Inside Look: Top Prospects from Two 6A Programs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the 2025–26 season tips off, several of Arkansas' most tradition-rich programs are reloading with talent that's ready to lead. From battle-tested seniors to rising underclassmen, these prospects are poised to make major noise in the 6A landscape. Here's a breakdown of key names from two programs with championship DNA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>North Little Rock Top Prospects</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2382369' first='Kevon' last='Smith']: A dynamic combo guard with a shooter's mentality and defensive grit. Smith plays with pace and purpose, capable of creating his own shot, facilitating for teammates, or locking up the opposing team's best guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2441317' first='Ethan' last='Polite']: Polite brings length, top-tier effort, and versatility to the 1. He's a playmaking slasher who can finish and guard multiple positions, an X-factor for NLR's transition game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2397948' first='Elijah' last='Bryant']: A poised young floor general with a high IQ and sharpshooting skills. Bryant is already showing flashes of leadership with his play and vocal presence and is set to be the next great guard in the Wildcats' pipeline.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2397927' first='Bryson' last='Cannon']: Cannon is a skilled guard who scores from the perimeter, runs the floor with purpose, and understands spacing off the ball. His ability, motor, and toughness make him an underclassman with breakout potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Little Rock Central Top Prospects</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2382371' first='Jayden' last='Slaughter']: Slaughter is a confident, athletic wing who thrives in transition. He's an underrated defender who tracks the ball well with good anticipation to block shots. He brings scoring punch with highlight reel plays to a Central squad looking to climb back to the top of the 6A ranks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2021916' first='Clay' last='Blair']: Blair is a skilled guard shooter with a sharp IQ and offensive instincts. He's a problem in space with his speed and ball control, and the key piece in Central's offensive flow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trajhin Aleem: Aleem plays with poise beyond his years. He's a point guard who controls tempo and makes winning plays with his vision. He can score the ball when needed, over the course of the season, expect his role to expand.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2434051' first='Gavyn' last='Holman']: Holman is a rugged, upbeat presence who brings energy, rebounding, and slashing scoring ability. He's the kind of wing who does the dirty work and scores the ball at a decent clip from all 3 levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->