The Top Player from each Arkansas County (Preseason pt. 5)

All 75 counties in Arkansas have talented players who all deserve recognition. Of course, there is always a player who stands out amongst the rest, especially in their county.   Randolph County   The lone high schools in Randolph County are Pocahontas and Maynard. Though Maynard had an exceptional 2024-25 season and produced two college hoopers, Pocahontas has some young talent who are very intriguing.   I could not decide between these two, who could be the best in the county, so both <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/sydney-percifull/">[player_tooltip player_id='906871' first='Sydney' last='Percifull']</a> and <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/player/jacalyn-chester/">[player_tooltip player_id='1093311' first='Jacalyn' last='Chester']</a> of Pocahontas deserve a mention. Both players have similar playstyles. They are solid rebounders and are constantly in the realm of grabbing double-digit boards every night, and they both make an impact on the defensive end. Their offensive games are still developing, but both players have length, which can help them score in the paint.   [player_tooltip player_id='1093311' first='Jacalyn' last='Chester'] (incoming junior) and [player_tooltip player_id='906871' first='Sydney' last='Percifull'] (incoming sophomore) are still young, but they headline a young roster and an underrated county.   St. Francis County   As you drive East on Interstate-40 towards Memphis, you pass through St. Francis County. This county only has Forrest City and Palestine-Wheatley High Schools, but the talent in this region is truly special.   [player_tooltip player_id='1197507' first='Kassidi' last='Smith'] of Forrest City has already taken the state by storm. Smith headlines an incredible group of players on this Forrest City roster, but Smith is quickly becoming one of the top freshman centers in this region of the United States. She was a double-double machine last season, putting up 29 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 blocks against Lonoke in February as one of her most impressive outings. She also snagged 30 boards against Southside Charter.   Smith is unstoppable down low. She is a solid finisher and uses her physicality in the paint to create space for herself. That power she plays with is important on the glass, as she can box out any opponent and leap for every board. Smith has also shown that she is a rim protector, making her a true two-way star.   It is hard to believe that [player_tooltip player_id='1197507' first='Kassidi' last='Smith'] can get better. The fact that she was putting these numbers up as a freshman is mind-boggling, but I can speak for the rest of the state that is not in the 4A classification when I say I cannot wait to see what damage Smith does next season.   Saline County   In Saline County, there are Benton, Bryant, Bauxite, Haskell Harmony Grove, and Arkansas Christian Academy. Of these, Bryant looks like they have the best returning talent.   Bryant looks like they upgraded their roster. They brought back their talented young players from a year ago, but they also added one of the best players in the 2028 class, [player_tooltip player_id='753259' first='Gia' last='Campbell']. Campbell transferred from nearby Bauxite, and she is ready to lead the Lady Hornets to victory.   Campbell is a dynamic scorer who can make you hurt from beyond the arc or from the interior. She is a fantastic ball-handler who can get to any spot on the floor she wants, pulling up and knocking down a jumper or slicing past her defender. Campbell has some international recognition as she was part of the PhD Hoops U16 Team that competed in the Euro Basketball Spain Basketball Cup this summer.   It is not often that an Arkansas high school has a representative on a team that represents the USA on international courts. Now, Bryant can say they have one, and she is also the best player in Saline County.   Scott County   Waldron High School is the lone school in Scott County. Even if there was another school in this region, I doubt they would have a player better than Waldron's returning star.   Solid young teammates surround [player_tooltip player_id='1060821' first='Sadie' last='Espinoza'], but she stands out, having already received offers from Hesston College and Eastern Oklahoma State to play at the next level. Espinoza is a great slasher who uses a solid handle to get by the defense and fearlessly attacks the defense under the basket. She is also a major disruptor on the defensive end, using her length to poke passes away and to contest shots in the paint.   [player_tooltip player_id='1060821' first='Sadie' last='Espinoza'] was a unanimous all-state performer last season and is coming off a 24-point performance against Mena in the district tournament. Keep an eye on this rising forward.   Searcy County   Searcy County consists of St. Joe High School and Marshall High School. Of the two, Marshall presents the county's best player.   Marshall's 20-point-per-game scorer, Audrey Blair, graduated, so now it is up to [player_tooltip player_id='1197205' first='Miley' last='Harris'] to be the team's go-to player. Harris was an all-conference selection after averaging 10.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. She is also an efficient scorer, shooting around 48% from the field.   Harris can shoot the ball well from beyond the arc, being a threat to knock down every shot off the catch. She is a 3&D player as she is a solid defender, using her length and strength to keep opposing players in check.   [player_tooltip player_id='1197205' first='Miley' last='Harris'] is entering her final season of high school basketball, but she could be in store for a breakout year. Keep up with this guard and the rest of this Marshall team.   Sebastian County   Sebastian County is loaded with talented squads. Mansfield, Greenwood, Hackett, Future School of Fort Smith, Union Christian Academy, Fort Smith Northside, Fort Smith Southside, and Lavaca are all in this portion of the state. Though Fort Smith Northside is coming off a championship and Greenwood is one of the best programs in Arkansas during the 21st Century, Mansfield has the top player in Sebastian County.   [player_tooltip player_id='876349' first='Kaylee' last='Ward'] is #3 in the 2026 class and the top center in the state. Ward has received offers from Middle Tennessee, Stephen F. Austin, North Texas, Oral Roberts, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Liberty, Mississippi State, Arkansas State, Penn, Arkansas, Abilene Christian, Central Arkansas, and Tulsa, just to name a few.   Ward is a beast in the post. She can score any way she wants to, whether she has her back to the basket or she is driving straight towards the defense. No other center in her conference is powerful enough to stop her down low, whether that is scoring or on the glass. Ward is not all power, however. She has excellent footwork and uses the drop-step and spin move effectively.   [player_tooltip player_id='876349' first='Kaylee' last='Ward'] is one of the best players in the state, so she is obviously the best player in Sebastian County.   Sevier County   In Sevier County, there are three high schools: De Queen, Horatio, and Legacy Academy. Of the three, only one school is coming off a championship, and only one school features the county's best player.   [player_tooltip player_id='999832' first='Landri' last='Liggin'] returns to De Queen after helping the Lady Leopards win the 3A championship. After the Lyle twins graduated and Emma Chambers transferred to Nashville, Liggin is suddenly the best player on this team, and certainly the best player in the region.   Liggin is an excellent two-way player who can knock down perimeter shots with ease. She is great off the catch, and she can drive to the basket if the defense is a step behind. Her defense is also great, as she stole the ball 7 times during the 3A title game, ruining plays that Dover was attempting to run.   [player_tooltip player_id='999832' first='Landri' last='Liggin'] has already picked up an offer from National Park College, but she could see more letters slip under her door next season now that she is De Queen's top returner.   Sharp County   Sharp County has gone through tough times already in 2025, especially with the severe weather that has hit this region. Sports have a tendency to bring people together, so I bet once football season rolls back around, it may have healing effects for this area. Of course, you cannot count out the power of basketball, and between Cave City and Highland High Schools, the latter brings back the best player in Sharp County.   [player_tooltip player_id='716556' first='Sadie' last='Meyer'] is #9 in the 2026 class and a Tennessee-Martin commit. She is a great 3-point shooter who can get going in a hurry. Whether off the catch or the dribble, there is not a shot Meyer cannot hit, and the defense knows it, too. If the opposition overplays her on the perimeter, she can quickly attack inside and get to the basket.   [player_tooltip player_id='716556' first='Sadie' last='Meyer'] has an incredible story, and I believe she will have one of the best breakout seasons of any hooper in the Natural State in 2025-26.   Stone County   Stone County saw a lot of success from their basketball teams this past season, with Rural Special, Mountain View, and Timbo all making it tough on the competition. As we head into 2025-26, these schools will still be successful, especially Mountain View.   It is very difficult to pick who on this Mountain View team is the best. The Cooper sisters and the Akins sisters are fantastic, but I think a player who will shock everyone next season as the best player in the county is [player_tooltip player_id='1165575' first='Addy' last='Davis'], an incoming freshman.   Davis has already been offered by Maryville, Harding, and Ouachita Baptist, and she has yet to play in a high school game. She has balled out for Team ISO on the AAU circuits. During the Border War in April, Davis logged 22 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block against All MO Attack, which was shortly after putting up 20 points, 8 rebounds, and a ridiculous 6 blocks versus TX Platinum.   [player_tooltip player_id='1165575' first='Addy' last='Davis'] joins one of the best returning teams in the 3A classification, but she could end up being their best all-around player. I do not live anywhere close to Mountain View, but I can already feel the excitement from Mountain View natives whenever they think about what this team could do next season.   Union County   Union County is in southern Arkansas, featuring West Side Christian, Parkers Chapel, El Dorado, Smackover, Junction City, and Strong. Smackover and El Dorado offer some great players who deserve the designation of "Top Player in Union County," but I think Junction City makes a great case as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='1180575' first='McKenzie' last='Flowers'] of Junction City headlines a solid Lady Dragon squad. I would imagine that she will rise in the rankings after averaging 20.4 points per game as just a freshman. Flowers is an automatic shooter who drained 101 threes in 2024-25. Now that the defense knows just how lethal of a shooter she is, she will have to burn them with her speed whenever she drives past them to the bucket.   [player_tooltip player_id='1180575' first='McKenzie' last='Flowers'] plays in a competitive conference. Not only is she the best player in Union County, but she is one of the best players in the 2A-8, and already looks like one of the best guards in the 2028 class.   Van Buren County   In Van Buren County, there are three schools: Clinton, Southside Bee Branch, and Shirley. Of those, Clinton brings back the best roster and has the county's best player.   [player_tooltip player_id='1060828' first='Lexi' last='Wallace'] is a top-40 player in the 2026 class, and she is the leader of this Clinton squad. She already holds offers from Hendrix and Lyon Colleges, but I would imagine that she picks up more during the year. Wallace is a great perimeter scorer who showed out in multiple outings last year, including her 26-point performance against Morrilton.   Wallace is also a strong finisher, but she is most impressive when she is facilitating the offense. She averaged around 4.0 assists last season, showcasing her playmaking ability. She also averaged upwards of 2 steals a game, proving just how strong of a perimeter defender she was.   [player_tooltip player_id='1060828' first='Lexi' last='Wallace'] can do it all, and she will be called to do more this coming season.   Washington County   Pulaski County is great, but there is no denying that Northwest Arkansas typically has the best talent. Washington County proves that. Shiloh Christian, Fayetteville, Haas Hall, Ozark Catholic, Har-Ber, Springdale, Fayetteville Christian, The New School, Anthem Classical, St. Joseph's Catholic, Prairie Grove, Farmington, Elkins, Greeland, West Fork, and Lincoln are all in this county. Of these schools, the team coming off a championship in their first year in the 5A classification has the best player.   Farmington's [player_tooltip player_id='1090920' first='Easton' last='McCollough'] could very well be the best player in the state. Even after just one year of varsity basketball, she has picked up offers from Iowa, Virginia Tech, TCU, Florida Gulf Coast, Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Miami, Texas Tech, and Ole Miss. She is one of the best guards in the country, and now that she is one of the few starters returning from last season, there is no way she does not average 30 points per game.   McCollough is a lights-out shooter. She is great off the catch and the dribble, and if the defense thinks they can bother her by putting a hand in her face, think again. If a lane opens up to the basket, this guard will capitalize and score in the paint. If she gets cut off, no problem, she can simply stop and hit a pull-up jumper.   There is nothing [player_tooltip player_id='1090920' first='Easton' last='McCollough'] cannot do on the basketball court, and the whole country knows that.   White County   White County is very competitive, featuring White County Central, Harding Academy, Searcy, Beebe, Pangburn, Riverview, Bald Knob, Rose Bud, Lighthouse Christian, and Bradford. Some incredible players are coming out of this county, but Searcy may just have the best of the bunch, but by only a slight margin.   Beebe's star guard is fantastic, but Searcy's Zaniyah "Chip" Johnson may have the edge, for now at least. Johnson holds offers from Southeast Missouri State and UAPB. She uses her elite burst to get past defenders and get inside, scoring at will in the paint. She can step back and hit jumpshots from the mid-range and three, but there may not be a defender in the state who can match her speed.   Johnson is a pest on the defensive end. She can pick-pocket a fair amount of her opponents, and she scores a lot of points off turnovers in transition. If you think you can score against Johnson, you might want to rethink your strategy, because you are not putting the ball on the floor without losing it when she is guarding you.   "Chip" Johnson is already a fantastic player, but she faces some great competition in her county. This is just a preseason award I am handing out; the best player in White County could be somebody else entirely by the end of the season, so I hope to see some fierce play in 2025-26.   Woodruff County   Just outside of White County is Woodruff County. In this region, there are Augusta and McCrory High Schools. Of these, Augusta brings back some of the county's best players.   [player_tooltip player_id='1251676' first='Makayla' last='Clark'] may very well be the best returner on this Augusta squad, which is saying something considering how many great players are on the Lady Red Devil team. Clark has shown that she can score the ball effectively. Against Mount Ida during the regular season, Clark scored 14 points, and her play in the regular season carried into the postseason.   In the 1A-3 District Tournament, Clark put up 13 points, 1 rebound, and 3 assists against a great Bradford team.   [player_tooltip player_id='1251676' first='Makayla' last='Clark'] could be in store for a big 2025-26 season, so keep up with her and this entire Augusta team.   Yell County   The 75th county in Arkansas (in alphabetical order) is Yell County. In this region, there are four high schools: Dardanelle, Danville, Two Rivers, and Western Yell County. Of these schools, Dardanelle has the top player in Yell County.   [player_tooltip player_id='549973' first='Stevie' last='Tanner'] balled out during the 2024-25 season for Dardanelle. She scored 20+ multiple times, including putting up 33 points against Western Yell County. Her incredible junior year allowed her to reach 1,000 career points, and a lot of that scoring push is thanks to her great 3-point shooting. Tanner is automatic around the arc, easily hitting shots off the catch and the dribble.   [player_tooltip player_id='549973' first='Stevie' last='Tanner'] can add more to her career scoring total next season. This way, colleges will finally start to take notice of her incredible scoring ability.   What's Next?   As I have mentioned, this is a preseason list. I would like to revisit each Arkansas county and see if these players kept the title of best player in their county. For the players whom I selected as the top hooper in their county, you better keep getting buckets and helping your team win because there are going to be some other great players who want that designation just as bad as you, if not more.

All 75 counties in Arkansas have talented players who all deserve recognition. Of course, there is always a player who stands out amongst the rest, especially in their county.