Junior Point Guards to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arkansas has a strong group of junior point guards who bring different things to the floor. From guards who can score at all three levels to players who make their biggest impact creating for teammates and defending, this group has plenty of versatility. With another season to continue developing, these guards will be looking to take on bigger roles and make their mark across the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1090885' first='Taige' last='Norwood']</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 5'11", [player_tooltip player_id='1090885' first='Taige' last='Norwood'] gives Greenland a bigger guard who can do a little bit of everything. She handles the ball well and is especially effective attacking from the wings, where she can get downhill and either finish with a soft touch around the rim or drop a pass off to the post. She also has a really quick release, which makes her tough to leave open. Norwood averaged 17 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists per game while earning All-State and All-Conference honors. She had several big scoring games throughout the season, including 24 points against a 6A Springdale team, 21 against Elks and 17 against Providence Academy. Her recruitment also picked up quickly, with an offer from Abilene Christian in May, followed by Arkansas-Fort Smith and UCA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1055220' first='Evvi' last='Cooper']</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1055220' first='Evvi' last='Cooper'] is the type of guard who can hurt you in more than one way. The 5'5" Greenland guard is a strong two-way player who can create space for herself on the outside but also isn't afraid to put the ball on the floor and attack. Her ability to drive gives her another way to score when the jumper isn't there, while her defensive activity can change possessions on the other end. Cooper averaged 16 points and 5 steals per game while shooting 40% from three, showing that she can make an impact without needing the ball in her hands every possession. She scored 17 points against Elkins and followed that up with 20 points against Highland, knocking down four 3-pointers in that game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1180592' first='Maci' last='Witt']</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1180592' first='Maci' last='Witt'] has already shown that she can take over a game when Batesville Southside needs someone to make a play. At 5'7", Witt can run the offense, get out in transition and attack the basket even when defenders make contact. She also has the ability to create space for her jumper and knock down threes off the dribble, which makes her tough to keep in front of. Her production showed up in some big performances, including 34 points, 4 steals and 4 assists against Lonoke in a 77-50 win. She also had 28 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals at Stuttgart in a 93-75 win and dropped 30 points against Nettleton at the Mark Martin/Lyon College Invitational. Witt was already an All-Conference and All-State Tournament selection as a freshman, and she's continued to build on that early success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1180576' first='Jayda' last='Cook']</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1180576' first='Jayda' last='Cook'] took a noticeable step forward for Cabot as a sophomore. The 5'7" guard averaged 13 points, 5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3 steals per game, showing that her impact went way beyond scoring. She has good court awareness and can make plays for teammates, but she's also comfortable getting downhill and creating her own shot. Cook's defensive length allows her to bother opposing guards, and she's become a strong rebounder for her position. She put together an 18-point, 5-rebound, 4-assist and 5-steal performance against Paragould, while also recording 25 points and 5 rebounds against Bryant and 16 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals against Little Rock Southwest. With her ability to contribute across the stat sheet, Cook has become a player Cabot can rely on in a lot of different situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1118020' first='Olivia' last='Hughes']</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1118020' first='Olivia' last='Hughes'] has a nice combination of quickness and scoring ability that makes her tough to defend. The 5'10" Alma guard can knock down the three, but she also has a good floater that gives her another option when she gets into the lane. She plays with good speed and does a nice job using that quickness defensively, especially when she's jumping passing lanes. Hughes had 11 points and 6 rebounds against Harrison, but her bigger scoring performances really showed what she can do. She finished with 26 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists against Greenwood, then put together a huge 29-point performance against McAlester while shooting 7-for-11 from three. She also scored 8 points against Greenbrier, giving her several different types of game performances throughout the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->