Hopkins Flourished At Farmington

FARMINGTON — Home school student Tahlon Hopkins flourished in her two years of playing Arkansas high school girls basketball with her sister, Tayton, at Farmington.

During the 2014- 2015 school year, Tahlon finished the season averaging 12.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 71 percent at the free-throw line. In January, her name was on the list of nominees for McDonald’s All-American status.

Also nominated from Arkansas were: Caroline Hogue, Arkansas Baptist; Megan Hartness, Greenwood; Rose Riley, Harding Academy; Jordan Danberry, Conway; and Malica Monk, North Little Rock.

Hopkins topped the Lady Cardinals in points and was the only player to average in double figures with coach Brad Johnson featuring her post- up, turn- around jump shot prominently in his offense. She was Farmington’s go-to player as the Lady Cardinals captured the 5A West Conference championship in their first season in the league after moving up from 4A. Farmington defeated Magnolia, 45-26, and Batesville, 66- 54, to advance to the 5A state tournament semifinals where they came one 3-point made field goal away of potentially playing for a state champi- onship. But Tayton Hopkins’ shot wouldn’t go down and the Lady Cardinals ended their season, 26- 5, after sustaining a 51-48 loss to Hot Springs.

Tahlon was selected to the West All-Stars by the Arkansas High School Coaches Association but a torn ACL forced her to miss the game. Given a prognosis of six weeks recuperation after surgery, she told Johnson, “I’ll be back in four weeks.”

“That ’ s the way she played,” Johnson said, noting Tahlon was drawing a lot of interest from various colleges prior to her injury and some have stayed in touch.

Johnson lauded Tahlon’s potential as a collegiate athlete, saying her best days as a player are ahead of her.

“She’s such a versatile athlete. She has the ability to get out and run and she can handle the ball. There were a lot of times when she would get a rebound or a steal and actually would lead our break and she can cover a sively.”

Johnson utilized Tahlon’s ability to play with her back to the basket as well as her penchant for turning around and facing a defender, then taking them off the dribble.

“She hit a lot of big threes late in the season. Some of our opponents we caught them napping. It makes it really hard on a defense when your post player can do that. Her best basketball is ahead of her.”

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