North Arkansas College women's basketball coach Bobby Howard is a veteran coach.
When Coach Howard gets excited about the upcoming season, opponents had better take note.
"I am excited about the group that we have put together," he said. "We have two All-Region players returning in Kelcee Hopper and Baylea Smith and we have two players back that saw a lot of time last year. Then we have added a lot of very talented players."
With the roster that the Lady Pioneers are sporting, there may be problems for Howard.
"We may not have enough balls to go around," laughed the coach about his talent. "Playing time will be difficult with so many good players. Depth will be our strength."
However, Howard was very serious in what he saw about his team.
"This may be the most potential talented team that I have had," he said. "I have been doing this a long time and I am very excited about this team.
"We will be pretty good if I don't mess them up," said Howard. "We will have a good season barring a lot of injuries or COVID."
Hopper and Smith are both Berryville graduates and they will be leading the team. Smith served as the point guard and she led the team in scoring last season with accurate 3-point shooting.
Hopper patrolled the paint last year. She was the only player of 6-foot-0 last season. This year she will have a lot of help in the paint.
Harrison graduate Kenzie Parker will be back this year. She was a starter the entire season. Zoie McGhee of Alma spent a lot of time on the floor for the Lady Pioneers.
Kristin Hargrove of Marshall is a returning sophomore that adds physical play for the Lady Pioneers.
Leading the newcomers is a transfer from Pittsburgh State University. Abby Dietsche will offer opponents a problem.
She is a 6-2 guard, post, forward. According to Howard she can play all positions and is a very talented player. She can play the point guard spot as well as any other position on the floor.
There are three other players that are taller than 6-foot.
Haylee Malcum of Conway is one of those players.
"She has an athletic body," said the coach. "She can rebound and she has good foot work. She was very instrumental in several Conway wins this season."