The 1A-5 All-State Selections to keep an eye on next season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 1A-5 looks a little different for this season with the realigned conferences, but the talent remains exceptional.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Makilee Jones","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Augusta","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e4da736383d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Makilee Jones was a crucial part of Augusta's successful 2025/26 season, and she will be looking to bring them back to the state tournament in her senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones is a solid all-around player. She can make plays for others, handle the ball against tight defense, and force turnovers. Jones' IQ and quickness allow her to be an exceptional defender, and stealing the ball comes easily for her. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offensively, Jones can hit shots from the outside, and she can attack the basket. She is capable of manning the point, and Augusta plays well when she is facilitating the offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Makilee Jones is highly underrated, but definitely a name to watch for in the new 1A-5.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1251688"],"_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-69e4da73638e6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1251688' first='Anna' last='Swiney'] won't be #132 for long, as she is coming off a fantastic 2025/26 season, and she will be one of the top rising juniors coming out of the 1A classification.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Swiney averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds a game this past season. She had numerous great performances this past year, including against Brinkley, where she could not be stopped on the offensive end, putting up 28 points along with 9 boards, 4 assists, and 1 steal. She also went off against Wonderview, scoring 24 points to go along with 6 rebounds and 5 dimes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Swiney is a great 3-point shooter who never hesitates to pull from beyond the arc, and I mean BEYOND the arc. The guard does not have a problem shooting several steps behind the 3-point line, but if a defender runs her off, she can attack the basket and finish over taller opponents, or she can zip a pass to an open teammate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1251688' first='Anna' last='Swiney'] is looking like one of the top young talents in her portion of the state, and being inside the top-100 of the 2028 class seems very possible. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1186896"],"_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-69e4da7363951"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1186896' first='Klair' last='Jordan'] remains as one of the top point guards in the 2027 class, and she will have some new opponents to prove that against this coming year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jordan had phenomenal performances nearly every week this past season, including her near triple-double of 18 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals against Sacred Heart. Earlier in the year against Woodlawn, Jordan starred with 30 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals, all while going 12/16 from the field, including hitting 4 triples. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jordan can do it all on the offensive end. She is a great 3-point shooter who is not bothered when a defender has a hand in her face. She is great off the dribble, whether shooting or driving, and getting into the lane is no big deal for her. Of course, as a point guard, she does more than get buckets; she finds her open teammates as defenses are forced to collapse on her, leaving players with space to shoot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I would imagine that [player_tooltip player_id='1186896' first='Klair' last='Jordan'] starts getting some college offers soon, because she could be an instant contributor on several great collegiate squads. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1091189"],"_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-69e4da73639b9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1091189' first='Lainee' last='Gentry'] has been nothing but successful the last two seasons in Greers Ferry, and now, she is looking to be the leader for a Lady Eagle squad that is entering a new conference and looking to head back to the state championship for the third year in a row. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gentry is a lights-out shooter, especially off the catch. She has a quick release, and defenses cannot leave her open, even for a second. Gentry can also get to the basket and finish through traffic. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Besides scoring, Gentry was tasked with facilitating the offense more this past season, and she found ways to get her teammates involved time and time again. Part of why Westside was so great this past season was because of its team defense, and Gentry was a crucial part of it, guarding her assignments tightly on the perimeter and blocking shots whenever she slides over on the helpside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1091189' first='Lainee' last='Gentry'] is a star for Westside, and defenses must respect her, especially on the offensive end. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["883555"],"_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-69e4da7363a14"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='883555' first='Kyah' last='Simmons'] went off this year! And I would expect that her play continues to impress in her senior campaign.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During the 2025/26 season, Simmons averaged 26.3 points, 2.1 assists, and 3.3 steals per contest. She surpassed 1,000 career points and had some pretty incredible performances, including a 41-point outburst against Mountainburg in December. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you're wondering if there is anything Simmons can't do on the court, keep wondering, because whether it is hitting from well beyond the arc, attacking the basket and finishing through traffic, or shutting down the opposition's best guards, there is nothing this perennial superstar can't do.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If [player_tooltip player_id='883555' first='Kyah' last='Simmons'] is not on your radar this coming season, she needs to be, because I think she is in store for an unbelievable senior campaign.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1091217"],"_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-69e4da7363a88"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1091217' first='Madeline' last='Rohlman'] is a highly versatile player for Sacred Heart, who could make some noise in 2026/27. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On offense, Rohlman is not easy to stop when her back is to the basket, and if she has a 1-on-1 matchup in the post, it's game over. She can also take defenders off the dribble and hit tough shots off the glass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Besides offense, the rising senior is a fantastic rebounder, capable of outworking any opponent she is matched up with. A lot of that has to do with her 6'1" frame, which is even more helpful on the defensive end, as she is capable of getting a paw on an opponent's shot thanks to her long reach. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1091217' first='Madeline' last='Rohlman'] can make play after play on both ends of the floor, and she is a nightmare matchup for a lot of teams in the 1A classification. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->