The Top Player from each Arkansas County (Preseason pt. 4)

This is my continued breakdown of each county in Arkansas, identifying the best player in each of the 75 counties as we approach the 2025-26 season. This article covers Miller through Pulaski County.   Miller County   Fouke, Trinity Christian, Genoa Central, and Arkansas High School are all in this county. Arkansas High School in Texarkana has a solid roster and an interesting history, readers should check it out. However, Fouke offers the county's best hooper.   [player_tooltip player_id='818869' first='Kinley' last='Smith'] should be ranked higher than #14 in the 2026 class. She has already picked up offers from Southern Nazarene, Ouachita Baptist, Southern Arkansas, Arkansas-Monticello, Arkansas-Fort Smith, East Central, and Harding. These are all great programs, but her most coveted offer was from Division I Oral Roberts.   Smith is an excellent finisher, as she uses her long frame to her advantage night in and night out. This is helpful on the defensive end as well, blocking and contesting shots at the rim with ease. Despite her length, she is probably at her best along the perimeter, as she has asserted herself as a capable 3-point shooter.   I would imagine [player_tooltip player_id='818869' first='Kinley' last='Smith'] starts picking up more D1 offers soon, especially considering she is the best player in Miller County.   Mississippi County   In Mississippi County, there is Gosnell, Manila, Armorel, Osceola, KIPP Blytheville, Rivercrest, and Blytheville. Of these schools, Manila has had the most success, and the best player. Manila has a strong guard rotation, with multiple guards respectably ranked. But, it all starts and ends with [player_tooltip player_id='433751' first='Hadlie' last='Goodson'].   Goodson already has a few offers from schools in the state, but I could see her picking up more soon. She was an all-conference, state, and a region tournament selection this past season, putting up 13.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. Goodson can hit the outside shot, but she is too tough to stop when she is attacking the basket. She can also hit the defense with a floater and a short jumper in the lane.   [player_tooltip player_id='433751' first='Hadlie' last='Goodson'] is one of the best players in the 3A classification, and certainly the best player in Mississippi County.   Monroe County   Monroe County is pretty small, with the only schools in the region being Clarendon and Brinkley High Schools. Clarendon had a very good 2024-25 season, and they bring back some of the best talent out of all the teams in the 1A-6.   There is something in the water in Clarendon, because the team's top returning players are both over 6-foot. I could not decide who could be the top player in the county between [player_tooltip player_id='1251693' first='Kenzi' last='Simpson'] (6'3") and [player_tooltip player_id='1251691' first='Azaria' last='Whitfield'] (6'1"), and it is very rare for a high school in Arkansas to have two young 6-footers, especially in the 1A classification. Both players are trending upwards, thanks to their length, as they are able to take over games in the paint.   Clarendon is an underrated team, but with [player_tooltip player_id='1251693' first='Kenzi' last='Simpson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1251691' first='Azaria' last='Whitfield'] in their front court, they will not be underrated for much longer.   Montgomery County   Montgomery County is a small county to the west of the Little Rock Metro. It features Mount Ida High School, Oden High School, and Caddo Hills High School. The latter lays claim to the top player in Montgomery County.   [player_tooltip player_id='1093352' first='Jaydin' last='Waggoner'] of Caddo Hills is a solid point guard who can make the defense hurt with her outside shooting. Though she mans the point, she is great at moving without the basketball and finding an opening along the perimeter, burying a 3-pointer. Waggoner can make plays for others, as she has shown that she is a smart and willing passer.   [player_tooltip player_id='1093352' first='Jaydin' last='Waggoner'] is still pretty underrated, so I am interested in seeing what her senior season has in store.   Nevada County   Nevada High School and Prescott High School are in this county. Nevada has some solid players who have flashed brilliance, but Prescott takes the cake here, even though this player has only played one year of varsity basketball.   [player_tooltip player_id='1202392' first='Rylee' last='Williams'] headlines a young Lady Curly Wolf roster. Williams averaged just under 20 points per game, lighting defenses up with her sharp outside shooting. In addition to her perimeter play, Williams was deadly driving to the basket. She used her quickness and athleticism to slice past defenders and finish through contact. Now with the [program_tooltip program_id='712659' first='Mavs' last='Elite'], she has shown that same inside-outside scoring ability that drove Prescott's 3A-7 rivals crazy.   The sky is not even close to the limit for [player_tooltip player_id='1202392' first='Rylee' last='Williams']. She is already the best player in this county, one of the best in her conference, and one of the best in the 2028 class. Before long, she will be one of the best players in all of Arkansas.   Newton County   Jasper, Deer, and Western Grove are all in Newton County. Jasper has consistently been one of the best programs in the 1A classification over the last few years. The standard of solid play remains the same as we head into 2025-26, as they now have the best player in the county.   It was really hard to pick between any of the talented Lady Pirates to determine who was the best. They have a deep guard rotation, but I think the dark horse contributor of the group could be 2028 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1091188' first='Delaney' last='Reddell']. Reddell provided a much-needed spark in the state tournament this past season, and she put up 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in a game against Earle, one of the best squads in the 1A classification.   I could have gone any way on this, but [player_tooltip player_id='1091188' first='Delaney' last='Reddell'] has a lot of potential, especially on the defensive end. She is quick and pressures opposing guards hard, forcing numerous turnovers. Again, this Jasper team is elite, but this young guard could stand out.   Ouachita County   Bearden, Camden Harmony Grove, and Camden Fairview are in Ouachita County. This is not apparent currently, but there are some major changes to the 2027 rankings, particularly who is the #1 player in that class. I will keep it vague, but a certain player transferred to a school outside of the state, and that shakes up more than just the 2027 class.   [player_tooltip player_id='1057820' first='Isis' last='Wilson'] has suddenly become the best player in Ouachita County, and the best player on Camden Fairview. Wilson is a sharpshooter and a solid defender, proving herself to be one of the better two-way players in the 2026 class. She has a quick release on her jumpshot, and she can hit shots off the catch and off the dribble. On the defensive end, she is well-known for intercepting passes and stripping the ball directly out of the opposition's hands.   [player_tooltip player_id='1057820' first='Isis' last='Wilson'] was already a great player for Camden Fairview, but now, her role has increased dramatically. I think she will take on her new role with pride, so the 4A-7 better be ready.   Perry County   Perry County features Perryville and Bigelow, two schools with solid squads. Of the two, Perryville has the best player in the county.   [player_tooltip player_id='1180773' first='Ella' last='Tolley'], a star 2027 forward is coming off a great 2024-25 season. She has proven to be a solid two-way player and being able to make a positive defensive impact in the paint and along the perimeter. Last season, she had a solid performance against Baptist Prep, posting 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks. She also nailed 2 triples in that game against a strong opponent, showcasing her versatile skill on the offensive end.   Perryville's best scoring option last season was Jenny Scott, but she has since graduated and signed with Central Baptist College. Now, [player_tooltip player_id='1180773' first='Ella' last='Tolley'] will have a larger role, and I think the 3A-5 will be afraid of what happens next.   Phillips County   Phillips County has several schools, including KIPP Delta, Marvell-Elaine, Barton, and Central High School (Helena-West Helena). Of these, Barton has the best talent, and the best player in Phillips County.   [player_tooltip player_id='1060807' first='Da'Mya' last='Wilson'] jumped up the 2026 rankings from #12 to #7, and is the top player in the class at her position. Wilson has been very impressive, and I looked at some of my past articles; I have written about the Barton superstar at least once a month since February. This dynamic scorer is a special player who has all of the talent and skill in the world. I challenge every school in the state to find a player who can shut her down for an entire game (I do not think that player is out there).   As a scorer, Wilson can do damage from behind the arc, knocking down threes at an efficient rate, or she can finish at the rim. She can also hit all of the different shots in between, whether that may be a floater, a mid-range shot, or just whatever the defense gives her.   [player_tooltip player_id='1060807' first='Da'Mya' last='Wilson'] is already a superstar, and yet, she still has sky-high potential. Keep up with Phillips County's best player, who will also have a larger role in 2025-26 with Barton.   Pike County   In Pike County, there is Centerpoint, Kirby, and Murfreesboro, and of the three, Murfreesboro has the most likely candidate for the top player in the region.   Murfreesboro's [player_tooltip player_id='1197196' first='Sydney' last='Braden'] is one of the better centers in the 2A classification. Braden is a double-double machine, having a notable 10-point and 13-rebound outing against Caddo Hills in late January. She was an all-conference performer this past season, but with Murfreesboro graduated several other all-conference performers, 2025-26 should be Braden's year.   Centerpoint traditionally has the top talent in Pike County, but after graduating practically their entire starting rotation, [player_tooltip player_id='1197196' first='Sydney' last='Braden'] flies in to capture the mantle of "Top Player in Pike County."   Poinsett County   Poinsett County is not a large county by any means, but they have several schools who are amongst the best in their conferences. East Poinsett County, Harrisburg, and Marked Tree all fall in this category, with Trumann looking like they will be competitive in the near future. Of these four, Marked Tree has a player who could set the entire 1A classification on fire.   Marked Tree plays in a competitive conference, playing against a team like Earle, who has arguably the best guard tandem in the state. However, [player_tooltip player_id='1091201' first='Alyssa' last='McGuire'] returns, and she will give them a run for their money.   McGuire has already proven that she can score at a high level, putting up 40 points in a road contest against conference foe Armorel last season. In that game, McGuire was feeling it from behind the arc, nailing 12 triples. She proved that once she has the hot hand, there is no stopping her. McGuire can obviously hit shots from beyond, but she can also create her shot from the mid-range or twist up the defense and attack the basket.   [player_tooltip player_id='1091201' first='Alyssa' last='McGuire'] will just be a junior next season, but she is already a player I think will have a tremendous amount of success in 2025-26. Though there is some great talent in Poinsett County, McGuire is still the best player in this portion of the state.   Polk County   Polk County is one of several counties in Arkansas that borders Oklahoma. This county features Mena High School, Acorn High School, and Cossatot River High School. Of these schools, Acorn definitely has the best case at claiming the title for the county's top player.   Acorn's [player_tooltip player_id='1093351' first='Josey' last='Dollar'] is one of the top players in the 2027 class. Her stock has gone up since playing with the Arkansas Warriors, posting some solid outings on both sides of the ball at the AAU level. Back with Acorn, she showed that she can hit shots at multiple levels, whether it was from three, the mid-range, or inside. Dollar has a quick release on her jumpshot and a slick handle, making her a threat to create from anywhere in half court.   [player_tooltip player_id='1093351' first='Josey' last='Dollar'] is without a doubt the best player in Polk County, and she continues to prove that she is one of the best players the 2A classification has to offer.   Pope County   Pope County is a bit bigger than some of the other counties mentioned before. The high schools in this region are Russellville, Hector, Dover, Atkins, Valley Christian, and Pottsville. Though the talent in this county is deep, the 3A state runner-up, Dover, has a claim on the top player in this area.   Dover was undefeated throughout most of the regular season and they made it all the way to the 3A state championship game before falling to Lamar. Despite losing their star forward and point guard, Dover still has confidence that they will return to the big game, primarily because of [player_tooltip player_id='876339' first='Kenzie' last='McCrotty'].   McCrotty starred for the 3A powerhouse, playing both shooting guard and small forward. Her sharpshooting ability helped stretch out the defense, and her ability to attack the basket put a lot of pressure on the opposition. McCrotty shot a ridiculous 46% from 3-point range and 64% from inside the arc. There was no shot that she could not hit, and it frustrated every opponent.   [player_tooltip player_id='876339' first='Kenzie' last='McCrotty']'s average of 16.3 points per game was actually down from her sophomore year, where she put up 19.4 points per game. Now as she is a senior and the top returning player on this team, I could see that she eclipses the 20 point per game mark.   Prairie County   Before we talk about Arkansas' most populated county, let us mention Prairie County, who features Hazen and Des Arc. Of the two schools, Des Arc returns one of the more underrated post players in the 2026 class.   [player_tooltip player_id='1253232' first='Kaylee' last='McDonald'] is best known for her play on the diamond, as she has already committed to play softball at Southern Mississippi. Despite her skills in that sport, she is a solid hooper. By the time Des Arc entered conference play, McDonald had already logged 5 double-doubles and multiple 20-point outings. She put up 28 points against Marianna in December, which was over half of her team's total points. She also posted 21 points against McCrory to begin conference play.   McDonald has proven to be a tough interior scorer who can also dominate the glass. Though she is an all-state pitcher and a Division I softball commit, you cannot ignore her abilities on the hardwood.   Pulaski County   Pulaski Academy is the largest county in the state, and it features a tremendous amount of high schools. Pulaski Academy, Little Rock Central, North Little Rock, Episcopal Collegiate, Joe T. Robinson, Mount St. Mary, Central Arkansas Christian, LISA Academy North, Maumelle, Maumelle Charter, eStem, Baptist Prep, Abundant Life, Parkview, LISA Academy West, Sylvan Hills, Hall, Mills, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Lighthouse, Little Rock Southwest, Southwest Christian, Pinnacle Classical, Scott Charter, Little Rock Christian, and the Arkansas School for the Deaf are all of the high schools in this county. However, picking the best player from this county was not hard, especially when she is the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year for the state.   [player_tooltip player_id='881468' first='Whitley' last='Rogers'] of Little Rock Christian Academy is the best player coming out of Pulaski County. She has a lengthy offer sheet, along with a long list of games where she has scored 20+. After averaging just a hair under 25 points per game last season, Rogers is back for more. She is prepared to ball out for the Lady Warriors, and the rest of the 5A Central should be very afraid.   There is not too much else to say when the top player in a high school class is in this county, other than sit back, relax, and enjoy the show she is about to put on this coming year.

This is my continued breakdown of each county in Arkansas, identifying the best player in each of the 75 counties as we approach the 2025-26 season. This article covers Miller through Pulaski County.