The 5A classification has 3 of the 4 top players in the state, regardless of class. For this article, I will focus on the #1 player in the 2026 class and the reigning Gatorade Player of the Year, Whitley Rogers Whitley Rogers 5'11" | SF Little Rock Christian | 2026 State #44 Nation AR .

Rogers has had a great summer. She averaged 18.6 points per game at the EYBL back in July, which ranked third overall in the tournament. This turned some heads, as she picked up numerous major offers.

With Little Rock Christian, she averaged over 20 points per game, killing 5A defenses with her exceptional shot creation and range. Her 3-point and mid-range shooting was phenomenal, but she was also a great slasher, finding lanes to the basket with her great handles.

Whitley Rogers Whitley Rogers 5'11" | SF Little Rock Christian | 2026 State #44 Nation AR is arguably the best player in the state of Arkansas, regardless of class, which automatically makes her one of the most exciting players to watch in the 5A classification. She recently named her top 5 schools: Arkansas, NC State, Houston, Alabama, and Arizona.

Picking the top three of this class is difficult. Each player has incredible skill with a number of Division I schools after them. However, Whitley Rogers Whitley Rogers 5'11" | SF Little Rock Christian | 2026 State #44 Nation AR separated herself from the rest of the class after being named the 2024-25 Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year.

After winning that award thanks to an incredible junior season, Rogers picked up offers from multiple Power 4 Conference teams, including Arkansas, Baylor, Houston, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, West Virginia, Colorado, Georgia Tech, and NC State. She has also picked up other offers from Columbia, Marquette, Middle Tennessee, and Memphis.

Besides the incredible offer sheet, it is not hard to see why Rogers is ranked #1. She averaged 24.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.5 steals per game during the 2024-25 season, leading Little Rock Christian to a 22-5 overall record. Rogers can score at a high level, having already eclipsed 40 points in a game last season.

Whitley Rogers Whitley Rogers 5'11" | SF Little Rock Christian | 2026 State #44 Nation AR is now one of the country’s best small forwards, leaving little doubt for her spot at #1.

Whitley Rogers Whitley Rogers 5'11" | SF Little Rock Christian | 2026 State #44 Nation AR is the epidemy of “elite.” She can do essentially everything on the court, and she makes a great case against the two players ranked ahead of her in the top three of the 2026 rankings.

On Tuesday, Rogers and Little Rock Christian had a dominant game against 6A Central Cabot High School. The final score for the game was 68-31 in favor of LRCA. Rogers’ final statline for the game was 37 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 7 steals. She went 5/5 from the charity stripe, nailed 4 threes, and converted three and-one opportunities.

It was a dominant scoring affair for Rogers, and apart from her outside shooting, she made a fair amount of her money when scoring off turnovers. She scored in transition multiple times throughout the game, finishing open and contested looks in the paint. Of course with 7 steals, you better believe she had a good night defensively. She was very active, intercepting multiple passes and playing hounding on-ball defense.

Whitley Rogers Whitley Rogers 5'11" | SF Little Rock Christian | 2026 State #44 Nation AR is going to continue to be one of the best players in the entire state of Arkansas, regardless of class.

Coach Ronald Rogers earned his 200th win at LRCA last season and will have more wins with junior Whitley. Rogers runs the floor like a gazelle and gets to her position very well. Can hit deep 3s at the buzzer or get a block and sprint the floor for an and one. Rogers has paid her dues and Geogia Tech, Memphis, and MTSU have her in their sights. Her sizable wingspan and quick feet allow her to guard smaller positions. She has excellent fundamentals and often uses her strength in those situations. The small forward has soft hands around the basket and manages her touch well. She can shoot off the dribble from anywhere on the court. Dropping 35pts last season vs. Rogers is impressive and will leave you looking for more repeat performances like that from this student athlete.