of the loaded 4A-7.    4A-8    The Monticello Lady Billies have struggled thus far. They have just a 2-3 record in conference play, but [player_tooltip player_id='1186758' first='Genesis' last='Freeman'] has been a bright spot for this team.   Freeman is the definition of a lockdown defender. She plays hard on the defensive end for all 32 minutes, recording multiple steals a night. Once she has the ball in her hands, she will push the ball, creating offensive opportunities for her team.   Once Freeman gets a full head of steam, there is not much that can be done to stop her. She sprints with power down the floor, and the opposition often cannot catch up to her when she is driving down the court with the ball. From there, Freeman is unselfish and looks to set her teammates up.   [player_tooltip player_id='1186758' first='Genesis' last='Freeman'] is a fantastic defender for the Lady Billies. Monticello might not make the 4A playoffs, but Freeman's defense could still give them a fighting chance, or at least keep them competitive in their final regular season games.    There were so many talented players in the 4A classification to choose from! I could have easily made this a much longer article, but it was still important to recognize these 8 underrated players.

The 4A classification is a little different than the other classifications in the state. Instead of a 4A-2, it skips from 4A-1 to 4A-3, then there is the 4A-5 North and South. Despite the differences, there is no change in the variety of talent. Here is one underrated player from each 4A conference you should be keeping tabs on: