Most of last year's state powers return the vast majority of their players, including defending state Division I champion Centennial. Also watch out for Bishop Gorman, Bishop Manogue, Spring Valley and Reno.
Madison Washington, Bishop Gorman
Photo by Jann Hendry
2015-16 Nevada Preseason Girls Basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Centennial (Las Vegas)Head coach: Karen Weitz
2014-15 record: 31-2
The Bulldogs are the defending Division I state champions after knocking off Bishop Manogue in the semifinals, 78-49, and Bishop Gorman in the finals, 65-52. It was Centennial's seventh state title, but first since 2011. The Bulldogs return 5-foot-8 sophomore
Justice Ethridge, who had 19 points in the state title game and 6-foot post
Jayden Eggleston, now a junior, had 10 points and 14 rebounds. Weitz returns all but one of 13 players from last season.
See last season's Nevada girls basketball computer rankings
2. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)Head coach: Sheryl Krmpotich
2014-15 record: 24-6
Like Centennial, Gorman loses just one senior off last year's team, which lost to the state champions 69-65 in overtime before the state playoffs. This figures to be another heated rivalry in 2015-16.
Raychel Stanley, now a 6-1 senior, had 15 points in the state title game.
Madison Washington, now a 6-1 senior, added 11 points and 15 rebounds, and
Skylar Jackson, a 5-10 junior, had 10 points.
See MaxPreps Nevada girls basketball photos
3. Spring Valley (Las Vegas)Head coach: Billy Hemberger
2014-15 record: 30-1
The defending I-A champs' only loss last year came to Southern California squad Buena at midseason. The Grizzlies finished on a 17-game win streak. They return their top two scorers, both freshmen last season,
Essence Booker (18.7 points per game) and
Kayla Harris (18.6). Spring Valley, which was just 1-24 in 2013-14, lost just two seniors to graduation from its 14-person roster from last season.
See last season's Nevada girls basketball playoff brackets 4. Reno Head coach: Shane Foster
2014-15 record: 24-4
The Huskies return all but three from last year's squad, including the state's leading scorer and rebounder in
Mallory McGwire, who averaged 21.8 points and 14.3 rebounds per game. The 6-4 niece of former Major League Baseball slugger Mark McGwire also averaged 6.9 blocks per game. Ranked the No. 59 player in the country by ESPN, McGwire has signed with Oregon. She'll have plenty of help from
Daranda Hinkey (10.6 points per game).
See last season's Nevada girls basketball stat leaders
5. Bishop Manogue (Reno)Head coach: Craig Holt
2014-15 record: 23-6
The 2001 3A state champions have put together three consecutive 20-win seasons and return 11 of 14 players from last year, including juniors
Malia Holt and
Katie Turner. Each averaged 8.5 points per game last season as sophomores.
