CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas women's basketball team has announced its signing class, adding three players for the 2026-27 season. The trio brings a plethora of accolades and achievements that speak to a talented and hard-working group that is used to success on the basketball court.
 
"We are excited to add this group of high school players to our program. We believe that they bring a skill set, attitude and personality that will make them successful here at UCA," Head coach Tony Kemper said of the class. "They are excellent students who will be positive additions to the Central Arkansas student body and athletic department."
 
Faith McCallop, from Kansas City, Kansas, is a point guard with both passing and scoring chops who has done it at a high level since her freshman season of high school. She jumped out in her first high school season, winning MVP of her State Championship game, and turned that into more success later in high school. Over her four seasons, she racked up two state titles, three sub-state championships, and three state qualifiers. She also led her teams to a fourth- and second-place finishes at EYBL Nike Nationals in back-to-back years.
 
"Faith is an athletic point guard who has been successful against the best guards in the country.  She is a natural leader with tremendous ability to control a game and create shots for herself and her teammates." – Coach Kemper
 
Avery Mier, a combo forward, brings a scoring ability at all three levels and a length that will impact the game defensively. As she progressed through her high school career, the awards and results came with it, with Mier earning multiple MVPs across the district, state and regional levels, a NCHBC Player of the Year, and two All-American selections. In 2023-24, she led her team to a number of championship games across the district, region and state levels, and then polished most of those off the next year, claiming a pair of district and regional championships in Klein, Texas.
 
"Avery is a combo forward with great length and skill.  She can score both inside and out with tremendous range and natural ability to win off the bounce." – Coach Kemper
 
The third signee comes to the Sugar Bears out of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Sami Sheaffer signed with Central Arkansas after a stellar career at Bartlesville High School. During her prep career, she won a district newcomer of the year award, a selection to the all-district team, and scored over 1,000 points, helping guide her high school to its first winning season since before she joined the team. As a junior, she averaged 14 points, six boards, three assists and three steals, getting it done in all three phases of the game.
 
"Sami is a long, aggressive guard that can play across the perimeter.  She is an active rebounder that excels at attacking inside but also through perimeter shooting" – Coach Kemper
 
The group also excelled academically, another quality that aligns with Central Arkansas Athletics and the Sugar Bears. McCallop lived on the honor roll, posting multiple years of a 4.0 GPA. Mier will graduate with the Distinguished Level of Achievement Diploma with Multi-Disciplinary and Arts and Humanities Endorsements, and holds a 4.18 weighted GPA. And Sheaffer is much the same, earning Certificate's of Excellence for holding a 4.0 GPA during her high school career and being a mainstay on the Honor Roll and Principal's Honor Roll lists.