Some of the 6A's Most Underrated Players

The 6A classification is the smallest in Arkansas high school sports, but it is made up of the largest schools. These teams have extremely talented players, but some of these players receive less recognition than others. Since there are just two conferences in the 6A, here are 3 players from the 6A West and the 6A Central you should all know about.   6A West    Springdale Har-Ber is one of the best teams in the state of Arkansas, and they are loaded with talent. They have a great guard lineup, with [player_tooltip player_id='1091140' first='Jazmine' last='McCarther'] being an underrated difference-maker.   The senior guard has had some strong performances this season. She had 19 points against Rogers Heritage on senior night. In the two games prior to that, McCarther had 2 separate 10-point performances, right after a 12-point outing in a win over Fayetteville.   McCarther has been very consistent for the Lady Wildcats this season. Most of her scoring comes from her movement off the ball, as she is one of the best cutters in the conference. She is also one of the first players to leak out in transition, scoring a lot of easy layups. In the halfcourt, McCarther can hit the long ball, but she has shown that she is an effective driver.   In addition to being an outstanding defender, [player_tooltip player_id='1091140' first='Jazmine' last='McCarther'] is what helps this team be so successful. She is the glue that holds the Wildcats together and they are not 6A title contenders without her.     [player_tooltip player_id='1060890' first='Charley' last='Rawlins'] should not be on the Watch List, especially with the way she has played this season.   Rawlins is a knockdown shooter who can heat up quickly. She moves well without the basketball, finding ways to get herself open along the perimeter. Once she finds her spot beyond the 3-point line, she will not hesitate to dial up a triple. She has a quick release and good shot elevation, which is a lethal combination.   Rawlins has played well during the conference slate. She had 11 points, with 9 points coming from beyond the arch. On one 3-pointer, once she shot the ball, one of her teammates just went ahead and started running back down the court. She knew that shot would go in, and sure enough, it did.   [player_tooltip player_id='1060890' first='Charley' last='Rawlins'] has played well with Fayetteville this season, establishing herself as one of the best shooters in the 6A classification.     Rogers is in a good position to make the 6A playoffs, despite having a losing record in conference play. The 6A West might just be the hardest conference in the state to play in, but that does not mean Rogers lacks talent, as senior [player_tooltip player_id='1192818' first='Alayshia' last='Freeland'] has been hurting defenses as of late.   Freeland had a 24-point outing against a good Bentonville West team just a few days ago. She also had a solid performance versus Fayetteville, finishing with 15 points on 4 made triples.   Freeland has one of the quickest releases you will ever see at the high school level. She is not a player to whom you can give an open look. She is a phenomenal 3-point shooter, equally dangerous off the bounce and the catch. Do not forget to keep her from getting a shot off when she is working around a screen. If the defense closes out too hard on the perimeter, then it is no problem for Freeland. She can pull up for the mid-range jumper or blow by the second level of defense and get to the bucket.   I bolded the word "bucket" in the previous paragraph because that is what [player_tooltip player_id='1192818' first='Alayshia' last='Freeland'] is; a bucket. I will be intrigued by how she plays during the 6A playoffs.    6A Central    I have watched a lot of 6A central basketball this year, and there are not many players who are as efficient as [player_tooltip player_id='1060878' first='Elicia' last='Shepherd'].   Shepherd may be classified as a shooting guard on this platform, but she is about as good of a forward as you can find at this level. She has a great touch around the basket, not bothered by tight post defenses. Shepherd scored 19 points on 9/9 shooting against Little Rock Southwest last month, displaying that efficiency. The junior is also a rebounding machine.   She has 5 double-doubles on the year, with her most recent being a 10-point, 11-rebound performance against Bryant in late January. Her second double-double was against Greenwood in December, where she had 10 points and 13 rebounds. Shepherd uses her toughness and athleticism to position herself under the basket, winning every rebound battle.   Lyon College has already offered [player_tooltip player_id='1060878' first='Elicia' last='Shepherd'], and it is time for others to do the same.     I have already talked about [player_tooltip player_id='1090888' first='Keila' last='Dailey'] multiple times this season, but everyone needs to hear more about this freshman sharpshooter.   The lefty guard is a fantastic 3-point shooter, using great shot elevation and a quick release. Dailey is great off the catch, especially in the corners. When she has a good look from beyond, do everything in your power to go and contest. Even if the defense comes with a good closeout, she can simply take a dribble inside the arch and hit a mid-range jumper instead. Of course, Dailey is more than a shooter.   Even as a freshman, Dailey is not easily rattled in difficult situations. She handles pressure well, often taking over at the point late in games. She can calm the offense down, either facilitating or figuring out the best shot she can take. Dailey is also a solid defender.   [player_tooltip player_id='1090888' first='Keila' last='Dailey'] is a highly underrated player in the 6A central. Bryant has multiple freshmen with tremendous potential, but Dailey could very well be the best of the bunch.     Since I have been a part of the Tigers Sports Network, which broadcasts Central High School games, I have seen a lot of [player_tooltip player_id='1183222' first='Rosebella' last='Onyango']. In all of the conference games I have seen this season, I continue to be impressed by this sophomore.   Onyango is Central's backup center, but she makes more plays on a nightly basis than most team's starting centers. Onyango averages about 5 points and 4 rebounds a night, while also averaging about 0.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks.   The sophomore is consistent with her play inside. She is a solid finisher and has great hands, ready to catch every pass that comes her way. Even on the rare occasions where Onyango is missing shots, she is not getting outrebounded. She uses her length and athleticism to dominate the glass, while also using it to block and contest shots at the other end.   [player_tooltip player_id='1183222' first='Rosebella' last='Onyango'] is going to be a star soon. She is expected to be Central's starting center next season, so she is a player to keep an eye out for in the future.   P.S. She also has some guard ability, so more reason to watch out for this future star.    The 6A classification is loaded, which is no surprise. I think that all of these players have college basketball potential, and I bet there are plenty of others who agree. The playoffs are right around the corner, so make sure to tune in to a broadcast or go see a game to watch these underrated hoopers ball out.

The 6A classification is the smallest in Arkansas high school sports, but it is made up of the largest schools. These teams have extremely talented players, but some of these players receive less recognition than others. Since there are just two conferences in the 6A, here are 3 players from the 6A West and the 6A Central you should all know about.