After a strong junior season, AJ McDonald AJ McDonald 6'0" | PF/C Van Buren | 2026 State AR picked up several offers, including Rhodes, John Brown, and College of the Ozarks. After also earning all-conference, all-state, and all-tournament honors, she is in for a big 2025-26 season.

McDonald is an excellent rebounder, posting 7.7 boards a night last season. She boxes out well and she uses her 6’0″ frame to outjump the competition. McDonald also plays with physicality under the basket, which helps her on the offensive end.

She averaged 13.1 points per game as a junior, thanks to her physical play and her soft touch around the basket. McDonald plays with her back to the basket, backing down her defender and scoring in a number of ways. She can also get herself to the free throw line with her willingness to take on contact and go straight up.

AJ McDonald AJ McDonald 6'0" | PF/C Van Buren | 2026 State AR is going to have another great season with the Lady Pointers, just wait and see.

AJ McDonald AJ McDonald 6'0" | PF/C Van Buren | 2026 State AR is a trending player as we head into the 2025-26 season. She broke out this past season with Van Buren, and now she is ready to take the next step up in her game.

McDonald has received recent offers from John Brown University and Rhodes College, but I would imagine she receives more by the time the season rolls around.

McDonald has been productive for Team Iso Joe, showing off her toughness, court vision, and defensive ability. She recently had a solid outing against Play4Him, where she put up 10 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal. During her junior year with the Lady Pointers, McDonald set multiple school records while earning all-conference, all-state, and all-tournament selections.

AJ McDonald AJ McDonald 6'0" | PF/C Van Buren | 2026 State AR has excellent footwork in the post and a nice touch around the basket. There are not many players who can successfully stop her, especially not on the glass, where she averaged 7.7 boards a night during the regular season. I predict that she will jump up from #62 to somewhere in the top 25 of this class after the next ranking update.

AJ McDonald AJ McDonald 6'0" | PF/C Van Buren | 2026 State AR is one of the top post players in the 5A classification. She was one of Van Buren’s team leaders, helping them reach the playoffs.

McDonald was named to the 5A West all-conference team and the all-state tournament team. She was also an all-state honorable mention. The junior set some Lady Pointer records this past season as well.

McDonald pulled down 241 rebounds this year, the most in Van Buren history. She also swatted 25 shots and recorded 9 double-doubles this season, the most in school history. Her 4 blocks in a game were the most in Pointer history and her 15 rebounds were 4th-most in Van Buren history.

McDonald averaged 13.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while also shooting 49% from the floor.

Statistics show that AJ McDonald AJ McDonald 6'0" | PF/C Van Buren | 2026 State AR can be a dominant player on both ends of the floor, making her an easy addition to the ranking.