1A-2 Conference Preview

The high school basketball season is right around the corner in the state of Arkansas. Before the season tip-offs, I wanted to preview every division of every conference in the state. These will have player breakdowns, coach quotes, and more. It should be noted that almost all the stats, such as records or returning players, are from MaxPreps/Scorebook Live. With that being said, let's hop into conference 1A-2.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Calico Rock</h2>   2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview   Calico is coming off an amazing year, going undefeated in conference play. However, the year didn't end the way they wanted. The Pirates lost to Concord in the district tournament, a team they had beaten twice. Afterward, they then lost in the first round of regionals to Crowley's Ridge Academy. Though a disappointing ending, they had an extremely successful regular season. Calico Rock has lost a few key players such as Kyle French and Heath Brothers. That being said, Calico is bringing back a talented squad led by star guard Eli Thorton and Daytona Sherrill.   Player Breakdown    Eli is one of the best players in all of 1A basketball. This summer he showed out with the Arkansas Kings, where I listed him as an All-Be Elite player and Best overall defender of the circuit. He's very explosive around the rim, throwing his body into defenders, and finishing through contact. On top of dribble drives, Eli is a true floor general. As previously stated, in what is his best attribute is his defense. Thorton isn't super aggressive when it comes to jumping passing lanes or reaching on help-side drives. Instead, he sits right in front of you and is a true nightmare to try to get past. He's also got good strength for his position, which makes him a switchable defender.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Concord</h2>   2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview   Going 19-14 and 10-4 in conference play, Concord would go on to win the district championship and qualify for the state tournament. Fast-forwarding to the present day, Concord brings back a lot of key players and will once again be at the forefront of the conference.   Player Breakdown    Braxton Whitener is a knockdown shooter who defenses always have to know where he is. Braxton is very active without the ball, constantly moving and getting open without the ball. He has shown an ability to pull up in transition from both the perimeter and the mid-range area.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mammoth Spring</h2>   2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview   Coming down from 2A, Mammoth Springs is coming off a 13-20 record. They still matched up a few times against new conference opponents, holding a 3-1 record.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Norfork</h2>   2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview   Norfork struggled mightily this past season. With almost their entire starting lineup graduating, Luke Haught is a potential star for Norfork. Another year of growth means improvement is almost guaranteed.   Player Breakdown    After watching Luke Haught at Norfork and this summer with the Arkansas Kings, he has shown he can excel in a multitude of roles. He's always playing through the offense and picks his spots to attack. Standing at 6'3, he has deep range from three and is a great 3-D wing. With Norfork at times, he took over the offense and can get to the basket. Though a solid finisher, Luke is a great playmaker on the drive. It wouldn't surprise me if, at the end of the year, Luke is coming off the best season of anyone in this division.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rural Special</h2>   2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview   Rural went 20-12 this past season. Losing in the first round, they didn't have the run they wanted. Rural was as talented as any team in the conference, but lost to a Concord they had beaten by 20 points twice. They return two starters from last year's team; if someone can solidify themselves as a floor general, Rural Special could be a dangerous team in the conference.   Player Breakdown    Hudson Nichols is an athletic wing who can space the floor for Rural Special. With good length, Nichols is a great multi-positional defender who plays with a lot of passion. He's aggressive on the boards, being a real threat for putback layups. With Rural Special having three starters graduating, Hudson should be a player who will get more regular scoring opportunities, which he has shown he can do efficiently.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Shirley</h2>   2025/2026 Record   4-24 (1-13)   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Timbo</h2>   2025/2026 Record   13-21 (8-6)   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Viola</h2>   2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview   Despite having an 8-27 record last year, Viola had talent, just a lot of young talent. With another year of experience under their belt, another year of improvement should also be expected. Their junior backcourt of Mattix Rowden and CJ McMillan will be the vocal point of this squad's offensive success.   Coach Q/A   Where has this team improved most from last year? - “I would say that our guards handling ball pressure is an area of improvement. We have worked hard on our ball handling and passing. This has lead to our guard play being improved and less turnovers. I also feel like we are getting better at finishing around the rim. We missed several easy buckets last year that I believe will fall for us this year.”   Who's one or two guys that are x-factors for you this year? - “We have 2 juniors that are huge for us. Mattix Rowden will run the point and make our offense go. He works hard and is in the gym a lot to work on his game. He spent some time with a travel team this summer to improve his game. Looking forward to seeing that hard work pay off. Junior CJ McMillan has a knack for scoring and attacks the rim well. He has grown and gotten stronger over the summer and we look to him for getting to the rim and making things happen for us offensively. He was also our best defender last year and I anticipate him taking on that role again this year.” We have a senior Tucker Cowgill that has been really improving as an inside threat. Finishing through contact has been a lot better from him. He works hard in the weight room and has gotten stronger. He is a great inside presence for us and we look forward to see his accomplishments in his senior season. Player Breakdown    CJ is a potential breakout candidate in 1A. As a sophomore, the tall guard showed an ability to impact the game from all three levels offensively. The lefty is dangerous from the perimeter, both off the dribble and off the catch. With his height, he's able to elevate over defenders. McMillan is also a great finisher for the Longhorns. He plays at his own pace and is great at getting opposing defenders off their feet. The 6'3 guard is not afraid of contact either.

The high school basketball season is right around the corner in the state of Arkansas. Before the season tip-offs, I wanted to preview every division of every conference in the state. These will have player breakdowns, coach quotes, and more. It should be noted that almost all the stats, such as records or returning players, are from MaxPreps/Scorebook Live. With that being said, let's hop into conference 1A-2.