Work Trips to Tip-Offs: Young Guards ready to make a difference

Again, I'm catching up on these articles, and it's a good thing because this allows me to evaluate talent in random places that I travel to in the state every week.   Two weeks ago, I started my work week with KATV in East End, which is in the Sheridan School District. I then spent the next two days covering stories in Pine Bluff. That Wednesday, I interviewed someone in Little Rock, and the next day, I covered a story out of Desha County.   With all that said, I am evaluating talent out of Sheridan, Watson Chapel (Pine Bluff), Mount St. Mary's (Little Rock), and Dumas.    I know I just talked about [player_tooltip player_id='1219429' first='Ainsley' last='Stevens'] in another similar article a few weeks ago, but it is hard to deny the talent that she possesses at the point guard position.   Stevens can do a bit of everything. She can score from inside, outside, and in between, thanks to a smooth shooting stroke and the ability to attack the basket through traffic. Her ball-handling ability allows her to get to her spots on the floor and break past defenders on her way to the bucket.   Like all young point guards, Stevens is still developing as a playmaker, but she is making excellent progress. As a freshman, she showed just how good her vision is when it comes to finding the open teammate.   [player_tooltip player_id='1219429' first='Ainsley' last='Stevens'] was surrounded by several veteran sharpshooters last year, but now that those players are gone, I am curious to see how she is able to handle the challenge and potentially become the go-to on this Lady Yellowjacket squad.     [player_tooltip player_id='1340612' first='Kaneii' last='Ringo'] has been making some plays this summer with [program_tooltip program_id='1609492' first='United' last='Arkansas Basketball'], and she will no doubt have a seamless transition to high school ball with a young Watson Chapel squad.   Ringo had a solid showing in the Clash of Clubs in April. She had 11 points, 2 boards, and 2 stocks in one performance and 6 points and 2 steals in another.   Ringo can make an impact on both sides of the ball. She can score from both the perimeter and on the interior, especially off cuts and in transition. On defense, she is too quick for opposing ball-handlers, coming up with steals almost every time down the court.   [player_tooltip player_id='1340612' first='Kaneii' last='Ringo'] will be joining a young Watson Chapel squad this coming year, and I'm curious about how much of an impact she will have in her freshman campaign.     [player_tooltip player_id='1799532' first='Kaliah' last='Parks'] may be a senior coming into this season, but she is still gaining some experience and could be a major difference maker for the Pine Bluff Lady Zebras this coming year.   Throughout this past season, Parks has been a noted 3-point shooter. She can get her shot going off the catch with ease, and she does not lack confidence shooting from beyond.   [player_tooltip player_id='1799532' first='Kaliah' last='Parks'] is incredibly underrated, but if she advances her game to being more than just a perimeter threat, then she will certainly make her way onto the rankings.     After a solid freshman campaign with Mount St. Mary, [player_tooltip player_id='1262501' first='Stella' last='DeSalvo'] has been putting up solid numbers this offseason with Shock Hoops.   During the Clash of Clubs in April, DeSalvo shot the lights out from three, hitting 47% of her perimeter shots. This is not at all surprising, as DeSalvo took over from beyond the arc time and time again for the Belles.   Besides shooting from the perimeter, the rising sophomore guard can make plays inside, either scoring over taller defenders in the lane or by feeding an open teammate thanks to her excellent vision.   [player_tooltip player_id='1262501' first='Stella' last='DeSalvo'] is absolutely a name you need to know this season.     After looking like an elite guard with Dumas' JV squad during the 2024-25 season, the Lady Cats had no choice but to give Brown a major role on varsity the next year.   Brown is coming off a season where she was named to the all-conference team, helping her squad become district champs and move into the playoffs. The young guard had several great performances last year, including putting up 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals in a crucial February contest.   Though Brown wasn't having major scoring outings, she was doing everything else to help her team win. She had to have stolen the ball around 3 times a game, and she was always ready to take it to the other end. Part of why Brown wasn't putting together major scoring outings was because of her role as facilitator, and she did that incredibly, feeding teammates with slick passes all night long.   [player_tooltip player_id='1091186' first='Shakiah' last='Brown'] is in store for a major role increase this coming year, and I can't wait to see her break out in 2026/27.

Again, I'm catching up on these articles, and it's a good thing because this allows me to evaluate talent in random places that I travel to in the state every week.