Arkansas high school boys basketball Top 25 rankings (1/9/2024)
Arkansas high school basketball fans were treated to some great matchups in the first week of 2024, but there were also some early upsets – if we can call them that this early – that also demanded attention.
While No. 2 Fayetteville and No. 4 Bryant each handled business in their respective conference matchups, once you get past the Top 16, it almost becomes interchangeable.
Despite all of the shuffling, only one squad dropped out, and the replacement checking in at No. 24 is a familiar name.
Top-ranked Little Rock Central, which just had a very impressive showing in Florida, hosting No. 4 Bryant headlines the top matchups this week, but there are plenty more and you can view them all here.
1. Little Rock Central (15-3)
Last week: 1
With 6A-Central play starting this week, the Tigers took advantage of more opportunities against top competition at the SLAM Tampa Hoopfest in Florida. They defeated Olympia (Fla.), Sports Leadership & Management (Fla.) - both top 30 squads in The Sunshine State - and First Assembly Christian, a Top 5 team in Tennessee.
2. Fayetteville (15-2)
Last week: 2
The Purple Dogs started rolling prior to halftime and never looked back in a key victory over arch rival Springdale on Wednesday before cruising to a 33-point win over Rogers Heritage to close the week. Still unbeaten against in-state competition, Fayetteville takes on Bentonville West and Fort Smith Southside this week.
3. Har-Ber (15-1)
Last week: 3
The dynamic duo of Courtland Muldrew and Jaxon Conley, who put up 25 and 22 points, respectively, in the win over Rogers powered the Wildcats to their eighth consecutive victory. They will make the trip to No. 17 Bentonville, a squad hunting a big upset following a shocking loss, to start the week before taking on Bentonville West at home on Friday.
4. Bryant (17-2)
Last week: 4
The Hornets continued the long win streak – that now sits at 17 – into the new year and scored a huge home victory over defending 6A state champion Jonesboro in the Central conference opener. That sets up a must-watch Top 5 matchup at No. 1 Little Rock Central on Tuesday.
5. Pine Bluff (12-3)
Last week: 5
Star senior guard Courtney Crutchfield was in San Antonio (Texas) for the Army All-American bowl all week, but it did not matter. The Z's still handled business in conference wins over Hot Springs Lakeside and White Hall as their focus is now set on No. 9 Benton at home Tuesday.
6. Marion (8-2)
Last week: 8
The first conference test of the Emmanuel Wade era went about as smooth as you could've asked as the Patriots put it on rival West Memphis, holding the Blue Devils to just 32 points. They did drop a Saturday non-conference contest against Houston (Tenn.), which, in the long run, is a positive as it doesn't count against the postseason and they got yet another look against quality competition.
7. Jonesboro (9-7)
Last week: 6
A road trip to Central Arkansas against No. 4 Bryant is how the Hurricane tipped off 6A-Central play following a strong finish to December. They fell by nine to the Hornets and look to get back on track, starting with a non-conference matchup against Blytheville at home on Tuesday before another road trip, this time to No. 10 North Little Rock, to finish the week.
8. Little Rock Christian (12-6)
Last week: 9
The defending 4A state champions got back into conference play with dominating wins, outscoring Bauxite and Lonoke by a combined 145-65. The 4A-5 better be on lookout, these Warriors are not only ultra-talented – they are about as battle-tested as any team in Arkansas.
9. Benton (14-4)
Last week: 10
There was not an ounce of drop-off for the Panthers as they got back into 5A-South play following an impressive showing in the King Cotton Classic. They throttled Hot Springs 72-44 as they now look forward to two massive games on the road, tipping against No. 5 Pine Bluff on Tuesday and No. 13 Lake Hamilton Friday.
10. North Little Rock (11-4)
Last week: 13
A conference-opening victory over Conway to start the new year is exactly what the Charging Wildcats needed after an up and down December. They head to Little Rock Southwest to get this week tipped off before hosting No. 7 Jonesboro Friday.
11. Springdale (9-7)
Last week: 7
It is worth noting that the Red Dogs did not have star junior guard Isaiah Sealy in their 12-point loss to Fayetteville, but, either way, it's evident there is still work to be done. They have some great opportunities to snap a two-game skid this week against Rogers Heritage and No. 17 Bentonville this week.
12. Farmington (18-2)
Last week: 11
The Cardinals made quick work of Gravette in their lone game of the week, a 53-point triumph over the Lions in the 4A-1 opener. Shiloh Christian and Gentry are on the schedule this week.
13. Lake Hamilton (15-4)
Last week: 12
A four-game win streak to end 2023 turned into five consecutive following the Wolves' eight-point win over Hot Springs Lakeside. With no game on Tuesday, they will take this week to prep for No. 9 Benton, whom they swept in last season's 5A-South matchups.
14. Russellville (16-1)
Last week: 15
The conference-opening, 74-39 triumph over Greenwood put the Cyclones' win streak at 13. They have a road trip to Greenbrier to start the week before hosting a sneaky Alma squad, who just notched a big 5A-West upset against Harrison.
15. Vilonia (12-5)
Last week: 16
Back at home after closing out the year in the Poplar Bluff Showdown, the Eagles took down Catholic to remain undefeated in 5A-Central play. They stay home against Beebe for their lone matchup this week.
16. Mountain Home (13-4)
Last week: 17
The Bombers got back to their winning ways against Siloam Springs in the 5A-West opener, which puts them at five victories in their past six games. They host Harrison at The Hangar on Tuesday before heading down to Van Buren Friday.
17. Bentonville (10-7)
Last week: 14
While it was to a Fort Smith Northside team that expects to be much better in the second half of the year, it goes without saying Friday's loss was a setback. Good thing is, there are many more chances for the Tigers to bounce back and there are few better ways to do it than back-to-back home games this week against No. 3 Har-Ber and No. 11 Springdale.
18. White Hall (8-9)
Last week: 19
The 17-point loss to Pine Bluff, even with Courtney Crutchfield out, is more of a compliment to the depth of the Z's than anything. The Bulldogs still fully expect to compete for a state tournament seed and have great chances to put some conference W's in the column this week against Arkansas High and Sheridan.
19. Parkview (10-12)
Last week: 21
After dropping two of their previous three games, the Patriots took down Jacksonville on Friday after getting back into 5A-Central play. They host No. 24 Maumelle – a matchup that never has a shortage of intensity – on Tuesday before capping the week at Catholic.
20. West Memphis (7-10)
Last week: 20
While the Blue Devils were no match for rival Marion, it needs to be reiterated that this squad should not be judged solely on their record. They expect to handle their business against Searcy on Tuesday before a crucial road trip to No. 21 Nettleton on Friday, a squad they split matches with during tournaments in non-conference play.
21. Nettleton (9-7)
Last week: 22
Things are starting to look up for the Raiders, who picked up their second consecutive win and started 1-0 in 5A-East play following a frustrating December. This week features two huge tests, starting with a road trip to No. 6 Marion before hosting No. 20 West Memphis on Friday.
22. Morrilton (16-3)
Last week: 23
Following a close loss to No. 3 Har-Ber on Dec. 29, the Devil Dogs have a new win streak rolling following 4A-4 victories over Clarksville and Waldron. They are at home for both games the week against Dardanelle and Pottsville.
23. Mills University Studies (8-8)
Last week: 24
Friday's conference matchup against Hamburg was cancelled due to inclimate weather, but the Comets did get their record back up to .500 with a win over Watson Chapel. Road trips to Star City and Crossett are on the schedule this week.
24. Maumelle (8-8)
Last week: NR
Another victim of a tough schedule, all of the Hornets' in-state losses have been to teams currently ranked no lower than 15th and are currently on a two-game win streak as they set their sights on nemesis No. 21 Parkview on the road Tuesday.
25. Rogers (11-7)
Last Week: 25
After squeaking past Fort Smith Northside Tuesday, the Mounties were not able to slow down the scoring of Har-Ber. They have an opportunity to gain some momentum against Rogers Heritage on Friday in their lone game of the week.
Dropped out: Harrison (18)
– Kyle Sutherland | @k_sutherlandAR
