These 2025 6A Forwards are too good to be this under-the-radar!

For a lot of teams, forwards are the go-to position for scoring or versatile defense. A good forward can be just as important for a team to have as a good playmaking floor general. This article consists of small and power forwards in the 2025 class that are expected to be impressive this season, but these players are not highly recruited. The 6A classification is bustling with talent, and this group of forwards shows us why.    [player_tooltip player_id='315188' first='Erikka' last='Gooden'], the sister and teammate of Northside point guard [player_tooltip player_id='465491' first='Erianna' last='Gooden'], is one of best wing defenders in the 6A classification. Gooden has great defensive instincts which has served her well on this loaded Grizzlies team. Gooden is definitely under-the-radar, but with a strong senior season, she will not stay that way.   Gooden played a lot of minutes these past few seasons with the Grizzlies thanks to her stellar defense. On that side of the ball, she is at her best flying around and disrupting passing lanes. She is also the first one to pick up a loose ball and instantly start the fastbreak. The Grizzlies ran a devastating full-court press last season, and Gooden's presence on the defensive side helped make that press so successful. In addition to this, she has no problem being physical. She does not mind bumping past the opposition for a steal or suffocating ball-handlers with her tight on-ball defense. Gooden's defense has been incredible to say the least, but her offense is not on that level just yet.   Gooden's best offensive trait is being able to start the fastbreak, where she has the ability to have multiple impacts for her team. She can set up a teammate or take it the basket herself. In the half-court offensive setting, she has a high-arching 3-point shot that she puts a lot of power behind.   [player_tooltip player_id='315188' first='Erikka' last='Gooden'] has all of the tools to be the premiere wing defender in all of 6A, possibly in all of Arkansas. Look out for this Gooden sister to have a great senior season.     [player_tooltip player_id='465582' first='India' last='Robinson'] is one of the most versatile players in the 2025 class, regardless of the classification. She can play the two, three, or four positions. Robinson is probably at her best playing small forward, but her defensive abilities and improving offensive skills will allow college coaches to plug-and-play her in almost any position.   Robinson is great at driving downhill and getting straight to the basket for a bucket. She may be slightly undersized compared to other small forwards in her class, but that does not seem to matter as her strength and athleticism propels to the paint and go up against the trees.   On defense, Robinson is very active and causes a lot of problems for the opposition in their passing lanes. She is also very quick and stays in front of her woman very well.   Robinson's shot is improving, but her defensive activity and her abilities to cut and drive well make her a fantastic forward. Robinson currently holds an offer from Fort Scott Community College, but with a strong senior season, she could be hearing from more schools.     [player_tooltip player_id='876288' first='Brooklyn' last='Owens'] is just outside the top 15 in the 2025 class, but how is she not in the top 5?! Owens is highly skilled with great athleticism and length that every team needs. It does not appear that she has any recent offers, which is maddening, but college coaches need to be reaching out ASAP.   Owens' physical attributes help her out a lot on offense. Her 5'11" frame, long arms, and effortless elevation are how she is able to get so many tough mid-range shots to fall. The mid-range is a lost art in modern basketball, but this might be her best offensive ability. Owens is also very capable of shooting from beyond the arch. When she drives to the bucket, you can forget about trying to stop her. I do not know if she can dunk, but I would not be surprised if she posterized a defender mid-game. Owens is also great at coming off of screens. Not many ball-handlers realize that to best lose their defender off a screen they must get as close to the screener when they are driving by. Owens knows that, and she leaves defenders in the dust on her way to the basket. She can also raise up for a jumpshot right off the screen, showing she is very comfortable being far more than a stand-alone shooter. I wrote a lot about her offense, but her rebounding and defensive capabilities are also worth noting.   Owens is a very solid defender, and it helps that she has a long reach. Her length and athleticism allow her to closely guard opposing players and grab boards over opposing bigs. Her strength also shows up when taking the ball directly out of her opponent's hands and starting the fastbreak.   [player_tooltip player_id='876288' first='Brooklyn' last='Owens'] should be top 5 in Arkansas' 2025 class, at least. I should not be calling her "underrated," and with Har-Ber this season, I bet she will break away from that designation.     Brooklyn Webb is different than the others players that have been highlighted previously. Webb is about as far under the radar as someone can possibly be, but there are parts of her game that impress me. Webb could easily be classified as a "big," but with her ability to move around the floor, I thought it was more fitting to keep her in the forward category.   Webb is primarily a role player for the Lady Canes, but she moves so well for her size. I could not find official measurements for Webb, but she appears to be the size of a typical forward. Her offensive game is not polished, but on defense, she is solid. She is excellent at coming over on help defense and blocking shots away. She is also a good rebounder, and on her rebounds, she throws a very hard outlet pass. Most forwards are not good passers, but Webb can get the rock directly to her teammates in a split second.   Brooklyn Webb is a role player as of right now, but she has the potential to be so much more. If Jonesboro has a better year in 2024/25, Webb will start to see more media exposure, and everyone else will see what I am talking about.     Conway has a solid roster, with [player_tooltip player_id='465503' first='Alexis' last='Cox'] leading the way. But Alexis' sister is also a part of that strong Lady Wampus Cat roster. [player_tooltip player_id='1056381' first='Alivia' last='Cox'] is a lockdown defender who had a strong summer with Team ISO. She has already received an offer from Three Rivers College, but with a strong senior season, expect more offers to be piling up.   Cox has well-rounded two-way abilities. On offense, she is at her best running out on the fastbreak and recording easy buckets at the other end. On defense, she steals the ball so often! This of course starts the fastbreak and she can take it coast-to-coast herself or dish it to a teammate. Cox is also a fantastic rebounder, using her athleticism and aggression to rip the ball from the opposition.   [player_tooltip player_id='1056381' first='Alivia' last='Cox'] does need to showcase more versatility on offense, but she already has solid two-way abilities that any college would love to have on their roster. Keep an eye out for her and the Lady Wampus Cats in the 6A Central this season.     I have seen [player_tooltip player_id='1186723' first='Chandler' last='Perry'] listed as a shooting guard and as a forward, but the forward position suits her game better. Perry is an interesting prospect that colleges should be checking in on. Of course, she is well below the radar, but Perry's skills would fit nicely with a number of teams.   Perry has good size at 5'10", moves well in the post, is fast, and gets out on the fastbreak early. The one criticism I have in her game is her finishing. Of course, she could incorporate her jumpshot more in games, but when playing in the painted area, players need to be solid finishers. Perry should prioritize finishing down low this season, and if she does, expect her to shine in the 6A West.   Despite this, her defense and rebounding are already top-notch. Perry is a really good shot blocker with the ability to play the passing lanes and record steals.   [player_tooltip player_id='1186723' first='Chandler' last='Perry'] has played her role well for Bentonville West, but her ceiling is very high. If she becomes an unstoppable finisher, there is no reason why she would not be amongst the best forwards in the state.     Sadie Steele has been a role player with Bentonville, but she plays her role well. Steele is not highly recruited, if at all, but she does possess some solid 3&D abilities that can serve her and her team well at the next level.   Offensively, Steele is primarily a shooter, and is great off the catch in the corner. She uses plenty of arch and defenses have to close out on her. Steele can also start and finish the fastbreak. As a freshman, she showed her ability to dribble with her off hand coast-to-coast, and did so without turning the ball over. Now as a senior, that skill should be farther along.   On defense, Steele blocks shots well for her position, and her defensive stops trigger fastbreak opportunities for her team.   Sadie Steele is a legitimate 3&D talent, and every team should be looking into her. Keep an eye out for Steele and the rest of this Bentonville squad in 2024/25.     [player_tooltip player_id='874451' first='Arkya' last='Dixon'] is perhaps the most unique prospect on this list. Dixon is listed as a point guard on this site, but she is also considered a small forward. I do not think she is a prototypical small forward, nor is she the traditional point guard, but I believe she is a true point-forward.   Dixon is slightly undersized for the small forward position, but she makes up for it with her physicality and her instincts. She is an excellent defender, and thrives in the fastbreak. Now, she is not the strongest of finishers, and I hope to see that part of her game improve this season, but her passing abilities are solid, particularly on bounce passes.   Back to her defense; Dixon picks off a lot of passes and does not mind playing a little bit of bully ball when stripping the ball away from the opposition.   [player_tooltip player_id='874451' first='Arkya' last='Dixon'] is the best playmaker in this article and the most likely player to fit the point-forward archetype. Rogers Heritage can be a better team if Dixon is involved more and takes a massive step up as she enters her senior season.    This article shows just a few of the 2025 forwards that are expected to perform well in the 6A classification. Expect these players to receive more collegiate recruiting attention during the season. Be on the lookout for my next article which will focus on bigs in the 2025 class who are in great positions to rock 6A.

For a lot of teams, forwards are the go-to position for scoring or versatile defense. A good forward can be just as important for a team to have as a good playmaking floor general. This article consists of small and power forwards in the 2025 class that are expected to be impressive this season, but these players are not highly recruited. The 6A classification is bustling with talent, and this group of forwards shows us why.