Arkansas' best high school boys basketball players: Meet the state's top post players
By Kyle Sutherland I Photo by Tommy Land
With the high school basketball season wrapped up, SBLive is looking at the best boys players in Arkansas. Today, we feature the top posts (power forwards/centers) for all classes. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list as there are hundreds of great basketball players in the state.
Important note on position: In today’s position-less era of basketball, it is very rare that teams list one starter at all five positions, and many players are fully interchangeable across positions. For example, depending on game or matchup situations, an athlete might play the 1 or 2 guard spots, possibly a guard/forward role as a wing, or some have the talent to play all of the 1-5 positions. Please use the comments section to discuss other standout players in Arkansas that you want to nominate.
Soon, you will have a chance to vote on who you think is the top boys posts in the state.
Terrion Burgess | Marion | 6-8 | FR
Some have described Burgess as “Phenom” and “The Next Big Thing '' just to name a few, and pretty much any cliché relating to that would be a great way to describe him as he has taken the state by storm. Though the Forrest cousins get a majority of the pub, and rightfully so, Burgess is a strong presence in the paint and already has offers from Arkansas, Auburn, and Texas Tech, just to name a few.
Nico Davillier | Maumelle | 6-4 | SR
Davillier has mostly made his name on the gridiron as a University of Arkansas football signee but played a big role in Maumelle’s state runner-up finish last season and the Hornets’ solid regular season this year. Heck, Davillier’s football recruiting really began to take off, literally, during the summer of 2020 when he sent out a video of him dunking. He was a perfect complement in the paint to the Hornets’ great back court duo of Carl Daughtery Jr. and Colby Garland.
Antwon Emsweller | Watson Chapel | 6-7 | SR
Emsweller will continue his college career playing for the Weatherford Coyotes after a great tenure in Watson Chapel. He was a constant double-double getter as he showed early in the year, and then finished conference play with a 23-point, 10-rebound performance against Monticello.
Evan Goldman | The New School | 6-5 | JR
One of the state’s small school stars, Goldman put together another all-state caliber season shooting 54% from the field and 15.2 points per game to go with 6 rebounds.
“Evan has developed into a dominant player that can take over any game he is in,” TNS assistant coach Jarred Osnes said. “He is a true leader on and off the floor and has worked hard in the weight room to progress into a more physical presence in the post.”
Harrison Hicks | Bentonville | 6-7 | SR
Bentonville head coach Dick Rippee does not feel Hicks has reached his full potential but has been pretty good from three-point range shooting at 40%. He put up 14 points in a lop-sided 78-48 victory of defending 5A runner-up Maumelle and has continued to improve throughout the year and can play both forwards spots as well as some guard.
Bryson Hammond | Jacksonville | 6-7 | SO
Hammond is one of the main underclassmen the Titans relied on this year and he continued to progress, particularly in the latter part of the season when he averaged five blocks per game. He still has plenty of time to continue growing into his frame and should play a much bigger role next season and competing during the summer will be a huge part of his development.
Jordon Harris | Pine Bluff | 6-7 | JR
While he also has a knack for getting baskets, Harris is a force on the boards as it seems like every time he plays, his rebound totals are in double digits. He contributed quality minutes for the Zebras in their run to the 5A state semifinals.
Shane Holloway | Eureka Springs | 6-10 | SR
As one of the tallest players in the smaller classifications this year, it goes without saying Holloway’s length played a key role in Eureka Springs’ great season combined with great back court play. He spent some of the year injured, but averaged 10.5 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks when on the floor.
Omareion Jefferson | Marion | 6-10 | SR
Jefferson is another big man who does not typically light up stat sheets but holds down the front court to create opportunities for his teammates. He has helped lead the Patriots to the 5A state title game in his final season.
Chase Jessup | Lake Hamilton | 6-4 | SR
An Arkansas State football signee, Jessup has also had a very good basketball career earning multiple all-conference honors. His points totals aren’t eye-popping, but he played his role as well as anyone doing his job in the paint which helped the Wolves around the perimeter become one of the best back courts in the state.
Jeff Kamanga | Parkview | 6-5 | SR
When top sophomore Dallas Thomas was slowed by an injury at the end of this year, Kamanga stepped in and likely surpassed expectations. Thomas did not play at all against Maumelle in the regular-season finale and Kamanga made his presence felt, falling just shy of a triple-double with 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 blocks.
TJ Lindsey | Bryant | 6-4 | SO
Lindsey is already listed as one of the top football prospects for 2024 but also is known to possess Dennis Rodman-esque qualities from a standpoint of not being a scorer, but believes every rebound is his. In two February back-to-back games, Lindsey totaled 30 boards.
Austin Mack | Dierks | 6-5 | SR
As it is typical for small schools, Mack plays just about everywhere in the front court, and mostly the shooting guard in the front. He averaged 18 points for the Outlaws leading a very successful senior class to the state quarterfinals.
Rashaud Marshall | Blytheville | 6-9 | JR
Marshall has continued to make big strides in his first full varsity season averaging a double-double (19 points and 10 rebounds) with an eye-popping field goal percentage of 75% leading the Chickasaws to the state title game.
“The sky's the limit for Rashaud, he just keeps getting better and better,” Blytheville head coach McKenzie Pierce said. “I believe you would be hard-pressed to find 50 prospects nationally in the class of 2023 better than him.”
Caden Miller | Bentonville | 6-9 | SO
Miller is emerging as one of the best in the 2024 class averaging 11 points and 12 rebounds per game. Through 20 games, he blocked 67 shots and has barely even scratched the surface. Miller is also a great passer which is a major bonus for a big. He had 21 rebounds in the semifinals against Fayetteville.
“Caden is one of the most improved players in the state of Arkansas,” Tigers head coach Dick Rippee said. “His athleticism is underrated, and he has a great motor for rebounding on both ends.”
Paul Mitchell | Mineral Springs | 6-4 | SR
Mitchell has been dominant this season averaging 23.5 points per game and 11 rebounds mainly playing no more than three quarters per game in most cases.
Javon Orr | Bigelow | 6-6 | SR
Orr averaged just shy of a double-double this season with 14 points per game and 9 rebounds along with 2 blocks while often facing double and triple teams.
“Javon has really improved on his passing and being tougher,” Panthers head coach Craig Neumeier said. “We have won games when he has not scored very much but it has opened it up for other guys.”
Aiden Underdown | Elkins | 6-6 | SR
Being in a smaller classification can make it more difficult to get noticed, but Underdown grabbed the bull by the horns in his final high school season and took the state by storm receiving interest and offers from colleges. He averaged 25 points per game this year and went all the way off in the first round in the state tournament with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 blocks. His best game of the year came on January 22 against Bergman when he put up 44 points (4-for-4 from deep), snagged 16 rebounds, and blocked 6 shots.
Devonta Walker | Magnolia | 6-5 | SR
With Razorback signee Derrian Ford and gritty guard Nevi Tell getting a lot of the noticeable work done for the No. 3 Panthers, it is easy for other players to get lost in the shuffle and Walker is in that mix. He played very well in December’s King Cotton Classic against national competition and had one of his most recent best games in a March 5th state tournament contest against Pulaski Robinson scoring 22 points.
Kel’el Ware | North Little Rock | 7-0 | SR
The Oregon commit has been able to make his presence felt even more this season with less attention due to the amount of talent on North Little Rock’s roster. Whether in the paint, from mid-range, or even bringing the ball down the court, Ware does it all effectively. He is ranked the ninth player in the country per the Rivals and is possibly the best big in the country.
Colbie West | Bradley | 6-5 | SR
West has led the Bears to a great season in his final year averaging 25.4 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2 steals per game. He has kept up that pace in the postseason continuously filling out stat sheets.
Jabari West | Hot Springs | 6-7 | SR
Known as a force around the rim, the George Washington signee is a double-double waiting to happen anytime he is on the floor as seen by one of his top performances this season in a 62-55 victory over Vilonia in December when he totaled 29 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 steals.
Caden Whitehead | Buffalo Island Central | 7-0 | SR
Whitehead is a force in the paint not only because of his size, but he can also move well and has great hands. He currently possesses an offer from Crowley’s Ridge College and has received other college interest. During the regular season, Whitehead averaged 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 blocks per game.
Creed Williamson | Little Rock Christian | 6-8 | SR
The son of Arkansas great Corliss “Big Nasty” Williamson has tried to create a legacy of his own. He was named 5A-West All-Conference this year averaging 14 points and 8 rebounds per game after averaging 12.4 points and 7.4 rebounds as a junior.
