5 NEWCOMERS TO WATCH
Tyrik Dixon
SCHOOL: Bentonville
CLASS: Freshman
HEIGHT: 5-11
NOTABLE: One of the few freshman to be moved up to the high school ranks among Northwest Arkansas’ larger schools ... Has found a spot in the Tigers’ starting three-guard rotation with seniors Austin Haggard and Austin Heard ... Has averaged 6.8 points per game and recorded 47 steals and 16 assists in Bentonville’s first 13 games ... Has held his own against quality competition, scoring 11 points in games against Little Rock Hall and Memphis (Tenn.) Sheffield.
Connor Hirsh
SCHOOL: Rogers Heritage
CLASS: Sophomore
NOTABLE: Moved to Rogers over the summer from Fort Smith and has become a valuable swingman off the bench for the War Eagles. ... Averages 6.4 points and 4 rebounds per game off the bench this season. ... Hirsh also is a strong defender and provides great energy when he's in the game.
Tereke Eckwood
SCHOOL: Springdale High
CLASS: Sophomore
HEIGHT: 5-9
NOTABLE: Eckwood has quickly established himself as an explosive playmaker capable of starting at point guard as a sophomore. ... Averaging 9.7 points per game, and his hustle is evident in his rebounding. Despite his size, he’s averaging 6.1 rebounds per game.
Mitchell Smith
SCHOOL: Van Buren
CLASS: Freshman
HEIGHT: 6-8
NOTABLE: Still raw in many ways, Smith has plenty of potential. But can he handle playing in a 7A-6A West Conference as a freshman? We will see.
Jake Killingsworth
SCHOOL: Rogers High
CLASS: Freshman
HEIGHT: 6-3
NOTABLE: Has started the last four games and is shooting 50 percent from the field and 36 percent from 3-point range. ... One of the better rebounders on the team and is one of the steal leaders. ... Scored 20 points against Mountain Home.