Duncanville is our pick as the top girls basketball team in Texas this season. Watch out for MacArthur (Irving), Manvel, Mansfield Timberview and Plano West as well.
Duncanville won it all last season and is back for another shot at national stardom.
File photo by Jim Redman
MaxPreps 2013-14 Texas Girls Basketball Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard
Click here to see the girls basketball preseason Fab 5 from every state1. Duncanville2012-13 record: 42-0, Class 5A state champions
Head coach: Cathy Self-Morgan
Duncanville went 42-0 last year, and leading scorer
Ariel Atkins is back to lead another charge to a Texas title. And speaking of titles, a national championship isn’t out of the question, either, though a lack of out-of-state opponents might derail that quest.
2. MacArthur (Irving)2012-13 record: 24-9
Head coach: Susie Oelschlegel
Alexis Jones is now a star at Duke, but coach Susie Oelschlegel has reloaded two years later. Four returning starters, led by senior
Tory Jacobs and juniors
Jasmin Taylor and
Tana Driver have the Cardinals back in the state title hunt.
3. Manvel2012-13 record: 33-4
Head coach: Bryan Harris
Six-foot-4
Brianna Turner is one of the top players in the country and a staple on USA Basketball teams, and 6-1
Jordan Hosey is another elite player. When those two get rolling, the Mavericks will be hard to stop.
4. Mansfield Timberview (Arlington)2012-13 record: 29-7
Head coach: Candi Harvey
Juniors
Jalea Bennett and
Dayo Olabode will keep the Wolves rolling, even though Lili Thompson moved on to Stanford. Don’t forget, they gave Duncanville one of its toughest tests last year, losing only by eight.
5. Plano West2012-13 record: 36-4
Head coach: Kristen Perry
After 14 seasons and 364 wins, coach Don Patterson stepped down -- but 6-0 sophomore
Natalie Chou returns to lead a team that was one point away from a trip to the Final Four.
