Arkansas' best high school girls basketball players: Meet the state's top seniors
With the high school basketball season wrapping up, SBLive is looking at the best girls players in Arkansas across all classifications. Today, we feature the top seniors.
There are hundreds of standout girls basketball players in Arkansas, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. You can discuss the other posts worthy of fans’ attention in 2023-24 by connecting with us on Twitter at @SBLiveARK or by emailing nate@scorebooklive.com.
Greenwood's Anna Trusty (Photo by Tommy Land)
Mykayla Banks | Rivercrest | 5-5 | Guard
Banks is averaging 14.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists and 3.4 steals per game for the Colts, who are 17-10 on the season through Feb. 15. Season highlights include scoring 18 points in a 53-50 victory over Manila in the 3A-3 District Championship; 28 points in a 58-54 victory over Corning in the same tournament; 10 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists and 4 assists in a 49-38 victory over Harrisburg; 23 points, 3 assists and 3 steals in a 69-68 overtime victory over Corning.
Keely Blanchard | Norfork | 5-8 | Guard
Blanchard is a big reason the Lady Panthers are 27-1 on the season. Among her highlights on the season are 21 points in a 64-42 victory over Melbourne. She had 14 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists and 5 steals in a 71-30 victory over Shirley. She also had 26 points with 10 rebounds and 5 blocks in a 63-21 victory over Calico Rock; 19 points with 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals in a 54-49 victory over Quitman. As a junior, she averaged 15.1 points, 8 assists, and 6 steals per game this year.
Zakiyah Brownlee | Rivercrest | 6-5 | Post
Brownlee scored 22 points for the Lady Colts in a 53-50 victory over Manila in the finals of the 3A-3 District Tournament. Among recent highlights, she had 10 points in a 58-54 victory over Corning in the same tournament. She scored 12 points with 6 rebounds and 3 assists in a 49-38 victory over Hamburg. She had 13 points, 19 rebounds and 6 blocks in a 69-68, overtime victory over Corning in January.
Jaycie Cook | Cabot | 5-7 | Guard
Cook has demonstrated good outside shooting ability, making 5 three-pointers in a 52-35 victory over Bryant. She made four in a 62-35 victory over Little Rock Central on Feb. 9 and three in a 65-45 victory over Bryant on Feb. 7. Through the end of January, she is averaging 12.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.4 steals is shooting 43.1 percent on three-pointers.
Jenna Cook | Cabot | 5-7 | Guard
The Central Arkansas signee is averaging 11.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.2 steals per game and is shooting 80.1 percent from the foul line.
Adrianna Corbett | Mammoth Spring | 5-9 | Forward
Corbett topped the 1,000-career point mark in a 71-40 victory over Izard County. As a junior, she stood out as not only one of the team’s top scorers (12 points per game), but also at getting rebounds (6 per game), her teammates good shots (3 assists per game), and also on the defensive end (3 steals per game).
Abbie Grace Cunningham | Cabot | 6-1 | Forward
Cunningham transferred to Cabot after starring at Atkins and has signed with Arkansas Tech. Asa junior, she averaged 22.2 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals per game. As a senior, she is averaging 14.2 points, 8.0 rebounds while shooting 52.8 percent from the floor and 84.1 percent from the line.
Taleigha Ealy | Russellville | 6-0 | Forward
Ealy signed with Arkansas-Monticello before the season and topped the 1,000-career point mark in December. She finished with 17 points and 8 rebounds in a 89-55 loss to Greenwood on Feb. 2. She had 20 points and 11 rebounds in a 64-35 victory over Greenbrier on Feb. 6. She scored 12 points in a 63-46 victory over Van Buren on Jan. 26.
Alyson Edwards | Mansfield | 5-11 | forward
The multi-sport athlete who also stars in softball and volleyball -while also maintaining a 4.0 GPA - averaged 12 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game as a junior. Edwards has been having a strong year for Mansfield in Class 2A. Among the highlights, she scored 22 points with 9 rebounds and 3 assists in a 64-40 victory over Lavaca in the 2A-4 Conference Tournament. She 26 points with 9 assists and 4 assists in a 67-44 victory over Mountainburg.
Brilynn Findley | Bryant | 5-7 | Guard
Findley signed with Delta State. Among her season’s highlights were 21 points in a 65-48 victory over Little Rock Southwest. She had 24 points in a 65-45 loss to Cabot. She had 16 points and 8 rebounds in a 48-41 loss to Little Rock Central.
Lexi Franklin | Booneville | 5-6 | Guard
The Pittsburg (Kan.) State softball commitment has 25 points with 8 rebounds and 7 assists in a 54-40 victory over Cossatot River in the 3A-4 Tournament semifinals. She scored 49 points with 23 rebounds, 10 steals and 18 assists in games vs. Danville, Paris and Cossatot River from Feb. 6-10.
Riley Gottsponer | Wonderview | 6-0 | Forward
A three-time all-conference selection, Gottsponer has committed to play basketball at John Brown University. She recently topped the 1,400-point mark in her career. She scored 27 points with 9 rebounds in a 48-35 victory over Guy-Perkins.
Jordan Marshall | Central | 6-0 | Wing
Marshall signed with Louisiana Tech and was the only girl from Arkansas nominated for the McDonald’s High School All-America game. She scored 21 points with 10 rebounds and 3 steals in a 63-47 victory over Tupelo (Miss.) in the Dandy Dozen Invitational in November. In a 58-56 loss to Parkway (La.), she had 25 points with 10 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists.
Kaitlyn McCarn | Mountain View | 5-8 | Guard
McCarn transferred from Melbourne before her junior year where she was part of two state championship teams (2021 and 2022). The Ouachita Baptist University signee scored 24 points in a 54-47 victory over her former team in the 3A-2 District Tournament. As a junior, she averaged 20.2 points per game along with 8.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 3.2 steals each time out. She had career-highs in points (38) against Cave City on January 17 and rebounds (18) against Salem on January 6.
Dessie McCarty | Mount Vernon-Enola | 6-2 | Forward
McCarty has committed to Arkansas Tech and has been Mount Vernon-Enola’s top player on a team that has a 39-game winning streak through Feb. 16. She scored 30 points in a 66-52 victory over Izard Count in the 2A-2 District Championship. She added 28 in a 54-13 victory over Mountain Pine. She had a 32 in a 73-40 victory over Marshall.
Kayden Porter | Sheridan | 5-9 | Guard
Porter, who signed with Ouachita Baptist, recently topped the 1,500 career-point mark. As a junior, she averaged 18 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.6 steals and shot 47.1 percent from the floor.
Amelia Rogers | Hot Springs Lakeside | 5-7 | Guard
Rogers has committed to Harding University. She topped the 1,000-career point mark in January. She averages 18.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game through Feb. 13. Among her season highlights, she scored 35 points in a 70-56 victory over White Hall on Dec. 12 and had 32 in a 56-55 loss to Lake Hamilton on Feb. 6.
Delaney Roller | Har-Ber | 5-9 | Guard
Roller recently topped the 1,000-career point mark and signed with Missouri Southern. Among her season highlights were 22 points with 4 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 assists in 69-51 victory over Rogers Heritage . She scored 15 points with 4 rebounds and 3 assists in a 63-30 victory over Fort Smith Southside. She scored 15 points with 3 rebounds and 2 assists in a 44-25 victory over Bentonville. She scored 17 points with 6 rebounds and 2 assists in a 64-63 loss to Fort Smith Northside.
Marleigh Sellars | Salem | 5-8 | Guard
Sellars signed with Arkansas Tech after leading the Lady Greyhounds to state championship over Lamar. As a junior, she averaged 19 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, along with an 5.1 assists and 2.9 steals. She recently topped the 2,000-career point mark. Some of her highlights as a senior include: 33 points in a 75-47 victory over Cave City in the 3A-2 District semifinals; 20 points in a 60-47 victory over Mountain View in the district finals; 32 points in a 59-43 victory over Sloan-Hendrix; 20 points in a 58-48 victory over Mountain View and 20 points in a 58-26 victory over Cave City.
Carley Sexton | Greenwood | 5-6 | Guard
Sexton is a three-year starter for the Lady Bulldogs, who’ve won the past two Class 5A state championships. Among her senior-year highlights: she scored 18 points in a 80-55 victory over Mountain Home on Feb. 16; 13 points with 5 rebounds and 4 assists in a 89-55 victory over Russellville; 11 points with 3 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists in a 82-33 victory over Alma. Sexton will play college basketball at John Brown University.
Liza Shaddy | Norfork | 5-9 | Guard
Shaddy is a big key for the Lady Panthers, who are 28-1 on the season and won the Class 1A state championship a year ago. As a junior, she averaged 15.1 points, 12 rebounds, 5 steals per game. As a senior, some her highlights include 27 points with 8 rebounds and 5 assists in a 57-39 victory over Viola in the 1A-2 District Tournament; 11 points in a 48-28 victory over Concord in the same tournament; 20 points in a 64-52 victory over Melbourne; 22 points with 6 rebounds in a 71-30 victory over Shirley.
Reese Shirey | Farmington | 5-6 | Guard
Shirey committed to Northeastern Oklahoma State and helped Farmington defeated Nashville 65-61. Among her senior year highlights; named to the Mustang Classic all-tournament team in December; scoring 20 points while making 6-of-7 three-pointers in a 73-25 victory over Jonesboro in December. As a junior, she averaged 9 points, 3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3 steals per game and has earned a reputation as the team’s top defender.
Jocelyn Tate | North Little Rock | 5-10 | Guard
Tate, who signed with Southern University in the fall. Her best game this season was a 23-point, 14-rebound, 3-assist performance in a 61-52 victory in December. Other highlights include 10 points, 7, rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in a 71-33 victory over Little Rock Southwest; 10 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds and 3 steals in a 65-42 victory over Jonesboro; and 21 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals in a 51-4t6 victory over Little Rock Central.
Layla Terry | Wonderview | 6-3 | Forward
Tate is a three-time, all-conference and all-state performer who has received an offer from National Park College in Hot Springs. Among her season highlights were 18 points and 15 rebounds, and 6 blocks, in Wonderview's 54-27 win over Sacred Heart; she scored 14 points in a 50-21 victory over Sacred Heart in December; and 26 points in a 65-56 victory over Rural Special in October.
Anna Trusty | Greenwood | 6-0 | Guard
Trusty has played a big role in helping Greenwood win the past two Class 5A state championships. She was named sophomore of the year by SB Live. Among her senior-year highlights: 24 points, 9 rebounds and 5 steals in a 84-38 victory over Harrison on Feb. 9; 21 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 assists in a 89-55 victory over Russellville; 20 points, 7 steals, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in a 78-42 victory over Harrison; 28 points, 14 steals, 9 rebounds and 4 assists in a 82-33 victory over Alma.
Kynslee Ward | Mansfield | 5-8 | Guard
Ward finished off 2022 leading Mansfield to a Bill Frye Invitational championship game victory earning Most Valuable Player. Though she plays on a Lady Tigers squad that has many contributors who can get the ball in the basket, Ward averaged 11 points per game along with 4 rebounds and 3.5 assists as a junior. Her senior-year highlights include: scoring 18 points in a 57-35 victory over Paris in the Bill Frye Invitational; 22 points with 5 rebounds and 4 steals in a 69-21 victory over Hector; 14 points in a 49-42 victory over Mountainburg in the 2A-4 District Tournament.
Brynn Washam | Mammoth Spring | 5-9 | Guard
Washam led the Lady Bears in scoring as a sophomore while helping them earn a trip to the 1A state finals. As a junior, she led the team with 20 points per game, along with 5 rebounds per contest, while shooting 41% from long range and 80% from the free throw line. Her senior-year highlights include: 24 points in a 71-40 victory over Izard County in the Kell Classic in Swifton; 29 points in a 78-56 victory over Pea Ridge in the Lady Blackhawk invitational in Pea Ridge; and 25 points in a 72-36 victory over Star City in the same tournament.
Kiki Williamson | Mayflower | 6-0 | Wing
Williamson signed with South Arkansas Community College. The multi-sport athlete has excelled in both volleyball and basketball (all-state in both sports) while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. As a junior, she posted a double-double in multiple games on the hardwood this season, highlighted by a monster performance against Magnet Cove - 27 points and 17 rebounds and averaged Williamson has averaged 15 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. As a senior, she topped the 1,000-career point mark when she finished with 35 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in a 64-51 victory over Atkins in December.
Brooklyn Woolsey | Greenwood | 5-6 | Guard
Woolsey has been part of two Class 5A state championship teams and signed with Henderson State. Among her senior-year highlights, she had 19 points with 4 steals, 2 assists and 2 rebounds in a 80-55 victory over Mountain Home on Feb. 16; 10 points with 7 steals, 6 rebounds and 3 steals in a 78-42 victory over Harrison; 21 points with 4 rebounds and 2 steals in a 89-55 victory over Russellville; and 18 points and made 6 three-pointers with 5 steals and 2 rebounds in a 82-33 victory over Alma.
--Jeff Halpern | @SBLiveAR
