The Top Newcomers to the 2027 Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are the top five players who made their first appearance in the 2027 rankings after this past update. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["593920"],"_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-6a5db31429072"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Not only is [player_tooltip player_id='593920' first='Ryanne' last='Nelke'] new to the 2027 rankings, but she is also new to the state of Arkansas, so give this absolute hooper a warm welcome.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nelke is coming off a successful junior campaign at Roland High School in Oklahoma, eclipsing 1,000 career points and averaging around 21 points per game. Nelke will be bringing her incredible shooting to the 5A classification this coming year, as she shot well over a 40% clip from 3 last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clearly, Nelke is a deadly shooter. She has excellent fundamentals on her jumpshot: a high shooting arc, a quick release on her shot, and excellent follow-through. But of course, you can't be JUST a shooter and ranked inside the top 25, and she is more than capable of creating her own shot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='593920' first='Ryanne' last='Nelke'] will be headed back to Oklahoma after this season, as she has already committed to Northeastern State. However, Greenwood's offense will more than likely revolve around this newcomer, and I suspect the 5A West is going to have a hard time with the Lady Bulldogs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1811311"],"_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-6a5db31429118"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1811311' first='Ashlyn' last='Way'] has had quite the summer with the NWA Bruins, and she has since received offers from Sterling College, North Arkansas, and Southwestern College. This is telling me that she is in store for a huge senior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First off, Way is a great outside shooter. She cannot be given open looks off the catch because she will knock them down with ease. Off the dribble, Way is a threat to knock down shots, with or without a screen, as she is capable of creating her own space. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Besides being an excellent shooter, Way is a great playmaker. She has shown out on the high school and AAU stages that she has great court vision and knows how to hit her teammates right in the shooting pocket. Of course, she shows off a little swagger with her passes, but she delivers them on time and on target. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1811311' first='Ashlyn' last='Way'] is a slept-on name in Arkansas' 2027 class right now, but don't expect that trend to be around for long.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1869175"],"_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-6a5db3142919e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1869175' first='Ana' last='Goodwin'] is coming off a solid junior campaign with the 1A Concord Lady Pirates. Now, look for her to have a big senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This summer, Goodwin has been making a name for herself across state lines. At the Licking Summer Camp in Rolla, Missouri in June, Goodwin earned an all-camp selection, playing against solid competition from across Missouri, Illinois, and other states.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Before this summer, Goodwin showed out with Concord, putting her elite shooting on full display. Against Wonderview, her team struggled, but she still found a way to put up 17 points and knock down 4 triples. A couple of those triples were a bit behind the 3-point line, as she made sure to show off her range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1869175' first='Ana' last='Goodwin'] is a great shooter who is heading into 2026/27 as one of the best at her position in 1A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1812254"],"_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-6a5db3142923c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1812254' first='Brooklynne' last='Stovall'] put herself on the map with her play this past season, and I think she is also in store for a bigger senior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stovall put up solid numbers this past year, averaging 10.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while also coming up with 48 assists and 70 steals during the campaign. To me, those numbers show just how impactful she is as a two-way star.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On defense, Stovall is guarding some of the opposition's best players, and clearly, she is able to come away with plenty of steals and has a knack for forcing turnovers. The rising senior is also a great 3-point shooter on offense, cementing herself as a legitimate 3&amp;D star.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1812254' first='Brooklynne' last='Stovall'] has a skillset worthy of a college roster spot, so we will see if her play this upcoming year will convince these schools of that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1878413"],"_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-6a5db314292c0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1878413' first='Bliss' last='Parker'] is coming off an all-state season with the Carlisle Lady Bisons, and I think she has another great season qued up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A lot of players in these rankings are predominantly great scorers, but Parker does quite a bit of everything. One of the games she had last season that showed that was against Des Arc, where she put up 9 points, 2 boards, 4 assists, and a ridiculous 8 steals. Parker is a beast in transition, and it all starts on defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She had another 8-steal contest last year, as she picked apart Hazen's offense, triggering numerous fastbreaks for her squad. Parker is usually the first Bison down the floor, and she gets a lot of easy lays. She is also able to outrun her defender and score through traffic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1878413' first='Bliss' last='Parker'] is definitely an underrated player, and worthy of rising through the rankings. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->