Players who deserve to be in the Top 10 of their class

I will look at the 2026, 2027, and 2028 classes and recognize players who are on the outside looking in on the top 10 of their class. Each class's top 10 deserves to be in their position, but the players mentioned here have a great chance of appearing in any of those top spots.    Greenwood's star joined the 1,000-point club this season, which was no surprise after seeing all of the incredible performances she had for the Lady Bulldogs.   [player_tooltip player_id='876322' first='Kylah' last='Pearcy'] played great against teams from multiple classifications, including 6A Central Bryant High School, where she had 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 steals. Later that month, Pearcy showed off more of her two-way skills when she posted 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 steals in a conference showing versus Alma. The incoming senior had other fantastic January performances, including a 26-point showing against Farmington and a 27-point outing against Van Buren. In Greenwood's second showdown against Van Buren, Pearcy was somehow even better, putting up 33 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals against the Lady Pointers.   Pearcy hits outside shots at a high level, whether off the catch or the dribble. She has no problem shooting contested jumpers because she knows they will go in. With Pearcy's solid ball-handling ability, she can drive hard to the basket and finish through contact. She also displays great defensive instincts along the perimeter, poking balls free and snatching passes out of the air.   [player_tooltip player_id='876322' first='Kylah' last='Pearcy'] is almost inside the top 10, and there is a great chance she gets over that hump with another strong season in 2025-26.     Barton's head coach, Ryan Koerdt, has stated publicly, wondering why [player_tooltip player_id='1060807' first='Da'Mya' last='Wilson'] is not in the top 10 in the 2026 class (insert X link). She was also snubbed from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette basketball teams, specifically the "Super Six to Watch in 2025-26." Koerdt advocated for his returning superstar, which in part inspired this article, and he is right.   Wilson led Barton in points, rebounds, and steals in the playoffs, ending her postseason with 38 points, 7 rebounds, 5 steals, and 1 block in the state championship game. Though Barton lost a close contest to Izard County Consolidated, they had no answer for Barton's star junior.    No other teams in the 2A classification had an answer for Wilson, as she scorched Ouachita in the first round for 33 points. During the regular season, Wilson averaged well over 20 points per game, scoring at a high level against any opponent who stood in her way, even against teams in larger classifications.   For Barton Lady Bear fans, Wilson has been scoring at a high rate since she was a freshman, when she put up 55 points against Augusta in 2022. At the time, that was the 3rd-highest scoring game in Arkansas high school girls' basketball history.   If it is not obvious, [player_tooltip player_id='1060807' first='Da'Mya' last='Wilson'] should be in the top 10 in the 2026 class because of her scoring ability alone. She was recognized by Crain Kia Conway as the Nothing But Net 2A Girls Most Outstanding Player for this past season, and I imagine she will eclipse 50 points again as she will be the clear #1 option again for the Lady Bears.      [player_tooltip player_id='593775' first='Brinley' last='Collins'] has already been in the top 10 of the 2027 class, and she is close to making it back in again. After being an all-conference, all-state, all-region, and all-tournament selection this past season, she is well on her way to another top-10 position in her class.   Collins averaged 16 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals a game during her sophomore season. She was an excellent 3-point shooter and finisher, able to handle contact well inside the paint. Collins can get to any spot on the floor she wants with her solid handles and quick reactions to what the defense throws her way.    In addition to her 2 steals a game, Collins averages around 3 deflections a night, displaying just how active she is on the defensive end, and how no pass is safe when she is around. Once this Lady Panther has a paw on the ball, she will fly down the floor and come away with a score, whether she is taking it herself or facilitating.    I expect [player_tooltip player_id='593775' first='Brinley' last='Collins'] to take a big step up in 2025-26, so 3A schools beware.     [player_tooltip player_id='593252' first='Jacey' last='Halitzka'] is another fantastic 2027 player from Bergman. She had a big regular season and postseason with the Lady Panthers, and she is ready to do it again while making a case to be in the top 10 of her class.   Halitzka showed off her elite shooting ability at the Heart of Texas Showcase a couple of weekends ago, particularly her ability to shoot off a screen. She has a quick release on her jumpers and has no problem shooting from well beyond the 3-point line. If the defense runs her off the perimeter, she can find their creases and force her way inside, scoring through traffic.    [player_tooltip player_id='593252' first='Jacey' last='Halitzka'] is one of the best shooters coming out of the 3A classification. If this incoming junior has an open look from beyond, defenses should be afraid of the result. After such a strong showing towards the end of the year, I would imagine that 2025-26 could be a breakout year for her.     Alma has a long history of success with girls' basketball, especially with their senior star Jordan Gramlich, who became the school's all-time leading scorer during the season. With Gramlich leaving, Alma needs a new star to get behind, and that star is [player_tooltip player_id='1118020' first='Olivia' last='Hughes'].    Hughes made headlines when she received an offer from nearby Arkansas-Fort Smith early on during her freshman season. She finished her first varsity basketball campaign, averaging 8.2 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists per game.   Hughes has been playing with Shock Hoops during the AAU season, and she has performed well in multiple tournaments. During the Border War, Hughes averaged 8.5 points and shot 67% from beyond the arc. During the Select 40 tournament, the versatile guard stood out. She posted 7.5 points a contest, recorded 4 assists during one game, and 4 steals during another.   [player_tooltip player_id='1118020' first='Olivia' last='Hughes'] has impacted the game on both ends of the floor. She is one heck of a shooter while being a solid distributor. With her length, she disrupts the opposition, especially when they are trying to move the ball around. Keep an eye on this future star as we inch closer to the fall season.    All of these players are incredible, but they are competing against other great players. These players must continue to post on social media about their accomplishments and their stat lines. Updated highlights are, of course, important, whether on the high school or AAU level. Those updates could be what helps them find their way into the top 10 of their class.   Do keep up with these players as they all have college basketball futures, and they are so much fun to watch when they are rolling.

I will look at the 2026, 2027, and 2028 classes and recognize players who are on the outside looking in on the top 10 of their class. Each class's top 10 deserves to be in their position, but the players mentioned here have a great chance of appearing in any of those top spots.