The Stars on the Central Arkansas Banshee 17U Squad

One of the top AAU programs in the state is the Central Arkansas [program_tooltip program_id='712392' first='Banshees' last='']. Their 17U squad is elite, featuring several incoming seniors who have college basketball futures and some younger players who shined during the high school season.   This group features multiple players with experience playing at a high level, particularly in the postseason.    [player_tooltip player_id='1060890' first='Charley' last='Rawlins'] helped take a young Fayetteville team to the 6A championship this past season. Though they ultimately fell short, Rawlins will be a valuable piece to the 6A runner-ups as they hope to go back to the big game. Before that, Rawlins will be impactful for this Banshee squad.   Rawlins is a fantastic outside shooter who can get going quickly. During the Dynasty Region Kickoff in Fort Worth, Rawlins knocked down 17 3-pointers across 3 games. Her quick release makes her a deadly weapon from the outside and she is fantastic off the catch. Defenses have to close out on her every time she steps foot on the floor and she works well alongside the great passers who are also on this Banshee team.   [player_tooltip player_id='1060890' first='Charley' last='Rawlins'] shot almost 40% from beyond the arch in her freshman season of high school basketball, knocking down 71 total triples. She continues to get better from behind the 3-point line. Defenses will get to know her quite well if she has an open look.     Harding Academy's star, [player_tooltip player_id='876333' first='Claire' last='Citty'], is a tough player to stop in all three major scoring areas. The opposition will have a tough time trying to slow down one of the top players in the 2026 class.   During the high school season, Citty averaged 18.9 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 3.0 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. She also shot 40% from the field, hit 48 3-pointers, and made 88 free throws during her junior season. With the Arkansas Sting AAU squad last summer, Citty had some notable performances, including a 19-point outing against 2025 Urban Heroes and a 14-point performance against Colorado Hoopsters White.   With her ability to create her shot, there is not a spot on the floor where [player_tooltip player_id='876333' first='Claire' last='Citty'] cannot score. She has already played well at the AAU level and I imagine she carries over her strong play in high school to this summer's stage.     [player_tooltip player_id='1091205' first='Kimber' last='Cox'] found some success in her first year with the Dover Lady Pirates. She was a key player coming off the bench and she will continue to provide that spark on the AAU stage.   Cox averaged 5.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game during the regular season. She has proven to be a solid two-way player in her short time with Dover, as she moves well without the basketball and can finish through contact, hitting her 2-pointers at a 43% rate.    On the defensive end, she has used her 5'9" frame well, disrupting passing lanes and swatting shots whenever she can whenever she slides over on help defense.    [player_tooltip player_id='1091205' first='Kimber' last='Cox'] is due for more playing time, and she will provide more evidence as to why she deserves more minutes with the 3A runner-ups.     East Poinsett County's star guard has a great sophomore season. She led EPC to a 13-3 conference record and she will be one of the leaders this summer for the [program_tooltip program_id='712392' first='Banshees' last=''].   Gaines averaged 14.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 3.0 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game in 2024/25. She shot 43% from the field and 49% on 2-pointers. Gaines is a fantastic slasher who thrives when finishing through traffic. She is also a solid facilitator and rebounder.    On the defensive end, Gaines picks pockets and pokes away passes for a living. When this incoming junior is guarding you, there is little you can do to successfully drive past her.   [player_tooltip player_id='1090293' first='Allison' last='Gaines'] is an underrated player who will turn some heads this summer. Expect big things from her this coming fall.     [player_tooltip player_id='848699' first='Bailey' last='Barton'] is one of the best players in the 2027 class, showing out this past season for Beebe. She has already impressed on the AAU stage in the past and now she will do it again.   After being named all-conference and all-state this past season, Barton is set to tear up defenses. She has already played at the PGH Dynasty Region Kickoff in Fort Worth, Texas, and she played extremely well. Barton takes good shots and hits them more often than not, especially from outside. She can also muscle her way inside, find a sliver of space, and score.   [player_tooltip player_id='848699' first='Bailey' last='Barton'] is a tough player to stop, regardless of who is matched up with her. She has a serious chance of improving her stock with her play this summer.     Makenzie Williams was another Beebe Lady Badger who played well this past season. She will continue to find success on the court this summer with the [program_tooltip program_id='712392' first='Banshees' last=''].   Williams is an excellent slasher. If she sees a lane to the hoop, she will not hesitate to exploit it, and she is without a doubt finishing at the basket. She can step out and hit jumpers, whether from mid-range or three, but defenses cannot give her a path to the paint.   Makenzie Williams starred with Des Arc as a sophomore, but she played well in her first year with Beebe, helping lead them to the 5A state tournament. She is an incoming senior in 2025/26 and I could see her rising quickly in the rankings very soon.     Beebe had several versatile players on its roster this past year. [player_tooltip player_id='1093269' first='London' last='Hicks'] was one of them. She had some positive momentum in her game during her sophomore season, being named all-conference and all-state, and now she plans on carrying that over to her summer with the [program_tooltip program_id='712392' first='Banshees' last=''].   Hicks has already impressed during the early part of the [program_tooltip program_id='712392' first='Banshees' last='']' AAU schedule. She plays with a lot of heart and determination on both ends of the floor. On the defensive end, that hustle translates into diving on loose balls and playing sound on-ball defense. On the other side, Hicks is going to crash the glass and move well without the basketball.    [player_tooltip player_id='1093269' first='London' last='Hicks'] is also a solid 3-point shooter, adding another element to her versatile skillset. She will be another player to keep an eye on during the offseason.     Manila had such a solid team, with [player_tooltip player_id='433751' first='Hadlie' last='Goodson'] leading the way on the offensive end. She intends to do that with the [program_tooltip program_id='712392' first='Banshees' last=''] now.   So far with the [program_tooltip program_id='712392' first='Banshees' last=''], Goodson has proven that she has an unpluckable handle. She keeps it tight and low to the ground, making it very difficult for a defender to reach in and poke it free. She has also shown that she can shoot well off the dribble, as well as off the catch.   Outside of scoring, Goodson can get her teammates involved. She reacts quickly to whatever the defense throws at her. If help defense arrives, she hits her open teammate with a slick pass, leading to an assist.   [player_tooltip player_id='433751' first='Hadlie' last='Goodson'] continues to find ways to make great plays on the court, and I highly suspect that her ranking position will improve in the near future.     [player_tooltip player_id='877661' first='Rylee' last='Wilburn'] is one of the best players in all of 2A. She did seemingly everything on the court for Rector this past season and she has the potential to be able to do it again, this time for the [program_tooltip program_id='712392' first='Banshees' last=''].   Wilburn is an elite shooter who is too dangerous to be left open from beyond the arch. The problem is, if the defense closes out too hard, she can sprint by and get to the basket, where she finishes at an efficient clip. If help successfully arrives in the post, she can shoot over them with a floater or find the open teammate with a quick pass.   [player_tooltip player_id='877661' first='Rylee' last='Wilburn'] is criminally underrated, but the AAU slate should prove to everyone why she deserves minutes.    Is there anyone who can stop this team?

One of the top AAU programs in the state is the Central Arkansas Banshees . Their 17U squad is elite, featuring several incoming seniors who have college basketball futures and some younger players who shined during the high school season.