Arkansas Hype: The River Valley's Most Underrated AAU Squad

The Arkansas Hype is an AAU squad featuring plenty of underrated talent. Several players on this team are ranked, but most of them are unranked but ready to make the jump to the rankings.    [player_tooltip player_id='1807333' first='Marlee' last='Titsworth'] became a major contributor to a solid Dover team last season, and I would expect her role to keep on rising heading into the 2026/27 season.   During her sophomore campaign, Titsworth had several notable performances. In an early-season tournament contest against Thaden, she had a solid all-around performance, putting up 12 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. Her play got better and better throughout the year, as she logged 16 points, 7 boards, 2 assists, and 1 steal against Mayflower.   So far this summer, it's clear that Titsworth's solid play has transitioned into her play with the Hype. She was a major contributor during the Hype's 5-0 weekend at the Hardwood NWA Blast, as she showed off her all-around play. She was making shots inside through the teeth of the defense, facilitating the offense, and shutting down opposing guards.   The Arkansas Hype is better when [player_tooltip player_id='1807333' first='Marlee' last='Titsworth'] has it going. Opposing AAU squads better watch out.     [player_tooltip player_id='1806192' first='Bailee' last='Jones'] is coming off a great sophomore campaign, and it's hard not to let that impact her play with the Arkansas Hype.   Jones was an all-conference selection this past season, and she was lighting it up all year long. She put up 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals against Cossatot River in January.   Jones is a fantastic 3-point shooter. Off the catch, she's automatic, and defenses have to step up and put a hand in her face. Besides shooting, Jones makes plays on both ends, making the extra pass and cutting to the basket on offense, and crashing the boards and intercepting passes on defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='1806192' first='Bailee' last='Jones'] is developing into that classic 3&D star that every team needs, and she is going to be the x-factor for this Arkansas Hype squad.     [player_tooltip player_id='1818557' first='Bo' last='Melder'] may very well be the most accomplished player on this team, but also the most disrespected by the rankings (our bad).   I want to keep highlighting the Hardwood NWA Blast that was held in late May, because Arkansas Hype went 5-0 and were the champs, but players like Melder were just doing a bit of everything to come away victorious.   In that tournament, Melder was impressive when it came to facilitating. She was playing unselfishly, making the extra pass, getting the ball down low to the bigs, and running the offense out of set plays and the pick-and-roll. When she wasn't the ball-dominant option, Melder was running around screens and knocking down open looks from three. She was also playing some fantastic defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='1818557' first='Bo' last='Melder'] is a highly underrated player in the 2028 class, but at this point, opposing AAU squads know that she is a real threat on the scouting report.     Audri Martin definitely shouldn't be unranked based on what she showed last season with Pottsville.   Martin was a crucial piece for the Lady Apaches, playing well as their point guard. One contest that is notable for her was against Pea Ridge in February, where she had 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals. A solid stat line against a team that would eventually make a lot of noise in the state tournament, but Pottsville would beat them that game after Martin ran the length of the court and put a miss back up and in to beat the buzzer.   Martin is definitely clutch, and she plays with a high IQ, even for a young player. Besides that, Martin is a great defender who is very disruptive for all 84 feet. On offense, she is a good 3-point shooter who cannot be given good looks off the catch.   Audri Martin is a good facilitator, scorer, and defender, the total package every team wants at point guard.     Bentlee Edwards will certainly be ranked soon, as she is coming off an impactful freshman campaign.   Her performance against Maumelle Charter may have been her best, as she dropped 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. She had plenty of other solid outings, most notably when it came to crashing the glass and helping start the fastbreak.   Edwards is at her best when she is launching it from deep. She has a slightly unorthodox shooting form, but it doesn't matter, as she is a lethal shooter who can light it up off the catch.   Bentlee Edwards is already a knock-down 3-point shooter, but if she continues to bring her effort to the table, the Arkansas Hype and Dover are going to be better off.     Jesslyn Martin is coming off a great season with the Pottsville Lady Apaches, and her play is already translating to the AAU stage.   Martin had a great end to the 2025/26 season, averaging 11 points per game in the postseason and dropping 18 points against Huntsville to cement Pottsville's spot in the state tournament.   So far this summer, Martin has primarily been the center for Arkansas Hype. And despite her 5'7" frame and more natural abilities as a power forward, she has been fantastic. She is great at sealing off her defender and being an easy target for her teammates to find her inside, as she then goes up for a high-percentage shot. Martin has also been solid on the backboards and when making plays for others.   Jesslyn Martin has a pretty versatile game, and I can't wait to see what she does in 2026/27 with Pottsville.     Marlee Morris got some really valuable playing time with the Dover Lady Pirates this past season, and that has definitely helped heading into this summer with the Arkansas Hype.   One of Morris' best games from her sophomore season came against Atkins, where she lit them up for 13 points and 5 boards. She could not be stopped from beyond, as she knocked down 3 triples, all off the catch.   Morris is clearly a great shooter, and she has great shot mechanics. The lefty has a high arc on her shot, able to loft the ball over any defender. She also does not lack hesitation and has a quick release.   Marlee Morris played quite a bit last season, but expect her to receive even more playing time as she remains an important piece to this Arkansas Hype team.     Like several of the players mentioned in this article, Maddox Mitchell is coming off a solid 2026/27 campaign, and she is ready to play even more after this offseason with the Arkansas Hype.   Mitchell had several impactful performances last year, including a 14-point outing in February. She also put together a great all-around outing against CAC, putting up 11 points, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in addition to a single board.   Mitchell is a zone breaker, as her shooting off the catch from the perimeter makes teams regret not tightening their defense against her. She has a high-arcing shot and is lethal when given enough space. The rising junior also provides value on the defensive end thanks to her ability to break up passes.   Maddox Mitchell is a solid depth option on this Arkansas Hype team, but her role will take a massive step forward this coming season with the Dardanelle Lady Sand Lizards.     After making some plays as a freshman for Pottsville last season, Reese Johnson is putting together a really strong summer with the Arkansas Hype.   When Johnson has the ball in her hands, she is a danger to score at all times. She can hit floaters and tear-drops in the lane, even in transition, and she can step back and knock down some jumpshots, whether in the mid-range or from three.   Of course, Johnson is being tasked with moving the ball around a bit, and she has been making some really nice passes. On the other end of the floor, she is working hard to stay in front of her assignment and capitalizing on loose balls.   Reese Johnson has become the x-factor for this team this summer. I can't wait to see how she develops heading into the 2026/27 season.

The Arkansas Hype is an AAU squad featuring plenty of underrated talent. Several players on this team are ranked, but most of them are unranked but ready to make the jump to the rankings.