FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas women’s basketball signee Jersey Wolfenbarger of Fort Smith Northside has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Girls National High School Player of the Year.
Wolfenbarger, who is 6-6 and ESPN’s No. 7 player nationally in the 2022 class, is one of two Arkansans on the list along with Bentonville forward Maryam Dauda (6-4), a Baylor signee and the 13th-best player in the country, per ESPN.
"It is definitely an honor to be a Naismith finalist, but there are still 10 of is competing for the same award," Wolfenbarger said. "Right now it is just all about how I can separate myself from that elite tier, but more importantly how I can stay focused and continue to be the best version of myself to ensure the further success of my team."
Northside is 19-1 overall and 9-0 in conference play this season. The Lady Bears are ranked No. 1 by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and have won their last 17 games since a 53-48 loss to No. 3 Melbourne (20-1).
“It’s been a great season so far and we are just continuing to work hard and get better every day,” Wolfenbarger said. “I think the loss early to Melbourne, who is a great team, helped to focus our team.”
Wolfenbarger, who took in Arkansas' win over No. 3 UConn last week, had 31 points on Friday in the Northside’s 70-38 win over Little Rock Southwest and then put up 32 more in a 73-54 victory over Bryant on Tuesday night.
“This season we have been able to come together, push each other and fight for each other every night,” Wolfenbarger said. “There have been times when we have come back from way down early and others where we have just handled things from the start. I like the way we have dealt with any adversity that we have faced.”
She led the Lady Bears to a Class 6A state title as a sophomore in 2019 while Dauda helped Bentonville to a co-championship in a shortened 2020 season.
Wolfenbarger, who averaged 18.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game as a junior, said Northside is focused on winning the 2021 title. The Class 6A state tournament will be held in Fayetteville in March.
“With it being so late in the season, you can’t take any game for granted, so every game you have to have your best effort and know that every play matters,” Wolfenbarger said. “You have to do whatever it takes to win, be it a 20-point win or a one-point win.
“Our goal is to be there at the end and win it again.”
Dauda broke the school’s career scoring mark of 1,270 points last week and also holds records for most rebounds and blocked shots for No. 2 Bentonville (12-2, 6-0).