Nominees for Player of the Year: Eight More Stars Make the List

Today through Wednesday I will finish up the preview of the nominees. Now. Not everyone that was sent in will make the watch list, but I am going to leave a spot open because every year there seems to be a player come out of nowhere to steal the show. The lists are not in particular order, I rolled them out the way I have because I was collecting information on the players. But as a reminder, here is what we are judging on:   Throughout the season, Prep Dig Arkansas will track player stats, performance trends, and big-game moments.   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Consistent, high-level performance</li>   <li>Leadership and team impact</li>   <li>Strength of schedule and competition</li>   <li>Postseason success</li> </ul>   August 21st, the Full Watch List will be revealed. Here are the next group of nominees to the watch list.   Let's take a look:    No list for Player of the Year would be complete without one of the most complete players in the state. Production, leadership, success. All words that define [player_tooltip player_id='859443' first='Ava' last='Beasley']. Coming into her senior season, Beasley has put up some incredible career numbers despite a shortened sophomore campaign: 1,124 kills, 5.3 kills per set, 88 aces, 837 digs, 389 assists, and 75 blocks. That's one well-rounded performer.   This isn't a career award, though. It's about what happens this season. If Ava can lead the Rams to the top of a difficult 5A East and make a deep playoff run, she will be right in the middle of the Player of the Year conversation.   Her ability to impact every part of the game makes her as valuable as just about anyone in the state. Beasley is lethal on the attack, relentless in the back row, a killer behind the service line, and an incredible leader for Paragould. She's already proven what she can do. Now she gets one final season to put an exclamation point on it.     The common theme you will see from each nominee for the POY watchlist is leadership. [player_tooltip player_id='749859' first='Isabella' last='Gonzalez'] is one of those players who just makes Benton better when she is on the floor. She doesn't have to lead the state in one particular category to get your attention. Watch her for an entire match and you start to see everything she does for the Panthers.   Bella is a true six-rotation outside who can score in a lot of different ways. She can hammer the sharp angle, go line, use the block, or take something off when the defense gives it to her. She is just as valuable in the back row, where she provides steady passing and isn't afraid to hit the floor to keep a rally alive.   What really separates Gonzalez is her consistency. Benton has plenty of offensive weapons, but Bella is the player Coach White can count on when things get a little sideways. She brings experience, leadership, and a calm presence to a team that should once again have big expectations.     [player_tooltip player_id='746203' first='Taylor' last='Wherry'], what can I say, there isn't much she can't do on a volleyball court. The 5'11" outside brings size, athleticism, and the ability to stay on the floor for all six rotations. This season as she goes, Mount St. Mary's will go. That is not to say she is all that the Mount has, but there are few players that can take over a game like she can. Along with [player_tooltip player_id='883883' first='Catherine' last='Anderson'], they form as good of a tandem as there is in the state.   What I like most about Wherry is her competitiveness. She wants the ball, especially when things get tight, and she isn't afraid of playing against anyone. That mentality will be important as Mount St. Mary's battles through a very competitive 5A Central. If Wherry puts together the season I think she is capable of and Mount St. Mary's is playing deep into October, expect Taylor's name to stay right in the middle of the conversation.     Senior captain [player_tooltip player_id='809961' first='Kendall' last='Brown'] will show up everywhere for Marion this fall. She and fellow captain [player_tooltip player_id='749868' first='Claire' last='Brinkley'] will try to run it back for the defending 5A state champions. The job may be a little tougher this time around, with five key contributors gone and some new threats waiting in the 5A.   Don't expect that to rattle Brown. She was a huge part of Marion's title run last season and has three years and 281 varsity sets under her belt. Kendall has played middle, outside, and even defensive specialist during her career. Wherever Marion has needed her, she has found a way to produce.   Expect Brown to pile up the numbers this season, but her biggest job may be helping rally the troops around a new-look lineup. Marion has talent coming back, but replacing at least five contributors from a championship team isn't easy.   If Brown can lead the Patriots through that transition and get them back to Hot Springs, we may not have much of a Player of the Year debate left.     [player_tooltip player_id='768346' first='Brinkley' last='Gigerich'] is a rarity on a Player of the Year list. You don't see many sophomores in this conversation. In fact, she's the only one on my list. Typically, this is where you find experienced juniors and seniors, but Gigerich isn't your typical sophomore. It's a combination of her talent and her situation at Bryant that puts her here.   Brinkley has one of the most powerful arms in the state—if not THE most powerful. She is a rare athlete and has learned a great deal over the past year that has her set up for a big sophomore season. She's becoming more than just a player who can overpower you. Her shot selection has improved, she's getting more comfortable in the back row, and she's learning how to use all those physical tools.   Gigerich also walks into a new school with some pretty high expectations. Conway has controlled the 6A Central for a while, Cabot took care of business last season, and now Bryant is trying to work its way into that conversation. After a difficult 2025 season that saw the Hornets finish 9-20-3 and 4-8 in conference play, Bryant has reloaded with a new coach, a few new faces, and some tested veterans.   Brinkley doesn't have to lead this team, but she definitely can. She is a fierce competitor who will do whatever it takes to win. If she can become a dominant offensive weapon while developing into a reliable six-rotation outside, Bryant has the pieces to compete with anyone in the 6A.   That's a lot to put on a sophomore's shoulders. But if you've watched Brinkley play, you already know those shoulders are pretty broad.     When you lead your team in just about every category, I would say you're pretty valuable. [player_tooltip player_id='1008471' first='Tenley' last='McMillon'] did exactly that last season, and the 5'10" junior will need another big year if the Falcons are going to make a run at the top spot in the 3A-3.   There won't be many sets that go by without Tenley on the floor. As a sophomore, she played in 65 sets and finished with 236 kills, averaging 3.6 kills per set while hitting .233. She also added 46 aces, 270 digs, and 170 serve receptions. That's a lot of production from one player.   McMillon is simply someone the Falcons can count on. She can put the ball away, serve tough, and then turn around and make plays in the back row. She already carried a big load as a sophomore, and that role should only grow this fall.   If the Falcons are going to take that next step in 2026, Tenley will be right in the middle of it.     How do you pick one player off a team full of stars? You ask around. For all of these nominees, I have reached out to multiple sources, but this was a tough one. So why [player_tooltip player_id='566871' first='Tristen' last='Hamilton']? Well, 369 kills, 69 blocks, 368 digs, 37 aces, and 593 receptions...that's why.   Hamilton brings value all over the court. She finished in the top three in several team categories while leading Bentonville in kills, kills per set, and receptions. Even dominant teams need that one player who can step up in any situation, and Hamilton is that player in my eyes—and apparently in the eyes of several others—for Bentonville.   The 6A West is going to be a meat grinder this season. The Tigers can repeat in the 6A-West. There are no easy nights, and it will take the entire roster for Bentonville to come out on top. But having a player like Tristen on the court for all six rotations sure makes things a little easier.     Thaden has one of the coolest names in Arkansas prep sports, in my humble opinion. The Barnstormers is phenomenal. Just as phenomenal is their star player, [player_tooltip player_id='750475' first='Londyn' last='Jackson'].   Jackson is one of those players whose value becomes more obvious the longer you watch her. She is a strong attacker with a quick arm and plenty of options in her game. She can put some heat on the ball, but she doesn't have to overpower everyone to score. Londyn sees the court well, mixes up her shots, and does a great job of taking what the defense gives her.   What I really like about Jackson is everything that comes with the offense. She passes, defends, serves, and competes. She doesn't disappear when she rotates to the back row. In fact, some of her best volleyball comes from extending rallies, making a big defensive play, and then turning right back around and becoming an offensive weapon.   Thaden will lean heavily on Jackson this season, and she is more than capable of carrying that responsibility. Six-rotation outsides are valuable at any level, and Londyn has developed into one of the best in the 2027 class. The Barnstormers have a pretty cool name, but they also have a pretty darn good volleyball player leading the way.    -Robert Birch, Lead Scout-Prep Dig Arkansas. Reach out to me at <a href="mailto:bdsrecruiting10@gmail.com">bdsrecruiting10@gmail.com</a> or connect with me on X (@predigRob) and Instagram(@prepdigarrob)

Today through Wednesday I will finish up the preview of the nominees. Now. Not everyone that was sent in will make the watch list, but I am going to leave a spot open because every year there seems to be a player come out of nowhere to steal the show. The lists are not in particular order, I rolled them out the way I have because I was collecting information on the players. But as a reminder, here is what we are judging on: