The Top Player from each Arkansas County (Preseason pt. 1)

We have probably watched the news with all the recent severe weather that has hit Arkansas. The hardworking meteorologists keep the state updated with the latest severe weather forecast, but I am always amazed by how they know all 75 of the Arkansas counties off the top of their heads. I have lived in Arkansas my entire life, and up until recently, I could probably name 5 counties, and I definitely would not be able to identify them on a map.   With that in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to look at each county and identify one player who I believe will be the top player in the county in 2025-26. This article covers 15 of the 75 counties, going in alphabetical order.   Arkansas County   Let us kick this article series off with Arkansas County. No disrespect intended, but whoever named this county was lacking some creativity. Regardless, this county features two public high schools (Stuttgart and DeWitt) with a lot of talent. However, the rankings and the numbers single out one player who stands out amongst the rest.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brooklyn-owens-2/">[player_tooltip player_id='876288' first='Brooklyn' last='Owens']</a> of Stuttgart is the #16 player in the 2026 class in Arkansas, and she is in for a major senior season. In 2024-25, she led the team in scoring with 16.3 points per game, also posting 5.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.9 steals per game. Stuttgart graduated its second through fifth-best scorers from this past season, so the Lady Ricebirds will have to heavily rely on their incoming senior. For this team, I would not be too concerned, as Owens has proven to be an incredible scorer. She can create her own shot, hit jumpers from outside, and play remarkable defense along the perimeter.   [player_tooltip player_id='876288' first='Brooklyn' last='Owens'] is in a loaded 2026 class, but I still believe she can pull ahead and be the top player in the county. If she is ranked #16 overall, then there are plenty of good reasons as to why. I can see a dominant season for the guard on the horizon.   Ashley County   Ashley County has Crossett and Hamburg High Schools. Both schools struggled this past season while graduating some talent. Hamburg's Za'Niya Mooney graduating is a tough pill to swallow, but I think that the Lady Lions might find a hidden gem this coming season.   Incoming senior [player_tooltip player_id='1251738' first='Jalie' last='Tippin'] was Hamburg's starting point guard this past season, and she will be called upon to improve her play. She is a solid playmaker, but she is still a bit of an unknown at that position. Don't be surprised if you see Tippin on the Watch List after the next rankings update, because I am intrigued to see how she handles a larger role on this Hamburg squad.   [player_tooltip player_id='1251738' first='Jalie' last='Tippin'] is underrated, but she is my early pick for the top player in the county.   Baxter County   Baxter County features solid talent across multiple schools (Mountain Home, Norfork, and Cotter). Though each team has had its bright spots, Mountain Home stands out as the top team in the North Arkansas county, and I believe they have the top player in this county for next season.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jayla-yonkers/">[player_tooltip player_id='876331' first='Jayla' last='Yonkers']</a> has already picked up offers from Pittsburgh State and Missouri Southern State, and the 2026 prospect will probably pick up more once the season rolls around. Yonkers is a multi-level scorer with a great feel for the game. She can hit shots from outside, score amongst the trees on the interior, and make plays for others. She can also make great plays on the defensive end.   There is not much [player_tooltip player_id='876331' first='Jayla' last='Yonkers'] cannot do on the basketball court. Though she has some incredible teammates returning for next year, I think this guard has the edge for the designation of top player in Baxter County.   Benton County   Benton County has several schools, ranging from private to public. Bentonville, Bentonville West, Rogers, Thaden, and Haas Hall Academy (Bentonville) are all in this county. Though it was hard to choose, I think Bentonville will have the county's top player next year, along with being the best team from this part of Arkansas.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jensen-thrasher/">[player_tooltip player_id='1090896' first='Jensen' last='Thrasher']</a> is already on Division I radars. She has picked up an offer from Southeast Missouri State, which loves to get its hands on great talent from the Natural State early in their basketball careers. Thrasher is an excellent scorer who can hit shots from almost every spot on the floor. She is highly effective with the ball in her hands, especially as a facilitator.   I have high hopes for the Bentonville squad in 2025-26, and it all starts with [player_tooltip player_id='1090896' first='Jensen' last='Thrasher'], who could very well be the top player in the county by this time next year.   Boone County   Boone County might not be the largest county in the state, but it features some of the best talent the state has to offer. Sure, counties like Pulaski, Washington, and Faulkner might feature the bulk of the talent, but the hoopers in Boone cannot go unnoticed. This county features Bergman, Valley Springs, Harrison, Alpena, Omaha, and Lead Hill.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/brinley-collins/">[player_tooltip player_id='593775' first='Brinley' last='Collins']</a> out of Bergman gets the edge over several great players for the top player in Boone County. During her sophomore campaign, she averaged 16 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals per game. She is a solid outside shooter and a versatile scorer. Her handles make her tough to guard, and all 5 players on the other team need to be aware of her at all times, whether on offense or defense.   Bergman features several highly ranked players, but [player_tooltip player_id='593775' first='Brinley' last='Collins'] will be that team's leader in 2025-26. Keep an eye on one of the top guards in the 2027 class.   Bradley County   Warren and Hermitage are the only high schools in Bradley County. This may be a smaller county, but both teams have some intriguing young talent who could be household names in the next couple of years.   It was hard to choose, but I think Warren's <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/bayleigh-miller/">[player_tooltip player_id='1209080' first='Bayleigh' last='Miller'] </a>might be the top player in the county during the 2025-26 season. Miller had a fantastic sophomore season, being named all-conference and all-state this past year. These postseason accolades are not surprising, considering she impressed Lady Lumberjack fans with her 16-point, 14-rebound, 2-steal, and 5-block performance against Watson Chapel back in February.   With Miller's ability to dominate the post on both ends of the floor, there is no reason why she cannot have a monster year as a junior. If she continues to play how she has, she will hold down the title of "top player in Bradley County."   Calhoun County   This county is very unique compared to a lot of the other Arkansas counties. Calhoun County is the smallest county in Arkansas, with a population of just over 4,000. Hampton is the county seat and features the lone high school in the area.   With only Hampton players to choose from, I landed on <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jakayla-stephens/">[player_tooltip player_id='1244344' first='Jakayla' last='Stephens']</a>. There were several great players on this Hampton squad, but I believe Stephens might be the only one with a Division I offer. She picked up an offer from Southern Mississippi just under a year ago. Stephens is a solid post player who can score at will. She had a notable 15-point outing against Bearden early in the season, and I believe she can replicate that production on a nightly basis.   Keep an eye on this talented big in 2025-26.   Carroll County   Eureka Springs, Berryville, and Green Forest High Schools are all in Carroll County. Berryville stood out this past season, propelling itself forward as the top team in the county. Because of that designation, they must have the top player in the county.   All-state performer <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kaylyn-smith/">[player_tooltip player_id='1244980' first='Kaylyn' last='Smith']</a> is one of the top returners coming out of this region. She is a great 3-point shooter, and to be frank, it is a silly idea to leave her open on the perimeter. If she has a good look off the catch, there is essentially a guarantee that she will bury it, even if you come at her with a good closeout. Plus, with her length, she can make solid plays in the paint and on the perimeter on both ends of the floor.   [player_tooltip player_id='1244980' first='Kaylyn' last='Smith'] is up against some tough competition from her teammates for the best player in Carroll County. If she has another all-state season in 2025-26, she will continue to hold on to that top-player designation.   Chicot County   Dermott High School and Lakeside High School in Lake Village are the lone schools in this county. These schools are not known for their basketball teams, but I believe Dermott has the best player in the county by far.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/alayna-plummer/">[player_tooltip player_id='1244426' first='Alayna' last='Plummer']</a>, an incoming senior out of Dermott, has had plenty of success over the years. She first put herself on the map after a 31-point outing against Junction City at the Southeast Arkansas Holiday Tournament in 2024. Dermott scored only 38 total points in that game. Plummer had another great scoring season, earning an all-state selection. The 2026 player is underrated, but she can take over and carry her team whenever she is called upon to do so.   If a player is accounting for around 82% of their team's scoring in a game as just a sophomore, you better believe they are worthy of the top player in Chicot County mantle.   Clark County   Clark County features almost as many colleges as it does high schools. Arkadelphia and Gurdon High Schools are in this county, as well as Centerpoint out of Amity. However, Centerpoint High School is not just in Clark County, so I might mention them again in another article.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/zlayiah-jackson/">[player_tooltip player_id='1060820' first='Z'Layiah' last='Jackson']</a>, out of Arkadelphia, is the best player from this county. She started her junior season with a bang after posting a then-season-high of 24 points and a career-high of 15 rebounds against Clinton in December. She also had a great outing against Warren in January, logging 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 deflections, which earned her the Clark County Farm Bureau Player of the Week.   This small forward has proven to be a great all-around player. Though she is still underrated, I believe she will prove to everyone why she is the top player in Clark County, and she will dominate every part of the game.   Clay County   Corning, Rector, and Piggott are all of the high schools in Clay County. Though Corning and Piggott have some solid talent, I don't think they have a player who can make a case as the top player in the county against Rector's star.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/rylee-wilburn/">[player_tooltip player_id='877661' first='Rylee' last='Wilburn']</a> terrorized opposing defenses last season. She is a top-10 player in the class of 2027 in Arkansas and one of the top players in the 2A classification. Wilburn is a 20-point-per-game scorer who is lethal from everywhere on the court. Whether she is shooting from three, mid-range, or in the paint, that shot is probably going to go in, no matter how good the closeout is.   I would imagine that [player_tooltip player_id='877661' first='Rylee' last='Wilburn'] will have an incredible 2025-26 season. She is already unstoppable, but I imagine that she somehow found areas of her game to improve upon. She will leave little doubt as to why I picked her to be the top player in this county next season, so go ahead and grab your popcorn, because she will be putting on a show.   Cleburne County   Cleburne County featured the top 1A school from last season as well as one of the best 2A schools. Greers Ferry Westside won the 1A title after going undefeated in conference play and only dropping three games in their extremely tough nonconference schedule. Quitman was undefeated through most of the regular season, and Concord and Heber Springs round out the other schools in the county. Though each school has a fair amount of talent, I have to tip my hat to the top team in the region.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/ashlyn-cossey/">[player_tooltip player_id='1092578' first='Ashlyn' last='Cossey']</a>'s stock has been quickly rising, especially after such a dominant junior season with the Westside Lady Eagles. Cossey was instrumental in their great nonconference run, as well as their historic conference and postseason. The center averaged a double-double during the regular season, also showing off her passing and shot-blocking abilities with impressive stats in those areas. With her strength and athleticism, there are not many players who can slow her down in the post, and I would imagine she will be even harder to handle in 2025-26.   Go ahead and get on the [player_tooltip player_id='1092578' first='Ashlyn' last='Cossey'] bandwagon while it is still cool, because she will be dominating schools outside of the 1A classification again next season.   Cleveland County   Woodlawn and Rison High Schools are in Cleveland County. Both squads have some solid veteran players, but I think the best player in this county for this coming season just finished her freshman year.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/teairra-miller/">[player_tooltip player_id='1180574' first='Teairra' last='Miller']</a> out of Rison is one of the top players to watch in the 2028 class. She plays with so much heart and determination, even if she is not scoring, she is making an impact on the game with her defense and hustle. When she is impacting the game with her scoring, it is because she can slice up the defense with her handles and then attack the basket with a purpose. She can hit the floater at a high level, as well as hit jumpers from just about anywhere.   Miller is going to get better, and I am counting on it, as I am already considering her an early favorite to be the top player in Cleveland County for next season.   Columbia County   Columbia County is right along the Louisiana border. It consists of Taylor, Emerson, Columbia Christian, and Magnolia High Schools. Magnolia is the biggest school of the four, but I think the best talent comes from 1A Emerson, who should have a successful season, like they did in 2024-25.   Emerson's star, Layla Tell, graduated and will be playing basketball at South Arkansas College this fall. Someone has to fill her shoes, and <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kagen-gunnels/">[player_tooltip player_id='1180791' first='Kagen' last='Gunnels']</a> is the one to do it. Gunnels has already proven to be a great all-around player, flying up the rankings to #18 overall in the 2027 class. She averaged 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists during the regular season, but she put up some stat lines that are just hard to fathom. Against Bearden in January, Gunnels put up 25 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 9 steals, showcasing her brilliance in multiple areas of the game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1180791' first='Kagen' last='Gunnels'] will be leading a young Emerson team next season, and they have a shot to win their conference and make it to the playoffs. It all depends on how Gunnels plays, but I imagine she will have a season worthy of the "Columbia County Player of the Year" title.   Conway County   Morrilton, Nemo Vista, Wonderview, and Sacred Heart are all in this county. These schools range from 4A to 1A, but I think Wonderview has the most talented roster, especially with this incoming junior.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/kyah-simmons/">[player_tooltip player_id='883555' first='Kyah' last='Simmons']</a> has picked up offers from Crowley's Ridge College and Hendrix College since the AAU season began. She has been balling for the Swaggin' Dragons, putting up 35 points in their first game during the Border Wars, averaging 24 points per game during that weekend. She is an accurate 3-point shooter who can get going in a hurry. Whether she is shooting off the catch or the dribble, Simmons will make the defense pay if they sag off.   Simmons is expected to have another great season with Wonderview in 2025-26. There are plenty of other players in this county who will probably have all-state-caliber years, but Simmons might be the one who has the best overall season, earning her the "Preseason Conway County Player of the Year" designation.     One of my next articles will be breaking down the next 15 counties in Arkansas, taking a look at who has the best chance of being the top player in their respective county in 2025-26. I also mention "preseason" a few times. I plan on revisiting these articles at the end of the 2025-26 season and breaking down who became the top player in the county, and see if my predictions were correct.

We have probably watched the news with all the recent severe weather that has hit Arkansas. The hardworking meteorologists keep the state updated with the latest severe weather forecast, but I am always amazed by how they know all 75 of the Arkansas counties off the top of their heads. I have lived in Arkansas my entire life, and up until recently, I could probably name 5 counties, and I definitely would not be able to identify them on a map.