5A-South 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 and Q/A's with coaches from each division. With that being said, let's hop into conference 5A-South.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Coach Q/A</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Benton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>You have in my opinion the best player in the state in Spratt and Brian Cal is right there too. Who's one or two other players that could be x-factors in having a successful season this year? </strong>-<em> "Yes for sure! Peyton Bolding, Daron Hicks, Justin Peppers, Jeremiia Lea, Jontavious Reynolds, Kason Anderson, and Brayzon Cal all should really help our team this year as well!"</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coming off a successful year, what areas has this year's team gotten better than last year? </strong>-<em> "We want to always improve on our team defense. We believe great basketball starts with great defense. We are always looking for ways to improve our defense each and every season. We hope to be better this upcoming season."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>White Hall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Who are one or two guys that will be x-factors this year for your squad? </strong>- <em>"Two guys who will be X-factors for us this season are Tristen Dunlap and Caiden Jackson. Both have a great opportunity to lead this team. They allow me to coach them hard, they're receptive, and they've earned a lot of my trust. With that trust comes freedom, but that freedom is earned through the work they put in. Although those two are being named, we have a number of guys who can be X-factors at any moment and impact winning for our team."</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> "One of the biggest areas of growth for this group has been their ability to handle adversity and become comfortable in uncomfortable situations. We are beginning to see a shift in both their mindset and work ethic, and they are learning what it takes to compete at the level we expect. We are still far from where I ultimately want us to be as a program, but we are making consistent progress toward becoming the type of team we want to be. I'm proud of the direction we are headed and excited to see how this group continues to develop."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Player Breakdowns</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2194618"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6adf9728033a2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Spratt is coming off a sophomore season where he averaged 24 points and 10 rebounds. He kept that momentum rolling in the summer, averaging over 17 points a game for Brad Beal Elite. The Benton product is a true guard at 6'6 and has made himself not only the most sought-after recruit in the state but in the country. A three-level scorer, Spratt'ss ability to shoot over defenders makes him extremely difficult to guard. He's far from just a shooter; Anthony has uber athleticism and is willing to test anyone at the rim. Benton is a very talented squad this year, but Spratt, alongside backcourt mate Brian Cal, can elevate them to a level nobody else can in 2026-2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2422333"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6adf97280340e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Benton guard is elite around the rim. Slicing through defenders, Cal gets to the rim and hurts them in almost every way imaginable. He can rely on physicality, going through opponents to the basket, or on touch with runners and high-arching layups. Cal keeps defenses honest with his jumper, making him a versatile scoring guard. He's a great floor general, setting up teammates for touches in their go-to spots. With Cal and Spratt both being juniors, Benton is set up for major success over the next few seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2868919"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6adf972803462"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Vann can get it done anywhere on the court for Hot Springs and is ranked as the top player in the 2029 class. He obviously brings so much value and potential to the table. As a sophomore, he's already a polished scorer from all three levels, which is one of the many rare traits for a player his age. Hayes is a consistent shooter who flashes a growing ability to hit shots on the move and from deep range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2885505"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6adf9728034ab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Judah goes into every game with the mindset of being the hardest-working player on the floor. Utilizing this mindset on both ends of the floor, he can fill up the stat sheet. He's aggressive on the boards and unafraid to use physicality to his advantage. Offensively, he gets to the basket regularly, showing an ability to finish through contact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2979221"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6adf972803535"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">As a sophomore, Axl had some offensive explosions last season. He's got a solid floater game and seems to slip through defenses utilizing his shiftiness and ball-handling. In what is maybe his best skill, Jankse has great awareness on the floor. It is more than playmaking; he knows how and when to pick his spots from a scoring perspective. Jankse impressed in the pick-and-roll last season for Lakeside. The guard can fit passes through tiny windows, setting up great looks for teammates in the post.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2820934"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6adf97280358a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jace is as crafty as they come in the 2028 classes. The lefty has a pretty shot that rounds out his offensive game perfectly for Sheridan. He's a fun watch when on the drive, however. Jace is an incredibly strong finisher with both hands, making him hard to stop once he gets to the basket. Listed just under 6'0, he uses spins and defenders' momentum against them for fadeaways to help get it over taller defenders.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->