1A Players You Should Be Excited to Watch This Year

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every classification in the state of Arkansas boasts impressive talent, including even the smallest, 1A. These are just a few of the players in 1A I am excited to watch next season, and you should be too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1091190"],"_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-68866a6d5a4f2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Earle has arguably the best starting backcourt in the state, but for this article, I am going to focus on the younger of the Earle guards, [player_tooltip player_id='1091190' first='Journey' last='Jefferson'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jefferson has had a great offseason with the Tennessee Flight, averaging 16.7 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game during the EYBL Nike Nationals. Colleges have started to take notice of her play as well, as she has picked up offers from UCA, Morgan State, and Tennessee-Martin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jefferson is a lights-out shooter who can also create shots at an elite level. Her handle is killer, and she can get to any spot on the floor to score. She can make plays for others, but she is at her best when she has her defender on an island, being able to get buckets in a variety of ways. Jefferson is also an elite defender, playing with a lot of heart and aggression on that side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Earle has its sights set on the 1A title, and [player_tooltip player_id='1091190' first='Journey' last='Jefferson'] will be a key player to help them get to that point. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1180791"],"_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-68866a6d5a56d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Emerson has a talented roster returning in 2025-26, with [player_tooltip player_id='1180791' first='Kagen' last='Gunnels'] expected to lead the way. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gunnels can stuff the stat sheet, being a great scorer, rebounder, passer, and defender. She scores at a high level on the interior, putting her misses back up and in, despite her 5'5" frame. If one of her teammates has an open lane to the basket, Gunnels will find them and hit them with a perfect pass. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the defensive end, Gunnels can block shots, but she is exceptional at forcing turnovers. The incoming junior is a fantastic pickpocket who can poke the ball free from anyone's grasp. She also keeps her head on a swivel, keeping an eye out for a pass so she can snag it out of the air and score in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1180791' first='Kagen' last='Gunnels'] is a do-it-all player for Emerson, and colleges should get off their behinds and offer her immediately.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1197530"],"_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-68866a6d5a5f5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1197530' first='Emma' last='Kivell'] is one of the more underrated players in the 1A classification, but I think she will have a big senior year for Kingston.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kivell is coming off an all-conference and all-state season in 2024-25, averaging around 13 points and 6 boards. She is a fantastic 3-point shooter, hitting 40% of her triples during conference play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Back in June, I considered Kivell as the <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2025/06/the-top-player-from-each-arkansas-county-pt-3/">top player coming out of Madison County</a>. Though it is just a preseason nod, I imagine she keeps that designation in March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1197530' first='Emma' last='Kivell'] deserves to be ranked higher, but I think she will be making her way into the top-100 of the 2026 class with a strong senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1190619"],"_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-68866a6d5a645"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1190619' first='Addie' last='Layes'] is coming off a solid year for Scranton, helping lead them to the 1A playoffs. She is back for her senior year and ready to do it again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Layes averaged 12.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.7 steals per game last season, showcasing her all-around impact. She can score the ball at a high level, particularly from the 3-point line, where she knocked down almost 2 triples a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In addition to her scoring, Layes is a legitimate point guard, making sure to get her teammates involved in the gameplan. On the other end of the floor, Layes plays hounding defense, swiping the ball away from her assignment at the earliest of opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1190619' first='Addie' last='Layes'] put up solid numbers as a junior, but I imagine she will be even better as a senior. Everyone might as well grab their popcorn now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1196027"],"_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-68866a6d5a693"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I still think #85 is not an appropriate ranking for one of the best scorers in the 1A classification.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1196027' first='Delaney' last='Ford'] averaged 19.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game during the 2024-25 season. She is capable of going for big scoring outings, as she has already eclipsed 40 points in a game this season. Her 46-point outburst against Blevins in November was incredible, and so was her 27-point game against Oark, where she hit all of her threes and shot 87% from the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ford is obviously a great scorer, but she is a solid rebounder, helping spark the fastbreak and have Umpire score time and time again in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1196027' first='Delaney' last='Ford'] is a rising star in the state, I cannot imagine she will stay at #85 for long. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are just a few of the incredible players in the 1A classification we should all be looking forward to watching this coming year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->