These 5A Players are ones to be excited for

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5A classification is exciting, and it features an absurd amount of talent. Here are some of the exciting players at this level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["881468"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6897f4ea84276"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The 5A classification has 3 of the 4 top players in the state, regardless of class. For this article, I will focus on the #1 player in the 2026 class and the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year, [player_tooltip player_id='881468' first='Whitley' last='Rogers'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rogers has had a great summer. She averaged 18.6 points per game at the EYBL back in July, which ranked third overall in the tournament. This turned some heads, as she picked up numerous major offers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With Little Rock Christian, she averaged over 20 points per game, killing 5A defenses with her exceptional shot creation and range. Her 3-point and mid-range shooting was phenomenal, but she was also a great slasher, finding lanes to the basket with her great handles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='881468' first='Whitley' last='Rogers'] is arguably the best player in the state of Arkansas, regardless of class, which automatically makes her one of the most exciting players to watch in the 5A classification. She recently named her top 5 schools: Arkansas, NC State, Houston, Alabama, and Arizona.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["615194"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6897f4ea842d3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brooklyn Mitchell turned heads last season, and now she is picking up several college offers, with Hesston, UT-Dallas, and Ouachita Baptist being the most recent schools to want her services.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During the summer with the [program_tooltip program_id='715977' first='AAO' last='Flight'] at the Clash of Clubs in July, Mitchell averaged 14.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 3.3 steals per game. She has proven to be an excellent all-around player, being a solid rebounder, passer, and defender in addition to being a versatile scorer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mitchell can shoot the ball well, particularly off the catch and in rhythm. She is also a great slasher, being able to get to the paint with ease and score through contact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brooklyn Mitchell is a fantastic all-around player. She can shoot the ball, get her teammates involved, force turnovers, and make key stops on the defensive end. Her #39 ranking will certainly change soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1093237"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6897f4ea84319"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hot Springs Lakeside has a tremendous amount of talent, and [player_tooltip player_id='1093237' first='McKenzie' last='Williams'] is the point guard leading the charge on this solid 5A squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This past season, she averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. Williams is a solid shooter who has connected on 72 3-pointers over two years on varsity, but she is even better when she has her head down and is driving to the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Besides scoring, she knows how to make plays for others. In transition, she makes quick decisions, finding seams in the defense to hit her teammates with accurate passes. At the other end of the floor, she can force turnovers, which leads to more fastbreak opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1093237' first='McKenzie' last='Williams'] does not get talked about enough, despite being an all-state player for the Lady Rams this past season and holding offers from Harding and Ouachita Baptist. I see another all-state caliber season in the future for the 2027 point guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1196037"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6897f4ea84358"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1196037' first='Tori' last='Cunningham'] is one of the more underrated players in the 5A classification, but she is coming off a highly successful first season on varsity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cunningham was named to the 5A all-tournament team this past season, and she had some solid performances in the playoffs, including a 10-point, 6-rebound, and 2-steal outing against Mountain Home. Against Lakeside in the first round, she put up 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal in the upset victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nettleton's incoming sophomore can knock down 3-pointers off the catch with efficiency, but she is also a pest on the defensive end. Cunningham can swipe the ball directly from the opposition's grasp, sometimes right off the inbounds pass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1196037' first='Tori' last='Cunningham'] is one of the most underrated young players in this classification, with one of the brightest futures in the 2028 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["876657"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6897f4ea84396"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lake Hamilton has several talented players on their roster, with [player_tooltip player_id='876657' first='Disyah' last='Christon'] being one of the Lady Wolves' headliners. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christon is coming off a fantastic junior season, where she earned all-conference, all-state, and all-tournament honors. She is a great slasher who initiates contact and finds ways to finish. She can knock down jumpers, especially from mid-range. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She is a solid rebounder, using her length and athleticism to grab as many boards as possible. Those same attributes come in handy on the defensive end as well, as she bothers the opposition with her wingspan. She can also slide over to the help side and swat shots away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='876657' first='Disyah' last='Christon'] will be back with Lake Hamilton, helping lead a great Lake Hamilton squad back to the playoffs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->