Solid Performers That Provide "The Glue" in Leadership Roles

Throughout lengthy high school basketball seasons, there is an important element for each team that sometimes does not get noticed. Coaches know it. Summer grassroots organizers know it, and those who follow the game see it. It's the leadership provided by that unsung experienced upperclassmen. That team player that leads the drills in practice. The team player that might not lead in any statistical category but is there when things are not going well. That "unofficial captain' of the team. The player that displays and exercises the important team culture that is past on from year to year. The player who has "bought-in" to the program. The following list of players are "the glue" that helps the coaching staff keep it all together;   Gracie Jones-5'8" F, 2025 Perryville H.S.-Talk about "The Glue"! Gracie pictured above, has energy to burn and it energizes her team. She's there for every 50/50 ball. At the forward position she's sometimes undersized, but her rebounding skills are excellent due to her tenacity in the paint. Her motor runs on high all the time. She can run the floor and will be a vital part in the Mustangs run for a state title.   [player_tooltip player_id='871729' first='Brooklyn' last='Braughton']-5'6" PG, 2024 Lake Hamilton H.S.-This 3-year letterman holds everything together for her team. She is the quarterback. She leads the team in assists and her leadership and influence have turned this team around into a solid contender in the very tough 5A South Region. With a young nucleus of teammates around her, she's adopted the role of the coach on the floor for the Lady Wolves.   [player_tooltip player_id='304687' first='Delaney' last='Roller']-5'9" SG, 2024 Har-Ber H.S.-Delaney leads by example as one of the top players in the always competitive 6A West Region. She's the silent "alpha" on the court. Delaney is the "go to player" on the court for her teammates and she's the "go to player" off the court for her coaches. Her leadership skills will carry the Wildcats to a post-season run this year.   Za'niya Mooney-5'9" F, 2025 Hamburg H.S.-Za'niya is the clear leader on the court. When it's crunch time the offense is geared to find her somewhere in the paint to either extend the lead or cut into the deficit. All her teammates know to find her as the first option on offense. She's smart and sneaky quick. Her type of game clearly influences her team to follow her lead.   [player_tooltip player_id='1244386' first='Jaycee' last='Smith']-5'8" SG, 2025 Centerpoint H.S.-Jaycee is a solid player that just gets it done. She's very reliable with the ball, she's one of the best defenders on the team, and is an excellent catch and shoot performer. Couple that with her off-court leadership and you've got a player that carries forward the team culture and work ethic that is essential in a successful program.   Shaylyn Lyle-5'7" SG, 2025 Nashville H.S.-Shaylyn has taken the baton from past leaders in this program and will carry it forward to maintain the success of this high-level program. She, along with teammates that shared in the past success have proven they have the skills to keep it going. Shaylyn has a motor that runs all the time. Her leadership and skills on the court will influence others to follow for more post-season appearances and keeping that tradition alive.   [player_tooltip player_id='870515' first='Johnna' last='Brockman']-5'11" P, 2024 Morrilton H.S.-Johnna is an essential part in conjunction with teammate [player_tooltip player_id='420388' first='Jennifer' last='Hartman'] to lead the Devil Dogs to another post season run. Johnna's hard work in the paint makes her team very difficult to guard. She's a space eater. Her presence as a senior leader in the paint clogs up the middle and provides "The Glue" to lead Morrilton H.S. to another successful season.   This is the first of a series of articles recognizing those players that perform the small things that do not necessarily show up on the stat sheet. All of these student/athletes are key ingredients to the success for their respective teams. Maybe not statistically, but definitely the everyday leaders that keeps the team together. They fill the voids on and off the court. They are "The Glue" that keeps it all together.

Throughout lengthy high school basketball seasons, there is an important element for each team that sometimes does not get noticed. Coaches know it. Summer grassroots organizers know it, and those who follow the game see it. It's the leadership provided by that unsung experienced upperclassmen. That team player that leads the drills in practice. The team player that might not lead in any statistical category but is there when things are not going well. That "unofficial captain' of the team. The player that displays and exercises the important team culture that is past on from year to year. The player who has "bought-in" to the program. The following list of players are "the glue" that helps the coaching staff keep it all together;