From Work Trips to Tip-Offs: Underrated Veteran Bucket-Getters

After returning from my honeymoon (yes, I got married!), my day-job as a news reporter for KATV Channel 7 News put me to work immediately. I had three consecutive stories in Hot Springs, and then during the first full week of work, I had a story about something going on in Monticello that Monday. After that, I went to my neck of the woods in North Little Rock for part of another story, and then I traveled to Hampton, the smallest county seat in the state in the smallest county for another story. I finally capped the week off with a story in Pine Bluff.   With all of that said, in each one of these cities that I traveled to, there are great players, who must all be recognized. This includes the players who are still coasting under the radar, but have proven to get the ball in the basket, just like these hoopers with several games under their belt.    Fountain Lake had plenty of star-studded performances throughout the past year, so much so that I had to mention two veteran scorers on this list, starting with [player_tooltip player_id='1315736' first='Baylee' last='Hedges'].   Hedges broke out onto the scene this past year, logging numerous clutch outings, including her 15-point effort against Malvern, where she scored 12 of her 15 in the fourth quarter and overtime, nailing a crucial shot to knot up the score during regulation. She also had a 17-point outing against eStem.   Hedges is clearly a clutch scorer. She can knock down triples with ease, especially off the catch and in the corner, thanks to her quick release. She is also a solid defender, gaining 4 steals in that game against Malvern in February. Hedges puts forth excellent effort on a nightly basis, not afraid to dive after loose balls.   [player_tooltip player_id='1315736' first='Baylee' last='Hedges'] is going to continue to get even better, and she will certainly not be #336 in the 2027 class for much longer.     [player_tooltip player_id='1268139' first='Gracen' last='Hurley'] primarily came off the bench for the Lake Hamilton Lady Wolves, but she provided so much great play night after night.   Hurley averaged 7.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this past season. She had strong performances throughout the year, particularly in tight games and against tough opponents. Against Pine Bluff, she had 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals. She had a big game against a good Benton team, posting 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 2 deflections.   Hurley can do it all on the court: she can rebound well for a guard, she can play excellent defense, and she can help spread the wealth, getting her teammates involved. Hurley is also a solid shooter with a smooth shooting stroke. Off the catch from mid-range or three, her shots are cash.   [player_tooltip player_id='1268139' first='Gracen' last='Hurley'] is projected to have much more of a role in Lake Hamilton's gameplan this coming season, so defenses better go ahead and prepare for her now.     The other Fountain Lake Lady Cobra I am mentioning in this article is none other than [player_tooltip player_id='1808198' first='Ireland' last='Kane'], an all-conference and all-state performer this past season.   Kane was solid all season long, both on the glass and with the ball in her hands. Against Hall, she logged 16 points in a massive victory, and against a great Mountain Home team, she had 15 points and 6 boards. Those performances are solid, without a doubt, but I don't think she played better than she did against Malvern, where she connected on 7 of her 3-pointers.   That Malvern performance kind of sums up one of her greatest strengths: outside shooting. Kane hits deep shot after deep shot off the catch, and gains more and more confidence with each make (Malvern learned that the hard way). Her athleticism is also notable, allowing her to be a solid paint finisher as well as a good rebounder.   [player_tooltip player_id='1808198' first='Ireland' last='Kane'] is in store for a big senior campaign, and Fountain Lake may be one of the top teams to face in the 3A-5.     Honestly, [player_tooltip player_id='1807464' first='Janiyah' last='Goodman'] is a hard woman to stop, and not many players can actually say they've stopped her.   This past season, Goodman averaged 15 points per game, and had some great performances against Warren (21 points), Bauxite (20 points), and Dermott (19 points).   Goodman is a lethal 3-point shooter, having shot 41% from deep this past year. With as many shot attempts as she takes, and the amount of attention she draws, that is an incredible feat. Of course, it's not all just shooting with Goodman.   I would think that [player_tooltip player_id='1807464' first='Janiyah' last='Goodman']'s motor is a driving factor as to why she is such a good slasher. That effort also helps her on the defensive end, and even though she torched plenty of teams this past high school season, I think I am even more excited to see what she does this summer, in the AAU circuits.     [player_tooltip player_id='1224290' first='Bailey' last='Eason'] may not be a true veteran, but she has done enough for me to think she will be a major contributor to a North Little Rock team that will be looking to go back-to-back next year, even with a new coach.   Eason came onto the scene later in the year, but she had great performances, such as her outing against Little Rock Southwest, where she nearly notched a double-double with 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks.   So far this summer, Eason has made some plays with the [program_tooltip program_id='715977' first='AAO' last='Flight'], especially on the defensive end. She has good instincts whenever she is coming over from the help side, and can block shots well without fouling. Her rebounding has also been impressive.   [player_tooltip player_id='1224290' first='Bailey' last='Eason'] could very well receive a lot more minutes this coming season. If she does, 2026/27 could be her breakout campaign.     [player_tooltip player_id='1244344' first='Jakayla' last='Stephens'] should not considered underrated, especially since she is hooping this summer with the Tennessee Flight and she has previously been on D1 radars. However, she is still ranked #42, when the stats prove that she should be higher up in the rankings.   If you want to know just how dominant Stephens can be, then look at these numbers from her game against Woodlawn in January: 28 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.   Stephens is truly a phenomenal basketball player. Once she gets the ball down low, it is a "bbq chicken alert," and she has no trouble finishing over taller defenders, especially with that soft touch. Stephens is also an incredible defender, and though she is standing well over 6'0", she has shown that she can lockdown guards on the perimeter, mainly because of her tenacity and her freakish quickness.   If I had a list of players in the state who were sort of unicorns (truly special talents), I would throw [player_tooltip player_id='1244344' first='Jakayla' last='Stephens'] on there without question (I might actually do that for an article).     [player_tooltip player_id='1807490' first='Mariah' last='Cline'] is a serviceable veteran guard who will be crucial to Watson Chapel's gameplan this coming year.   In 2025/26, I don't believe Cline was given enough minutes. All it took was for me to watch some of the plays she made in Watson Chapel's contest against Monticello in February for me to know she is a dangerous player, even though she only scored 7 points.   Cline has a pure release on her jumpshot, which pairs well with her quick shooting, excellent elevation, and top-notch confidence. One notable bucket from this past year was against Monticello was on the fastbreak, where Monticello did a nice job defending in transition, despite having the numbers disadvantage. Cline had the ball after she forced a turnover, and despite a defender in her face, she did not hesitate to rise up and nail a mid-range jumper.   [player_tooltip player_id='1807490' first='Mariah' last='Cline'] is a great shooter, who I can see easily becoming one of the best stop-and-pop players in the region.

After returning from my honeymoon (yes, I got married!), my day-job as a news reporter for KATV Channel 7 News put me to work immediately. I had three consecutive stories in Hot Springs, and then during the first full week of work, I had a story about something going on in Monticello that Monday. After that, I went to my neck of the woods in North Little Rock for part of another story, and then I traveled to Hampton, the smallest county seat in the state in the smallest county for another story. I finally capped the week off with a story in Pine Bluff.