Fayetteville Unanimous Pick Atop Conference

Tyler McCollough and Fayetteville are the 7A/6A-West favorite after finishing state runner-up last season.
Tyler McCollough and Fayetteville are the 7A/6A-West favorite after finishing state runner-up last season.

— Fayetteville is no doubt the team to beat.

With three starters back from last year’s Class 7A state runner-up team and loads of depth and experience on the roster, the Bulldogs are the clear choice to win the 7A/6A-West Conference this season.

NWA MEDIA POLL

  1. Fayetteville
  2. Bentonville
  3. Springdale High
  4. Siloam Springs
  5. Rogers Heritage
  6. Van Buren
  7. Rogers High
  8. Springdale Har-Ber

In a poll of eight sports writers from NWA Media who cover the conference on a regular basis, Fayetteville was voted to finish first on every ballot, with Bentonville edging out Springdale High as the No. 2 choice.

Fayetteville is off to a 10-3 start this season, with losses coming against nationally ranked Memphis Southwind and North Little Rock and to Little Rock Parkview in the Arkansas Hoops Challenge. The Bulldogs, who won the Springfield (Mo.) Kickapoo Tipoff Classic in December, are hopeful that a tough nonconference schedule will better prepare them for what lies ahead at the 7A State Tournament in March.

“We put together this schedule for a reason,” Fayetteville boys basketball coach Kyle Adams said. “We wanted to be tested, and we wanted to see teams that are similar to what we’ll face in a state tournament setting.”

The Bulldogs feature 6-foot-10 Missouri State signee Tyler McCullough and 6-3 senior point guard Manuale Watkins, the reigning NWA Media Newcomer of the Year. But there’s no shortage of talent in the lineup, as senior guards Cameron Paschke and Ja’Wan Smith and senior post Caleb Waitsman give Fayetteville plenty of options.

“Obviously, Fayetteville, if I had to say who the favorite is, it’s them,” Springdale coach Brad Stamps said. “They’ve added some pieces, and they’ve got the overall experience and the parts that the rest of us just don’t have.

“After Fayetteville, really I think there’s a lot of us that could finish 2-5. We’re playing a lot of young guys, and four of our top eight guys are sophomores. So by no means are we ready to compete for that conference championship right now, but I like our team and I like our chances.”

Bentonville, like Springdale, will expected to put up the best fight against Fayetteville in conference play this season.

The Tigers went 10-3 in nonconference and are led by 6-8 senior post Nick Smith, a Belmont University signee who was last year’s NWA Media Player of the Year. Bentonville also features senior guard Austin Heard, who scored a career-high 38 points earlier this season, along with 5-11 freshman guard Tyrik Dixon, who’ll break into the starting lineup this season for the Tigers.

Conference newcomer Siloam Springs will also contend for a playoff spot, as 6-8 senior forward Payton Henson — a Tulane signee and the school’s career scoring leader — should be one of the top players in the league.

Rogers Heritage could be much improved and is off to a 9-3 start, with three wins at the final buzzer. The War Eagles are led by 6-0 junior guard Crist Olsen, the team’s leading scorer heading into conference play.

Van Buren, Rogers High and Springdale Har-Ber could all battle for the final playoff spot in the 7A/6A-West boys race. The Pointers are battling inexperience this year, but posted a 7-6 record in the nonconference.

Rogers, led by first-year coach Wayne Herren, is 6-7, and Har-Ber, which will seek its first winning record in conference play under third-year coach Adam Simmons, is currently 5-9.

Upcoming Events