1A-4 Conference Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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-4.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Magazine</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After going 15-13 and with just a few seniors graduating, Magazine brings back a loaded roster. Headlined by [player_tooltip player_id='3729068' first='Daniel' last='Green'], who averaged 17.9 PPG, and 6'7 [player_tooltip player_id='3729073' first='Alan' last='Downs'], who averaged 14.9 PPG in their Junior seasons. Beyond them, Magazine brings back their entire starting lineup and core bench pieces, making them a front-runner for district champions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player Breakdown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":3729068,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a88757203cb1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Green is the engine of Magazine's offense. The guard is a high-energy player who uses it to his advantage on both ends. Green is a tough shot maker from all three levels. Regularly using a crisp hesi crossover, Green can get to the rim. What makes him one of the most dynamic scorers in 1A is his pull-up game. From the perimeter and mid-range, Daniel can elevate over defenders, making tough shots consistently.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":3729073,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a887a303d8a1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Downs easily has the most potential of anyone in the conference. At 6'7, he moves fluidly, showing he's a switchable player defensively. With his length, blocking shots come easy as well. Downs has more of a power forward skill set. He can space the floor, but also excels in the mid-range area. Alan has improved with putting the ball on the floor and shows flashes of being able to create his own shot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Mulberry</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mulberry is a veteran squad, bringing back a lot of senior experience. More importantly, it's winning experience. Though taking a step back last year, going 13-17, Mulberry has a talented team led by veteran guard [player_tooltip player_id='3729075' first='Caidyn' last='Dunn']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player Breakdown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":3729075,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a887a303d8fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='3729075' first='Caidyn' last='Dunn'] is a pure sharpshooting guard. Being Mulberry's point guard, Dunn has a score-first mentality. He's a real threat to pull up from deep, as he's shown he can efficiently hit shots from multiple feet behind the line. Using this to his advantage, Caidyn can pump-fake weary defenders, allowing him to get to the free-throw line area and below. Being an undersized guard, he's rounded out his offensive game by utilizing floaters. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Oark</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It will be interesting to see where Oark can improve this year after going 0-23 last year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Scranton</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming off a state tournament appearance, star junior guard Landon McClure comes into the year as a the face of team. It will be interesting to see what pieces around Landon can emerge for Scranton. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player Breakdown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":3729078,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a887a303d94c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Landon was Scranton's main ball handler last season, but still showcased an ability to play off the ball. Without the ball, the guard mainly hunts threes, which he has shot at a decent clip. His biggest strength is his touch around the rim. McClure is only going to be a junior this year; if he can continue to be more aggressive getting to the rim, that would unlock a new aspect of his game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>St. Paul</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Finishing .500 in conference play and winning a game in the district tournament, the foundation has been set for St. Paul to take the next step this year. Built around star playmaking center [player_tooltip player_id='3729079' first='Walker' last='Westbrook'], they've shown an ability to shoot the deep ball and finish at the rim. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player Breakdown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":3729079,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a887a303d997"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Going into his senior season, Westbrook has already amassed 1000 career points. Keeping it simple in the post, Walker has good touch and can finish with both hands. Though showing the post scoring ability, arguably his best attribute is facilitating. St. Paul runs many sets through him at the top of the key, where he scans the floor well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Western Yell Co.</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Western Yell struggled greatly in conference play last year. That being said, they still won a game in the district tournament. Hopefully, this can be used as a foundation to build on in the new year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Union Christian Academy</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be Union's first year in the 1A conference. As a member of the Heartland Christian Conference, they went 13-1. Going into the new season, a post presence is their biggest question mark.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->