North Little Rock Coach Brad Bolding said K.J. Hill had so many highlight-reel plays that it was hard to pinpoint the best one.

After a few seconds to reflect, Bolding could only narrow the broad inventory to three. It was an illustration of the kind of season Hill, a junior wide receiver, authored in 2013.

“I think he’s the best player in Arkansas right now,” Bolding said.

Hill, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Offensive Player of the Year, amassed almost 2,000 all-purpose yards in his first season at North Little Rock after transferring from Bryant early last year.

Hill was the Democrat-Gazette co-Sophomore Offensive Player of the Year at Bryant and clearly raised his level of play last fall in helping North Little Rock reach the semifinals of the Class 7A playoffs.

“He’s the real deal,” Cabot Coach Mike Malham said.

Hill caught 63 passes for 1,143 yards and 16 touchdowns, rushed 17 times for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns, returned 6 kickoffs for 194 yards and 1 touchdown and 26 punts for 502 yards and 1 touchdown.

Hill, 6-0, 185 pounds, had several other returns for touchdowns negated because of penalties.

Bolding said he sensed Hill had a chance to score every time he touched the ball.

“I think people, defensively, approach it that way,” Bolding said. “I’ve seen just about a little bit of everything defensively to try and stop him. Throw him in on special teams, and it’s the same thing. Punting it to him, kick if off to him, there’s a chance he’s going to take it to the house.

“He’s in a different league.”

Bolding said Hill was able to handle a heavy workload because of his preparation in North Little Rock’s strenuous offseason program. Hill was about 15 pounds heavier than he was as a sophomore at Bryant, and his biceps and thighs were much more pronounced.

“He really reaped the benefits, his body, especially,” Bolding said.

Hill caught at least two passes in every game, including a career-high 10 against Jonesboro, and had four games with at least 100 receiving yards.

Bolding said Hill’s most memorable plays included a 13-yard touchdown reception against Rogers Heritage in a first-round playoff game. Hill ran a shallow crossing pattern and caught the pass near the 10, shook two tacklers, the second while tight-roping the sideline, did a 360-degree spin inside the 5 and used both hands to reach the ball out, just inside the pylon.

Bolding said Hill’s 19-yard touchdown reception against West Memphis was “the best high school catch that I’ve ever seen.” Hill, at full speed on a quick post, stabbed the pass with his right arm in the back of the end zone.

“The ball was thrown only where he could catch it,” Bolding said. “It was like there was Velcro on his hand. It was phenomenal. He probably had a yard left before he was out of bounds in the back of the end zone.”

Hill showed his speed - he was recently electronically timed in 4.44 in the 40-yard dash - when he zigzagged 79 yards for a punt return touchdown against Pine Bluff.

Bolding said Hill, one of the state’s most high-profile players, lived up to expectations in his first season at North Little Rock.

“I’m not for sure that it wasn’t more,” Bolding said. “He could be maybe the best that I’ve ever coached.”

Sports, Pages 21 on 01/19/2014