Work Trips to Tip-Offs: 2027 and 2028 Hoopers to know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Once again, I am catching up with these articles, but during the week before last, I bounced around from place to place for work with KATV. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I started my work week speaking with a state representative from Cave Springs for a story, which is a part of the Bentonville School District. I then traveled to Arkansas City in Desha County (a part of McGehee School District) that Monday for another story. The next two days, I had stories in Jacksonville, and then on Thursday, I traveled to Conway for a story. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For this article, I decided to talk about players from Bentonville, McGehee, Jacksonville, and Conway. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1817193"],"_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-6a1b99841688d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After moving from out of state, [player_tooltip player_id='1817193' first='Addison' last='Nix'] made an immediate impact for the Bentonville Lady Tigers, and it's kind of hard not to at 6'2".</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Usually, when a guard or a forward gets the switch against a big, they want to take that big off the dribble and use their quickness to gain separation and score. However, Nix is not one of those bigs, as she matches the speed of her opponents. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nix is more than just a shot-blocker on defense, as she has incredible athleticism that allows her to defend seemingly every position on the floor. Of course, her length helps out a lot, especially on the glass, but her movements are fluid on both ends of the floor, and I can see her being a major catalyst when it comes to scoring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1817193' first='Addison' last='Nix'] could very well be a star this coming season for Bentonville. Every team needs size down low, and they have that with this versatile athlete. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1198791"],"_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-6a1b9984168fc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1198791' first='Makaelah' last='Green'] is the highest-ranked player mentioned in this article, and she may very well keep on rising after the next ranking update. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Green is capable of scoring 20+ points every single night. She is a deadly 3-point shooter who almost prefers to have a hand in her face whenever she shoots(it doesn't matter; she's going to make it no matter what). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Besides outside shooting, Green can get to the basket any time she wants. She has a great handle that no one can stop, and she understands the pace of play so well. She is also a formidable passer, as she just makes her teammates better when she has the ball on a string. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1198791' first='Makaelah' last='Green'] is a true star, and it's about time everyone else in the state knows this. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1093239"],"_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-6a1b998416938"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1093239' first='Ja'Maya' last='Nathan'] is another player who will no doubt rise in the rankings soon, thanks to her solid two-way play at the point guard position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nathan posted great stats in a number of games this year, including her 19-point, 4-rebound, and 4-steal performance against Vilonia in February. She had a complete game against Mount St. Mary's in December, putting up 16 points, 7 boards, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On offense, Nathan is going to score in a number of ways. The first way may be from beyond the arc, where she makes defenders pay with a swish if they go under a screen against her. She is also a solid slasher, using her length and athleticism to sky over defenders and score. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You cannot forget about [player_tooltip player_id='1093239' first='Ja'Maya' last='Nathan']'s defense, as stripping clueless ball-handlers and intercepting passes has become her speciality. She is truly one of the better all-around point guards in 5A and in the 2027 class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1799544"],"_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-6a1b99841696c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1799544' first='Teyerra' last='White'] is a solid scoring guard who is coasting under the radar this summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>White has a solid handle and can get to various spots on the floor. From there, she has no trouble pulling up for a jumper--especially from three--or finding a gap in the defense and getting inside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In addition to her scoring, White can make plays for others. At times, Jacksonville has relied on this rising senior to be the inbounds passer, and she has done well when it comes to finding the open teammate or simply making the smart play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jacksonville has a solid returning roster, and [player_tooltip player_id='1799544' first='Teyerra' last='White'] is part of that group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["579754"],"_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-6a1b99841699e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='579754' first='Libby' last='Counts'] has proven to be effective whenever she is on the court. Now, coming into her senior season, I would expect her to get more minutes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Counts is a solid all-around player who scores well inside. She has the length to score over any defender and the strength to back down her defender under the basket, then take advantage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both of those physical traits serve her well on the defensive end of the floor. Counts is a hard player to score against, as her standing reach makes it tough to shoot over, and opposing bigs cannot back her down in the post. Counts is also a tremendous rebounder.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I see [player_tooltip player_id='579754' first='Libby' last='Counts'] as a potential breakout candidate in the 6A classification for this coming season, so get ready. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->