In a sea of male athletes, four local girls made waves at the recent Arkansas Basketball Rankings combine, proving that talent knows no gender. Whitley Rogers, Kristyn Cooper, E’lyse Williams, and Lilly Reid not only held their own but showcased exceptional skills.
Cooper, a lightning-quick point guard from Parkview High School, has elite speed and superb court vision. Her ability to effortlessly weave through defenders and create scoring opportunities for herself and teammates is reminiscent of a seasoned veteran. The soon-to-be junior averaged an impressive 20 points per game at the Big Easy Hoopfest this summer, a testament to her offensive prowess.
“It felt great being able to be with faster and stronger competitors. It helped me grow a lot today,” Cooper said when asked about being one of only four girls at the combine. She added, “My goal for this season is to grow as a team and individually, and to put up a banner the next two years at Parkview.”
Joining Cooper in the spotlight is Lilly Reid, a sharpshooter from Sheridan High School. With a silky smooth three-point stroke and a relentless competitive spirit, Reid is a force to be reckoned with. As a Pangos All-American, she has already garnered national attention, but her performance at the combine solidified her status as one of the state’s top prospects.
“It’s really a huge honor to be on the court with so many great players,” Reid said. “My advice to younger female players is to be okay with making mistakes and getting out of your comfort zone.”
E’lyse Williams, a defensive stalwart from Little Rock Central High School, proved that defense can be just as exciting as offense. With her quick hands and relentless hustle, Williams loves to disrupt plays and create turnovers with ease. While her offensive contributions may not jump off the stat sheet, her impact on the game is undeniable.
Whitley Rogers, a known leader for her team, brings a wealth of experience and basketball IQ to the court. The Little Rock Christian Academy standout is a versatile guard with a tireless work ethic. Her ability to excel in multiple facets of the game makes her a nightmare for opponents.
These four young women not only showcased their individual talents but also represented a new era of women’s basketball in Arkansas. Their presence at the combine is a significant step forward for the sport and serves as an inspiration to countless young girls who dream of playing basketball at the highest level.
“There are definitely many challenges but I feel the biggest is when people think that you are too weak,” Cooper stated when asked about the challenges of being a female player in a male-dominated environment. “Not only as women can we be strong mentally, and physically, it all starts with our work ethic and determination.”
Reid echoed Cooper’s sentiment, saying, “The awareness of girls basketball is really at an all time high. Regardless of the level of play, people are seeing the talent us girls are bringing to the court.”
As these young stars continue to develop their skills, it is clear that the future of women’s basketball in Arkansas is bright. With more opportunities for girls to showcase their talents in combines, camps, and showcases, we can expect to see even more talented players emerge in the coming years. Here are a few additional names I'd love to see in the future, and in no particular order...
Farmington | Kaycee McCumber, Marin Adams
Greenwood | Pate Jones, Kylah Pearcy
Lake Hamilton | Disyah Christon, Saniyah Cook, Hayley Ferguson, Baylee Winfrey
Lakeside | McKenzie Williams
Poyen | Kenady Barrett
Dumas | Kendri Broughton
Maumelle | Ava Fowlkes, Elaina Flakoll, Kaylen Robinson
Parkview | Naomi Sharpley
Nashville | Karstyn Scrivner
Mountain View | Evvi Cooper
Fayetteville | Whitney Brown
Central Arkansas Christian | A'Sharia Simmons
Vilonia | Maddie Mannion, Sidni Middleton, Brooklyn Burnham, Briana Burnham, Kim Henry
Joe T Robinson | Natylie Baker
White Hall | Kenedi Bowman, Kynnedi Barnett, Marrena Tucker, Blair Weston
Bryant | Jaisha Williams, India Robinson, Skylar Percy, Austyn Oholendt
Benton | Breanna Lambert
Pulaski Academy | Greenlee Elmore
Greene County Tech | Addie Ryan
North Little Rock | Katie Fimple, Kinley Mears
Little Rock Central | Jana'e Johnson
Bauxite | Gia Campbell
Dardanelle | Stevie Tanner
eStem | Samiya Magsby
Mills | Jeneva Gregory, Jermera Streets, Kamiya Hart
Morrilton | Samiya Robins, Aubrey Henderson
Conway | Libby Counts, Emerie Bohanon
Mountain Home | Anna McCarn, Jayla Yonkers
...just to name a few!
-KFletch
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