2A-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. I say this because records on scorebook live are not 100% accurate. With that being said, let's hop into conference 2A-4.<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Acorn</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overall Record - 8-21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Conference Record - 3-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Home Record - 5-8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Away Record - 3-11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Season Finish - Lost in the First Round of the District Tournament (Westside Johnson-County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach Q/A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>About last year</strong> - <em>"We had a tough year last year at 8-21, with quite a few games just right on the bubble to win but just didn't go our way. Our season ended in the first round of district. However, we have a strong junior class this year combined with only 2 seniors."</em><br><strong> Who are one or two guys that will be x-factors this year for your squad? - </strong><em>"Our x-factor guys will be 6' junior Isaiah Clovis, a guard that can pass, run the floor and get to the rim in a lot of ways. He is tough to stay in front of and get hot from beyond the arc. Another x-factor guy is 6'3" Asher Cook, a lefty guard that can play 1-5, capable of long range shots, solid mid-range and can finish inside off the post up or drive. Asher is also capable of making elite passes combined with good off the ball play."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Going into the new season, what areas has this team made the most improvements in? - </strong><em>"Our size, speed and agility have all increased. We will be substantially better defensively combined with a team chemistry that was absent last year. We graduated 6 seniors last year, 4 of which were starters. So, there will be different faces in the line-up. Our bench play will increase substantially due to the depth we have. I am excited to see what this team does over the next couple of years."<br></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Caddo Hills</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overall Record - 19-11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Conference Record - 8-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Home Record - 8-5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Away Record - 11-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Season Finish - N/A</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":3760989,"_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-6a9de00ac5bdf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Naney is a combo guard who displays an impressively high IQ. When pressured, he stays calm and makes smart passes to break defensive traps. When in the half-court set, he tends to make cross-court passes regularly, causing defenses to rotate. This opens up holes for himself and others to attack. Naney is a threat from three, especially off the catch. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Dierks</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overall Record - 21-12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Conference Record - 9-5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Home Record - 12-5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Away Record - 5-5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Season Finish - Lost in the First Round of the District Tournament (Woodlawn)</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":["2829126"],"_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-6a9de00ac5c8c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Maclane works really well out of the high post for Dierks. He's a hard-nosed driver who has no fear of attacking bigger defenders. On these drives, Smith has showcased some pretty passes to teammates in the dump-off spot. At 6'1, Maclane is a versatile defender with the mentality to guard any size. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Hackett</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overall Record - 16-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Conference Record - 7-3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Home Record - 7-5</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Away Record - 9-8</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Season Finish - Lost in the First Round of the Regional Tournament (Life Way Christian)</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":3760990,"_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-6a9de00ac5d6f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Knauls flashed a lot of offensive upside in his sophomore year. He's got all the go-to scorer tendencies you would want in a player. The guard has good confidence from all three levels. Knauls has a solid handle to go with the confidence to make him an isolation threat. With good length, he's able to finish at the rim through contact, but really excels with floaters. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Horatio</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview </strong></h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overall Record - 1-23</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Conference Record - 0-15</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Home Record - 0-10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Away Record - 1-13</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Season Finish - N/A</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Mansfield</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overall Record - 11-11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Conference Record - 6-10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Home Record - 8-4</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Away Record - 2-6</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Season Finish - Lost in the Second Round of the District Tournament (Paris)</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":3760991,"_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-6a9de00ac5df6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hunter is coming off a sophomore year in which he was selected All-State for the 3A class. He is one of the most talented scorers in all of 2A. Whittaker is an exciting shooter to watch when he gets going. Last year, he showed an ability to create for himself, with stepbacks and sidesteps. Even if not creating as much space as wanted, he can still elevate over defenders efficiently. Having a really quick first step, Hunter gets to the rim regularly. As he continues to develop over the next few years, it will be exciting to see him reach his ceiling. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Murfreesboro</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025/2026 Recap - 2026/2027 Preview </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Overall Record - 6-18</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Conference Record - 3-11</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Home Record - 3-7</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Away Record - 3-9</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Season Finish - Lost in the First Round of the District Tournament (Mountain Pine)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->