Kaiya McCoy makes her rankings debut, coming in at #30 in the state of Arkansas. Playing on a Springdale team with a loaded guard room, it might seem difficult for any player to be able to make a consistent impact, but so far this season, McCoy has been the Lady Bulldogs’ best all-around player.

Springdale has jumped out to a 4-1 start, and McCoy has had solid statlines in several of the games. In the Lady Bulldogs’ season opener, the junior guard accounted for 48% of her teams scoring, finishing with 28 points in a 26-point victory over Harrison High School. She also added 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 8 total deflections. In a game versus Conway, Springdale could not come away with the win, but McCoy still managed to have a solid outing with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals. Most recently, McCoy had a 18-point, 6-rebound, 3-assist, 2-steal performance against Nevada High School in Missouri on December 5th.

McCoy has clearly shown that she can impact the game in multiple ways. The junior can flat out score the ball, and she can shoot from the perimeter, from mid-range, and from the interior. With McCoy though, she is not just a scorer, not even close. She has shown that she is a solid playmaker, involving her teammates in the gameplan, but she is also a fantastic rebounder and defender.

McCoy is listed at 5’2″, but in those three games I referenced, she averaged 6.0 rebounds per game, playing bully-ball down low against opposing players who are much taller than her. McCoy also averaged 3.0 steals per game in those three games, showing that she is an aggressive on-ball defender who is fantastic at creating turnovers.

Kaiya McCoy is a great player who will be receiving offers before long. Until then, she will continue to tear up the 6A West with her incredible two-way ability.

Kaiya McCoy is an incoming junior who is very underrated. However, her two-way ability should put her on the collegiate map. Though listed at 5’4″, she hardly plays like it. McCoy plays very hard on the defensive end, causing complete chaos for opposing guards. In addition to her phenomenal defense, McCoy has a very versatile offensive game.

McCoy is at her best moving off the ball. With Team Trae Young this summer, she found a lot of easy baskets cutting from the baseline. It did not matter if she got right under the basket for a layup or if she pulled up for a short jumper, she was going to make it. She also was great at finishing off the fast-break, usually off one of her steals. McCoy also has a quick release from beyond the arch, and is not bothered by defensive closeouts.

Springdale only made it to the second round in the 6A tournament last season, but if McCoy continues to improve on offense, the Bulldogs could be a darkhorse contender in the 6A West.