Cassie Carlson Cassie Carlson 5'10" | PF/SF Harrisburg | 2026 State AR had the best all-around game from any of the Lady Hornets. She was relatively quiet for much of the first half, but she really came alive in the third quarter.

Carlson finished the game with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. She was everywhere on both sides of the ball, scoring inside and out on offense and protecting the rim on defense.

Of her 10 points, 6 came from behind the arch. The defense did not respect her outside shooting on her first 3-point attempt, and even after she hesitated to shoot, she still knocked down the wide-open 3, ripping through the net. The opposition showed her more respect on her second attempt, but she still made it, as she was working off a screen and took a step back, shooting off the dribble.

She used her 5’10” frame and long arms to her advantage on defense. She was able to poke balls free and disrupt passing lanes, but she was even better in the middle, blocking shots whenever they came her way.

Cassie Carlson Cassie Carlson 5'10" | PF/SF Harrisburg | 2026 State AR stepped up when her team needed her, but sadly for Harrisburg, it was still not enough. Despite that, they should feel confident that this junior can play hard even when the score is not in their favor.

Cassie Carlson Cassie Carlson 5'10" | PF/SF Harrisburg | 2026 State AR is a long and athletic wing who turns defense into offense for Harrisburg. She has already built a reputation as a great rebounder, setting the school record for the most rebounds in a game with 18. So far this season, Carlson has continued to stuff the stat sheet.

In Harrisburg’s second game of the season against Carlisle, Carlson had her best game of the year with 26 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals. She was nearing a triple-double against Hazen in the third game of the season with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks. In Harrisburg’s last game of the season against Newport, Carlson only posted 4 points, but her defense was on point, recording 4 steals.

Carlson gets most of her steals by poking passes away and sprinting down the court for an easy transition bucket. She is aggressive on defense and creates havoc for the other team, disrupting the opposing ball-handlers’ dribble as well. At 5’10”, Carlson has to play in the post and she blocks a lot of shots, often ferociously.

As I mentioned, most of Carlson’s offense comes from her defensive play, but in the halfcourt setting, she can catch the ball from the perimeter and drive hard to the basket. Carlson is also a solid offensive rebounder, earning some second-chance baskets in the process.

Cassie Carlson Cassie Carlson 5'10" | PF/SF Harrisburg | 2026 State AR is definitely a name to keep an eye on this season, and she has emerged as one of the state’s best small town stars.