Class 1A Arkansas high school boys basketball preview
With the start of a new season, SBLive is previewing Arkansas high school basketball. Today, we feature eight teams to watch from the boys ranks of Class 1A. Over the coming weeks there will be features for each classification as well as player position lists.
Head over to the website for complete coverage and standings throughout the season. You can also listen to our weekly podcast, Arkansas Prep X-Tra, for even more in-depth coverage.
Bradley head coach Benny Harris (Photo by Tommy Land)
BRADLEY BEARS
Head Coach: Benny Harris
Conference: 1A-7
2022-23 Finish: 28-7, 1A state first round
Notable Departures
Josh Harris | all-conference
Players To Watch
F Jamarion Harris 6-3 SR | all-conference, all-state
G Michael Radford 5-10 SR
G Jamal Henderson 5-8 SR
F/P Michaevion Watson 6-3 JR
G Michaevious Watson 6-1 SR
F Tavon Wyrick 6-2 JR
G Jahlil Manning 5-10 SO
G Ethan Kelly 5-10 SO
Outlook
Benny Harris enters year 47 of his coaching career and nearly two seasons removed from winning his most recent state championship, he feels that this year's team has as high of a ceiling as any that he can recall. A young Bears squad surpassed expectations last season following a 27-3 start, but dropped four of their final five games, including a first round state tournament loss to eventual champion County Line, whom Bradley defeated the previous season in the finals. After having to completely rebuild following the graduation of the 2022 class, Harris welcomes back four starters and a deep bench for 2023-24.
Coach Said
"Overall, this might be the most athletic group that I have had in years. They seem like they are hungry this year. We have good quickness, decent size and length and all five of my starters are good shooters. My main concern right now is just getting the kids ready to play great defense."
- Benny Harris
BRINKLEY TIGERS
Head Coach: Chris Williams
Conference: 1A-5
2022-23 Finish: 24-6, 1A state semifinalist
Notable Departures
Kylan Baker | Shorter College signee, all-state
Players To Watch
G Mitchell Hicks 6-1 SR
G Christian Williams 6-1 SO
G/F Sylvester Anderson 6-1 SR
F Michael Harris 6-2 SO
Outlook
Seniors Hicks (17 PPG last two season, 23 away from 1,000 career points) and Anderson have logged a lot of minutes for the Tigers and are wanting to get rid of the sting caused after falling in the semifinals. Brinkley struggled early on, but everything began to click by mid-December and they won 22 of their final 25 games, including 10 consecutive from late January through the beginning of the state tournament. Along with talented sophomore Williams (14 PPG last postseason) and Harris, the Tigers have the makeup for another deep tournament run.
Coach Said
"Very experienced team led by five seniors that are looking to contend after coming off a state semifinal run last season. This past offseason, we improved in a lot of areas. We’ll be a better defensive team and with a strong blend of sophomores, should provide a good combination of talent and depth for the Tigers."
- Chris Williams
CONCORD PIRATES
Head Coach: Keith Cornett
Conference: 1A-2, 1A state first round
2022-23 Finish:
Notable Departures
Grant Cossey | all-conference
Keegan Billington | all-conference
Players To Watch
G Eli Tate 6-0 SR - 4-year starter, all-conf, all-state 2x
G Reece Bracey 5-11 JR | all-conference
F/P Tyson Connor 6-0 SR
G Eric Welch 6-0 SR
G Ben Lerew 5-8 SR
F Darrell Reed 6-1 JR
G Evan Whaley 5-11 JR
Outlook
A rollercoaster of events in the final six games ended with a tough three-point loss to Clarendon in the first round of the state tournament. Despite some struggles, down the stretch, Cornett feels that with what he has coming back and the things that did work, the Pirates just need to reset and play their game the way they know how. Concord will rotate between six or seven, with everything going through four-year starter Tate, while Bracey returns as his back court mate, along with a deep bench of guards including Welch, Lerew and Whaley. Connor provides experience in the paint, along with Reed who could miss time early while continuing to recover from offseason surgery.
Coach Said
"We are just going to do the same things we did last year. I think the easiest part is most of our guys played a lot last year and they are experienced."
- Keith Cornett
County Line guard Trent Johnston (Photo by Tommy Land)
COUNTY LINE INDIANS
Head Coach: Joe Brunson
Conference: 1A-1W
2022-23 Finish: 45-0, 1A state champions
Notable Departures
Aundrae Milum | all-conference, all-state, 1A state tournament Most Valuable Player
Kelby Rudd | all-conference
Drake Price | all-conference
Caden Vest | all-conference
Players To Watch
G Trent Johnston 6-0 JR
Outlook
Following a perfect season in which the Indians won their first start title since 1971, this year will have a completely different look. Between graduating four starters, including the do-it-all Milum, as well as losing Cooper Watson who transferred to Fort Smith Southside, Johnston (14 PPG) is the lone returner and will be leaned on heavily. While proud of the achievements, Brunson has completely shifted his focus to the present, but still is not quite sure what the rotation will look like around Johnston. He mentioned they have been experiencing with different looks throughout the offseason and could play up to eight guys when the opportunity presents itself.
Coach Said
"Last year was a great year, but I think most of us have moved forward and are looking forward to this season. I do not know if the new guys are thinking about that a whole lot. It is completely different this season after coming back last year (from 2021-22) and having the exact same players in the same spots from the year before. There was not quite the learning curve then that we are experiencing now with new players, new positions."
- Joe Brunson
LAFAYETTE COUNTY COUGARS
Head Coach: Roderick Briggs
Conference: 1A-7
2022-23 Finish: 26-7
Notable Departures
LaCurtis Jackson | all-state tournament
Zalin Parrish | all-conference
Players To Watch
G Jaylon Calton 5-10 JR | all-conference
G Zhy'qkis Jackson 5-8 JR | all-conference
G Andrew Mack 6-1 JR | all-conference, all-state
F Jordan Walters 6-0 SO
G Amarre Rone 5-8 SO
F Ty Palermo 6-4 FR
Outlook
A Lafayette County squad that returns two of its top scorers hopes to carry the momentum that helped them win 10 of their final 11 games and finish in the quarterfinals, where the Cougars dropped a heartbreaker to Shirley by three points in overtime. Mack (16.5 PPG, 8 APG) and Jackson (14 PPG, 6 APG) lead what should be one of the classification's deeper back courts when you also factor in Calton, while Briggs expects Walters, Rone and Palermo as newcomers who should factor into the rotation.
Coach Said
"First, we want to win the district. You do that, then you go to regionals and when you get there anything can happen. From there, it is just the same thing - get to the state tournament and try to make the championship game."
- Roderick Briggs
Marked Tree guard Kenyon Carter (Photo by Tommy Land)
MARKED TREE INDIANS
Head Coach: Barbara Wilburn
Conference: 1A-3
2022-23 Finish: 29-4, 1A state runner-up
Notable Departures
Donny Childs | Central Baptist College all-conference, all-state
Braden Kennedy
Players To Watch
G Ladarrius Brown 6-3 JR
G Kenyon Carter 5-8 JR | all-conference, all-state
F Cameron Marshall 6-2 SR
F/P Jonah Walker 6-7 JR
G/F Landon Lewis 5-9 JR
G Jakaymion Williams 5-6 JR
G Dawon Smith 5-7 JR
F Joshua Rand 6-3 JR
Outlook
While any season that ends in the state championship is one to be proud of, only a fool would think Marked Tree does not return as the most driven squad of any after falling in the 1A finals on a layup at the buzzer. Childs is a huge loss from both a talent and leadership standpoint, but everyone else is back led by Carter in the back court as the team's returning all-state selection. Marshall and Lewis, along with Walker, present some size and physicality in the paint, while Wilburn mentioned that Smith is a "dynamic ball player" who reminds her in many ways of what Childs could do.
Coach Said
"We had a tremendous summer over in Tennessee and did very well playing some big teams. I think losing in that championship game sparked a lot of that. Of course, naturally, they are hungry to try to achieve that again, but we know we have to work hard to get there. We are looking forward to the challenge and hopefully we will be ready."
- Barbara Wilburn
SHIRLEY BLUEDEVILS
Head Coach: Tyler Pettit
Conference: 1A-2
2022-23 Finish: 30-6, 1A state semifinalist
Notable Departures
Arick Newell | all-conference
Hunter Bradford
Hogan Little | all-conference
Players To Watch
SG Taylor Spencer 5-10 SR | all-conference
PG Tyler Spencer 5-10 SR | all-conference
F Will Jackson 6-2 JR
G/F J.J. Vazquez 6-0 SO
Outlook
Some of the best times in program history were had last spring that included both a conference and district championship, as well as a trip to the semifinals where Shirley fell to eventual state champion County Line. The Blue Devils would love to do all of that again, and even take it a step further under new head coach Tyler Pettit. Along with that, there will also be some new faces to build around the star duo of Taylor and Tyler Spencer, who each averaged around 14 points last season. Shirley also brought in transfers Jackson (previously at Armorel) and Vasquez (previously at Clinton).
Coach Said
"I think coming from a year where they made it to the semifinals and should have made it to the finals, if not won it all, it comes with a lot of fire. We did graduate quite a few, but we have had a lot of guys step up and it is a good situation for me to come into my first year because there is so much will to come in and work. There have been some bumps in the road, obviously, with a new coach, culture and system, but it has been good. The small environment helps a lot, how close-knit everyone is."
- Tyler Pettit
WONDERVIEW DAREDEVILS
Head Coach: Jerod Squires
Conference: 1A-4
2022-23 Finish: 28-7, 1A state first round
Notable Departures
Sam Reynolds | Central Arkansas baseball signee, all-state, Wonderview's all-time leading scorer, 4th all-time for points in state history
Tyler Gottsponer | All-conference
Gage Looney | All-conference
Matt Bingham | All-conference
Austin Brice
Players To Watch
G Ethan Kelley 5-11 JR
G Rowdy Warren 5-10 JR
F Landon Campbell 6-1 SR
F Lance Carr 6-2 SR
P Caleb Montgomery 6-5 SR
G Cayleb Stobaugh 5-11 FR
G Zack Kissire 6-0 SR
Outlook
It is safe to say that the Daredevils have the most to replace with all five starters graduated, including Reynolds who is one of the more decorated players in state history. However, while there may not be a ton of starting experience, many of this year's expected contributors have plenty of minutes under their belt. Kelley (5 PPG) is one to watch as the season tips off as he goes from a sixth man role last season to one of the team leaders, while Campbell, Carr and Montgomery are additional seniors who understand what it takes to succeed after being a part of three straight conference championship teams.
Coach Said
"This year's team is motivated to compete for a fourth consecutive conference title. They have had a very productive summer and have been working hard this first month of school. They are highly motivated to leave their mark on the program. I believe this group will be fun to watch because they are going to compete hard and play for each other every night."
- Jerod Squires
OTHERS TO WATCH: Bearden, Clarendon, The New School
--Kyle Sutherland | @k_sutherlandAR
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