PG Underclassmen Ready to Shine

With the 2026–27 girls basketball season approaching, there are several young point guards across Arkansas who are ready to take the next step. These guards have already shown flashes of their ability to score, create for teammates and make an impact on both ends of the floor. With another offseason of development behind them, each player has a chance to take on a bigger role for their team. Here's a look at some of the underclassmen point guards to watch heading into the upcoming season.    Abby Edwards is an upcoming 10th grader and 2029 guard who stands at 5'6”. She can play both point guard and shooting guard. Edwards made a strong impact for the Episcopal Wildcats last season, particularly on the defensive end, where she averaged five steals per game. Her defensive intensity is matched by her ability to score and create for others. This makes her a versatile contributor on both ends of the floor. Edwards had several standout performances last season; 16 points and five steals against McGehee, 19 points, four steals, four assists, and five rebounds against Maumelle Charter, and 14 points and four steals against Bald Knob. Her strong season earned her All-Conference honors. Her ability to impact the game as a scorer, playmaker, and defender makes her a guard to watch.     [player_tooltip player_id='1260352' first='Bella' last='Baxter'] is a 2029 point guard who plays for Southside Charter and stands at 5'8”. She had an impressive summer setting club records with around 500 points while knocking down 87 three-pointers at a 44%. During her freshman season at Southside, Baxter had several standout performances. Including 16 points against Nashville, 25 against Stuttgart, 20 against Wynne, 19 against Lonoke, and 23 against Forest City. She finished the season with 71 made three-pointers. In additions to that she went 33-for-36 from the free-throw line. Baxter averaged 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals per game. She averaged 17 points in conference play and 20 points during regionals.   Her strong freshman campaign earned her All-State, All-Region, and All-Conference honors. Her ranking continues to rise as she establishes herself as a player to watch. Baxter excels at attacking the basket and is not easily affected by contact, while her 5'8” frame allows her to finish over defenders. However, her biggest strength is undoubtedly her shooting ability. She is an extremely consistent three-point shooter. Her ability to knock down shots from deep forces defenders to close out, opening up driving lanes for her to attack the basket. With her combination of size, scoring ability, shooting, and playmaking, Baxter is a player who should continue to draw plenty of attention.     Now a sophomore at Pulaski Academy after transferring from Mount St. Mary's, DeSalvo is a talented guard who can make an impact in multiple ways. She is a strong shooter from the perimeter while also possessing the ability to attack closeouts and drive to the basket. DeSalvo has already shown her scoring ability against quality competition. She put up 12 points against Little Rock Christian Academy, 11 against Vilonia and 10 against Sylvan Hills. With her shooting ability and confidence attacking the lane, DeSalvo could be an important piece for Pulaski Academy this season.     [player_tooltip player_id='1260298' first='Sasha' last='Burel'] an upcoming 10th grader who did not play much last season at Maumelle due to an injury. She is now attending Little Rock Central, where she will look to make an impact as a 5'4” point guard. Broil is a good scorer who likes to attack the basket, especially in transition. She can also knock down a three when needed. She does a good job of finding open teammates and creating opportunities for others. With her scoring ability, playmaking, and ability to push the pace, Burel's upcoming season at Central is expected to be a good one.     Jill Loper is a 9th grader at Conway Christian. She brings impressive size and versatility to the point guard position at 5'9. Loper has already developed into a confident ball handler with the ability to create opportunities for herself and her teammates. She uses her size and quick footwork to navigate through defenses, attack the basket, and put pressure on opposing guards. Her offensive game continues to expand, particularly as she works to become a more consistent threat from the perimeter. Loper has also gained valuable experience competing against strong competition with the [program_tooltip program_id='712392' first='Banshees' last=''] during AAU play. This has helped her grow into a well-rounded guard. With her combination of size, ball skills, court vision, and developing shooting ability, Loper has the tools to make an early impact at Conway Christian.

With the 2026–27 girls basketball season approaching, there are several young point guards across Arkansas who are ready to take the next step. These guards have already shown flashes of their ability to score, create for teammates and make an impact on both ends of the floor. With another offseason of development behind them, each player has a chance to take on a bigger role for their team. Here's a look at some of the underclassmen point guards to watch heading into the upcoming season.