Pulaski Academy Girls Basketball Moves To Class 5A

Following a 2026 state title win, the Lady Bruins now join the 5A-Central conference for the upcoming season.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Basketball

Pulaski Academy Girls Basketball Moves To Class 5A

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Do you support high school teams moving to higher divisions for more competitive games?

After securing the Class 4A state championship in March 2026, the Pulaski Academy girls basketball team has transitioned to the 5A-Central conference. The team enters the 2026-27 season with high expectations and a veteran roster.

Why it matters

Moving up to Class 5A represents a significant competitive shift for the program as it looks to maintain the dominance that led to its previous championship run. The transition tests the depth of a team led by a long-tenured coach.

Coach Becky Yarbrough is entering her 36th year on the sidelines, approaching a milestone of 1,000 career victories. In the previous championship, Ellie Robken contributed 15 points to secure the title.

The players

Becky Yarbrough

She is a veteran basketball coach entering her 36th year of leadership at Pulaski Academy.

Ellie Robken

She is a key player who scored 15 points during the team's 2026 state championship victory.

Greenlee Elmore

She is a standout basketball player who has committed to continue her athletic career at Louisiana Tech.

Randi Stewart

She is a student-athlete who has committed to play basketball for Arkansas Tech.

London Hicks

She is a transfer student-athlete who joined the Pulaski Academy team from Beebe.

The details

The program is currently represented at the four-day Big Miller High School Basketball Media Days in Little Rock, where coaches and players are preparing for the new schedule. The roster features returning starters alongside new addition London Hicks, who transferred from Beebe, and college-bound seniors Greenlee Elmore and Randi Stewart.

March 2026: Pulaski Academy won the Class 4A championship.
October 19, 2026: The Big Miller High School Basketball Media Days took place.
2026-27 season: The team officially competes in the 5A-Central conference.

Season Trajectory

The jump to 5A-Central forces the team to adapt to more competitive conference play immediately after their title run. This shift changes the playoff outlook for the 2026-27 season as the program transitions from being the hunted to a new challenger in a higher classification.

Fans should monitor the integration of transfer London Hicks and the performance of veteran starters as they adjust to the new Class 5A strength of schedule. The team's performance in early conference play will indicate how well they replace the production of their graduating college-bound seniors.

The takeaway

The transition to Class 5A serves as a major test for a program that relies on a veteran rotation to maintain stability. Readers should track how the team adapts its championship-winning strategies against the tougher competition found in the 5A-Central conference.