SBLive Arkansas' Top 25 boys basketball rankings: North Little Rock sits atop first rankings of season

Here are our first boys rankings of 2022.

By Kyle Sutherland | Photo by Tommy Land

Football season is over, which means basketball coaches should have their rosters filled out to begin conference play. The last week of December featured a slew of tournaments, including the King Cotton Classic in Pine Bluff. This week will be critical in getting off a fast start in conference play. Here are our first boys rankings of 2022.

1. North Little Rock (11-3)

As expected, the Charging Wildcats have set the bar for prep basketball in The Natural State this year. They fell to Jonesboro a month ago, but the other two losses were to nationally ranked teams. They placed sixth in the City of Palms Classic in Florida, won King Bracket in the King Cotton Classic, and should win the school’s second straight state title if they are at their best.

2. Jonesboro (9-3)

The defending 5A champion has the best in-state victory after defeating North Little Rock In early December. They are coming into conference play fresh off an appearance in the Arby’s Classic in Bristol, TN.

3. Magnolia (9-0)

The Panthers are 56-1 since the 2019-20 season and have been red-hot winning the Creed bracket of the King Cotton Classic taking down national powers Cardinal Ritter College Prep (St Louis) and Huntington (LA), along with Parkview in the championship game.

4. LR Parkview (8-2)

The Patriots had a good showing in the King Cotton Classic despite falling in the Creed bracket championship game to Magnolia. They will play Cardinal Hayes High from The Bronx on Friday in the Hoop Hall Central.

5. LR Central (7-5)

Despite losing 5-star 2023 prospect Bryson Warren to the pros, Central has plenty of young talent to make another deep run in the state tournament. They have a chance to make an early statement in the conference opener against top-ranked rival North Little Rock.

6. Bentonville (9-3)

The Tigers should benefit from the challenge of a preseason scrimmage with North Little Rock as well as squaring off against Central and Jonesboro as they begin conference play with Har-Ber. They are currently riding a four-game win streak and won the KSA Holiday Championship in Orlando.

7. Bentonville West (9-1)

As of now, the Wolverines have won every game against Arkansas teams. They open the conference slate with Fayetteville and cross-town rival Bentonville, respectively, with hope of getting a head start atop the 6A West standings.

8. Maumelle (10-2)

Fresh off a Neosho Holiday Classic championship, the Hornets are a top contender once again in the 5A Central after coming up two points short in the title game last year. Magnolia transfer Colby Garland could be the missing the final piece for Coach Shook and Co. to hoist the trophy in March.

9. Farmington (14-1)

The Cardinals fell to eventual 4A champion Mills in the second round of the state tournament last year and so far, they are showing they have their sights set much higher. They may stumble here and there in conference play, but as of right now the 4A-1 in theirs to lose.

10. Har-Ber (10-2)

The Wildcats still have more to prove, but overall have taken care of business. We will find out quickly if they can compete with the top of the 7A West as two of the first three conference games will be against Bentonville and Bentonville West

11. Nettleton (12-3)

Nettleton had a setback last week in the NEA Tournament championship game against Blytheville but had won its last nine games prior to that. They will need to get back to winning quickly in the 5A East that includes Jonesboro, Marion, Paragould, and West Memphis

12. Marion (11-3) 

The Patriots took 4th place in the 1st Route 13 Classic after winning five straight leading up to that tournament and open up 5A-East play at West Memphis.

13. Lake Hamilton (10-3)

Scotty Pennington’s squad has only lost their three games by a total of 16 points and have handled most of the schedule fairly easily. They defeated Sheridan 68-49 in the Benton Tournament on December 10th and will open up 5A South play against the Yellowjackets on Friday.

14. Sheridan (10-3)

The Yellowjackets are one of two teams in 5A South with 10 wins, the other being Lake Hamilton whom they will square off against Friday with the winner having an early advantage in the league.

15. Little Rock Christian (8-2)

After losing star guard Layden Blocker to prep school, the Warriors are trying to find their identity. Blocker’s brother, Landren, along with Creed Williamson are two the Warriors will rely on in a big way. They do not open conference play until next week but will have a tough three-game stretch with Sylvan Hills, Parkview, and Maumelle.

16. Fayetteville (8-4)

Riding a three-game win streak, the Purple Dogs have to feel pretty good about themselves considering they are such a young team. The coaching staff will rely highly on senior leader Landon Glasper to lead a squad with seven sophomores.

17. West Memphis (8-4)

The Blue Devils took three in a row on the chin to out-of-state competition in the Neosho Holiday Classic but match up well with their next three opponents before Jonesboro comes to town.

18. Siloam Springs (8-4)

The Panthers handed Farmington its lone loss of the season and are looking to get a step ahead in the 5A West.

19. Springdale (9-3)

Winners of six in a row, including a 73-45 rout over Conway, the Bulldogs look to keep that same energy in conference play.

20. Lakeside (8-3)

The next two weeks should give us a glimpse of where the Rams are as they travel to both Lake Hamilton and Sheridan.

21. Sylvan Hills (7-3)

The Nick Smith and Corey Washington-less Bears have held their own with three losses by a combined 10 points, but are up against a tough three-game stretch against Vilonia, Little Rock Christian, and Maumelle.

22. Conway (10-3)

After winning three of their last four, the Wampus Cats open 6A-Central play against Little Rock Southwest before traveling to top-ranked North Little Rock on Friday.

23. Paragould (9-4)

The Rams are in the race with Nettleton, Marion, and West Memphis to see who can claim that second spot in the 5A East behind Jonesboro.

24. Fountain Lake (13-1)

After falling by two points to Waldron in the season opener, the Cobras have refused to lose in 13 straight contests. 

25. Blytheville (12-3)

All the Chickasaws’ losses have come to higher competition, and they are a couple steps ahead of their 4A-3 foes as of now.