TOP TEAMS AT A GLANCE
1. Lake Hamilton
COACH Scotty Pennington CONFERENCE 5A-South
2021-22 RECORD 23-7
LAST YEAR’S FINAL RANKING No. 3 TOP RETURNERS Ty Robinson (6-3, Jr.), Zac Pennington (6-0, Sr.) MARQUEE TESTS Nov. 21 at Little Rock Parkview, Dec. 6 vs. Pine Bluff, Jan. 20 vs. White Hall NOTEWORTHY Lake Hamilton will go toe for toe within the conference with Pine Bluff and Benton. White Hall and Hot Springs won’t be pushovers. … Pennington will be a prime asset when he suits up for Southern Arkansas next season. … Sophomore guard LaBruan Christon is going to be special for the Wolves.
2. Little Rock Parkview
COACH Scotty Thurman
CONFERENCE 5A-Central
2021-22 RECORD 24-4
LAST YEAR’S FINAL RANKING No. 4 TOP RETURNERS Dallas Thomas (6-9, Jr.), Nate Coley (5-10, Sr.), Carson Backus (5-10, Sr.)
MARQUEE TESTS Nov. 21 vs. Lake Hamilton, Nov. 22 vs. Little Rock Central, Jan. 31 at Little Rock Christian
NOTEWORTHY Thomas’ load will expand as a junior. … Coley, Parkview’s defensive stopper, could see an uptick in scoring, as should Backus. … Christian Sanson, a 6-9 forward, gives the Patriots another big and active body around the basket. The senior showed at summer showcases that he can be physical as well.
3. Pine Bluff
COACH Billy Dixon
CONFERENCE 5A-South
2021-22 RECORD 21-8
LAST YEAR’S FINAL RANKING No. 5 TOP RETURNERS Courtney Crutchfield (63, Jr.), Jordon Harris (6-6, Sr.), X’zaevion Barnett (6-2, Sr.), Austyn Dendy (6-2, Jr.) MARQUEE TESTS Nov. 15 at Little Rock Central, Dec. 6 at Lake Hamilton, Feb. 10 vs. Benton
NOTEWORTHY The 2022-23 Zebras will have as good a chance as any to win the 5A title after they made a deep run to the semifinals last season. … Crutchfield and Harris are coming off seasons where they were both All-Arkansas Preps selections. … How much production Dixon can get out of his bench will be something to watch.
4. Vilonia
COACH Troy Campbell
CONFERENCE 5A-Central
2021-22 RECORD 18-11
LAST YEAR’S FINAL RANKING Unranked TOP RETURNERS Jones White (6-0, Sr.), Dashun Spence (6-5, Jr.), Lane Turner (6-3, So.)
MARQUEE TESTS Dec. 13 at Jacksonville, Dec. 22 at Jonesboro, Feb. 21 at Little Rock Parkview
NOTEWORTHY The Eagles won’t have Austin Myers this season, but they’ve got Spence and Jones, who were both allstate
players last year. … A new league that includes No. 2 Parkview, No. 6 Sylvan Hills, Jacksonville and Maumelle will undoubtedly challenge Vilonia. … Campbell’s troops will have a lot of home dates over the first month of the season, which could be beneficial.
4. Benton
COACH Dexter Hendrix
CONFERENCE 5A-South
2021-22 RECORD 11-14
LAST YEAR’S FINAL RANKING Unranked TOP RETURNERS Jonathan Bell (6-3, Sr.), Carter Hedden (6-5, Jr.)
MARQUEE TESTS Nov. 29 vs. Cabot, Jan. 3 at White Hall, Feb. 10 at Pine Bluff NOTEWORTHY The addition of Terrion Burgess is an extreme bonus for the Panthers. … Bell blossomed during the offseason, and Hendrix mentioned in the summer he’d be in line for a big year. … Expectations have ballooned for the Panthers, and they’ll have ample opportunities to prove themselves, early and late.
6. Sylvan Hills
COACH Kevin Davis
CONFERENCE 5A-Central
2021-22 RECORD 15-12
LAST YEAR’S FINAL RANKING Unranked TOP RETURNERS DeCarter Coleman (6-0, Sr.), James Deloach (6-5, Jr.) MARQUEE TESTS Nov. 15 vs. Joe T. Robinson, Dec. 13 vs. Bryant, Dec. 16 vs. Little Rock Parkview, Feb. 3 at Maumelle NOTEWORTHY The Bears have some go-getters like Coleman, but they’ll have to put it together if they’ve got realistic aspirations to win the 5A-Central. … Look out for Jonathan Van Buren, a freshman wing, who will be a star by the time he graduates. … A fast start in league play will help with confidence for this team.