Breaking down the Top 5 of the 2028 Rankings

We had some movement in the top 5 of the 2028 ranking. The top 2 spots remain the same, as those players reinforced their positions with strong postseason play. In two of the remaining three spots, two of the ranking's highest risers make their first top 5 appearances.    It was no surprise that Farmington won the 5A championship, despite being in their first season in the new classification since moving up from 4A. [player_tooltip player_id='1090920' first='Easton' last='McCollough'] was the driving force all season for the Lady Cardinals, continuing her stellar play in the postseason.   In the 5A title game against Greene County Tech, the freshman took home MVP honors after posting 24 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. She also shot 4/9 from 3-point land. Against Vilonia in the playoffs, she scored 18 of Farmington's 25 points in the first quarter. McCollough's great play kicked off when she had 36 points in the first round versus Parkview.   Farmington's superstar is one of the best 3-point shooters in the state, and probably one of the best in the southern United States. She has a quick release and an excellent follow-through on her shot. She is fantastic off the catch and the dribble. McCollough is also a threat in the open court, capitalizing off turnovers by scoring easily in transition.   [player_tooltip player_id='1090920' first='Easton' last='McCollough'] has already emerged as one of the best freshmen in the country, perhaps already being the best player in the state. Farmington's star is just getting started.     Fayetteville surprised a lot of people when they made it to the 6A championship game. Though they ultimately came up short, Lady Bulldog fans got to see some great play from their young players, including [player_tooltip player_id='1090910' first='Payton' last='Caudle'].   Caudle had 17 points in the championship game against Fort Smith Northside, along with 8 rebounds, with 4 coming on the offensive end. With her 6'0" frame, she can dominate the glass while being a forceful finisher inside. She is also difficult to contest when shooting jumpers. Her length and her quick release become a dangerous combination when shooting off the catch and the dribble.   On the other end of the floor, Caudle reads passes easily, poking them away and taking the loose ball the other way. She can also block shots, as she showed that she could make some clutch help-side defensive plays in the playoffs.   [player_tooltip player_id='1090910' first='Payton' last='Caudle'] is another freshman who is one of the top overall players in the state and one of the country's rising stars. Fayetteville can make another run at the 6A title next season with its incredible young talent.     [player_tooltip player_id='952547' first='Kenady' last='Barrett'] was the highest riser in the 2028 rankings, moving up from #11 to #3. It was an easy decision after her phenomenal freshman season. She was all-conference, all-state, and all-tournament this season and she can do that again as a sophomore.   One of Barrett's premiere performances this season was against Bigelow in the state tournament, posting 33 points with 18 coming in the first half and 10 in the second quarter alone. In a 3-game stretch during the regular season, Barrett averaged 28 points per contest. In late January, she was averaging 22 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game.    Barrett has shown that she is a lethal multi-level scorer. She is a fantastic 3-point shooter who is unstoppable off the dribble. She can also step inside the arch and hit some mid-range jumpers. If a lane to the basket opens up, Barrett will not hesitate to exploit it and get inside with her solid handles. She can also make great plays on the defensive end, jumping passing lanes and scoring in transition. Barrett is also a shot-blocking threat, so opposing scorers must watch when she slides over on help defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='952547' first='Kenady' last='Barrett'] already has an offer from Ouachita Baptist, and I imagine she will receive many more before she is an upperclassman.     [player_tooltip player_id='1090383' first='Kylie' last='Johnson'] was the first Conway freshman starter since Chloe Clardy in 2019. Once Johnson jumped into that role, it was clear that she would be in the top 10 of this class, especially after being a Conway team that was considered a top 25 team in the nation. She was also one of the highest risers in this class, moving from #9 to #4.   Johnson has shown that she can hit the outside shot, especially in the corners. However, Johnson is at her best when attacking the basket. With her frame and strength, few opponents can slow her down. If someone successfully cuts her off, then she can turn around and hit a jumper over the top of them.    Offense sometimes comes easily for freshmen, unlike defense and rebounding. That is not the same for Johnson, though, as she made high-IQ plays on both sides of the ball throughout the year. She is a fantastic rebounder, using her athleticism to outleap the opposition when cleaning the glass. Johnson can also block some shots and steal passes.   [player_tooltip player_id='1090383' first='Kylie' last='Johnson'] already has a Division I offer from Southeast Missouri State, but she will get many more before her career is over.     [player_tooltip player_id='753259' first='Gia' last='Campbell'] led the way offensively for Bauxite this season. Though the Lady Miners had their tough moments, this freshman was a bright spot who was one of the more consistent scorers in the 4A classification.   Campbell is a fantastic markswoman from beyond the arch. Defenders cannot go under a screen when guarding her, because she has no trouble burying the shot off the dribble. If the defender goes over on the screen, she can simply drive past them and get to her spots inside.   On the defensive end, Campbell has proven to be a hounding on-ball perimeter defender. She moves her feet well laterally, staying in front of her assignment every possession. She also plays with active hands, reacting quickly to bad passes and sloppy handles.   Also throw in how solid of a playmaker [player_tooltip player_id='753259' first='Gia' last='Campbell'] is, especially when making plays for others. This is a player who will continue to shine as her basketball career continues.    The 2028 class features some incredible talent, which is expected in the top 5 of the rankings. These stars have a long way to go before their collegiate careers begin, but that means they have the potential to continue to improve, which is very exciting.

We had some movement in the top 5 of the 2028 ranking. The top 2 spots remain the same, as those players reinforced their positions with strong postseason play. In two of the remaining three spots, two of the ranking's highest risers make their first top 5 appearances.