Alexis Jennings and Sparkman are our pick as the top girls basketball team in Alabama.
File photo by Joe Boyd
MaxPreps 2013-14 Alabama Girls Basketball Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard
Click here to see the girls basketball preseason Fab 5 from every state1. Sparkman (Harvest)2012-13 record: 33-1
Head coach: Patrick Delay
The Senators hope to take things farther this winter after falling in the 6A Northwest regional final last season. That effort will be led by senior
Alexis Williams, a 6-foot-2 forward who put up 22.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game as a junior. Williams is committed to Kentucky.
2. Shades Valley (Birmingham)2012-13 record: 31-2
Head coach: Tonya Hunter
Morgan William (5-4, Sr., G),
Katelynn Thomas (6-1, So., F) and
Frantisha Tyson (5-3, Sr., G) return after leading the Mounties to 30 wins in a row a year ago before falling in the 6A Northeast final. Shades Valley is averaging more than 26 wins per season since 2008-09.
3. Brewer (Somerville)2012-13 record: 32-2
Head coach: Ricky Allen
The Patriots hope to reclaim 5A supremacy after winning the title in 2012 but falling in the semifinals a year ago. Brewer returns 10 of its top 11 scorers, including 6-1 senior post
Riley Northway (19.6 points per game).
4. Blount (Eight Mile)2012-13 record: 30-5
Head coach: Jarvis Wilson
The Leopards lost to Hoover in the 6A state championship game and have the goods to make a repeat run at the final.
Cierra Johnson will be among the state's top players over the next three seasons after leading the team in scoring at 17.9 points per game as a freshman. Johnson will be joined by five seniors who averaged between five and 12 points in 2012-13.
5. Hoover2012-13 record: 28-4, Class 6A state champions
Head coach: Tiffany Frederick
The Bucs lost their top six scorers from a year ago, but it's difficult to imagine the perennial power slipping too far. Hoover hasn't won fewer than 28 games since 2007-08, with three state titles over that span.
