Big Country Preps Girls Basketball Position Rankings: Forwards

After kicking off our girls basketball position rankings series with the guards on Tuesday, we now turn our attention to the forwards.

For the second installment in our three-part series, we rank the area’s top 10 players at that position with some others to watch for in 2025-26.

We hope you enjoy our list.

10. Mallory Gibson, Jr., Sweetwater — This 5-foot-10 small forward showed tremendous potential as a sophomore, leading the Lady Mustangs in both points (9.0) and rebounds (5.9) per game a year ago, while also averaging 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals per contest.

With that experience under her belt and some seasoned teammates around her, Gibson and her squad could both take a step forward this season.

9. Addison Treppa, Jr., Glen Rose — Sharing the court with a pair of dynamic guards in Alexis Rynders and Lily Melton, Treppa didn’t post huge numbers last year, finishing with averages of 5.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.3 steals per game. But her impact was certainly felt during the Lady Tigers’ run to the Class 4A Div. II state semifinals. 

Now one of the most experienced and accomplished players on a younger Glen Rose squad, this 5-7 wing player could see her production explode this season as a junior.

8. Haylee Barnes, Sr., Hico — A force inside for the Lady Tigers at 5-10, Barnes averaged 10.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game a year ago as a junior to help her team reach the Region II-2A DI area round.

Now entering her final high school season, the first-team all-District 11-2A pick will be looking to put together her best campaign yet this winter.

7. Trinity Roberts, Jr., Brownwood — With the ability to impact games inside and on the perimeter, this 5-10 junior can present some serious matchup problems for opponents.

After posting averages of 9.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game last year on her way to first-team all-district and Texas Girls Coaches Association all-state recognition, she’ll likely play an even bigger role for the Lady Lions as a junior.

6. Finley Shockley, Sr., Lipan — A marksman from 3-point range, this talented wing player averaged 12.4 points per game while shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc a year ago as a junior.

Tabbed as her district’s Offensive Player of the Year, as well as a Texas Association of Basketball Coaches all-region and TGCA all-state pick for those efforts, she’ll likely need to be even more assertive this year if the Lady Indians hope to match last year’s run to the Class 2A DII state semifinals.

5. Keslie Criswell, So., Aspermont — As impactful as any young player in the Big Country Preps coverage area last year as a freshman, the Criswell earned Rising Star status with averages of 16.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 3.4 deflections per game.

Coming off that campaign, which ended in the Region II-1A DII semifinals and earned her district Offensive MVP and TABC all-region recognition, the 5-11 sophomore will look to further establish herself as one of the area’s brightest stars this season.

4. Joyah Maroney, Sr., Wylie — With the size to play inside and the skill set to excel on the perimeter, this 5-11 combo forward can be used in a lot of different ways by coach Duane Hopper.

And she can be counted on to produce in any role, something she showed a year ago when she averaged 12.5 points on 52 percent shooting, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.2 steals, 2.0 deflections and 1.0 block per game to earn district Co-MVP and TGCA all state honors.

3. Emma Damron, Sr., Eula — A four-year standout and household name among Big Country girls basketball fans, Damron enters her final high school season off a junior campaign that saw her average 16 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 3.5 steals and 5.0 deflections per game to help the Lady Pirates reach the Class 1A DI state championship game.

An efficient scorer inside and a 36 percent shooter from 3-point range, there’s not much on a basketball court this TABC and TGCA all-state pick can’t do.

2. Delila Crain, Sr., Gorman — This 6-foot small forward has a guard’s game and a post’s frame, which makes her incredibly difficult for opponents to handle — evidenced by the 23.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.9 steals and 4.0 deflections she averaged a year ago.

Crain, who was named the District 22-1A MVP and earned all-state recognition from both the TABC and TGCA, will look to close her stellar career in style this winter after seeing her junior season end in the area round with a tough-luck loss to eventual state semifinalist Neches.

1. Pearson Hearne, Sr., Cisco — Like Damron and Crain, Hearne has been lighting up opponents since she was a freshman. And also like those two, she also brings versatility and an abundance of skill to go with her size at 5-11.

The standout guard/forward combo averaged 16.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 1.7 blocks per game last year as a junior, and she’ll be looking to build on those numbers after claiming district MVP, TABC all-state and TGCA all-state recognition in 2024-25.

OTHERS TO WATCH

Amiya Mayes, Sr., Cooper; Iley Underwood, Jr., Clyde; Atley Kolb, So., Tolar; Emma Jackson, Sr., Tolar; Kayme Elrod, Jr., Anson; Ashtyn Wilson, Sr., Ballinger; Karley Hale, Jr., Coleman; Brynlee Stocks, Jr., Haskell; Ashlyn Tarpley, Sr., Lipan; Brooklyn Allison, So., San Saba; Keigan Davis, Sr., Winters; Maleah Hecht, Jr., Aspermont; Reagan Barr, Jr., Eula; Kelsee Balch, So., Gordon; Brooklyn O’Quin, Sr., Hermleigh; Taylor Sharp, Sr., Huckabay

BIG COUNTRY PREPS POSITION RANKINGS

Wednesday — Guards

Thursday — Forwards

Friday — Posts