Narbonne is our pick on top of the list. But also watch out for Palisades, Fairfax, Westchester and View Park in the Los Angeles City Section #MaxPrepsFab5.
2015-16 Los Angeles City Section Preseason Girls Basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Palisades (Pacific Palisades)Head coach: Torino Johnson
2014-15 record: 23-11
The
reigning City Coach of the Year led his team over Narbonne for the Open
Division city title and then lost to Mater Dei in the regional
playoffs. The team brings back junior All-City Team first-team selection
Chelsey Gipson at guard after 19.2 points and five assists per game last season. Also back is second-team all-city choice
Kayla Merrill - Gillett, who was good for 17.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest as a junior.
See last season's Los Angeles City Section girls basketball computer rankings2. Narbonne (Harbor City)Head coach: Victoria Sanders
2014-15 record: 23-7
The Gauchos fell to Palisades in the City Open Division title game and then succumbed to top-seeded Chaminade (West Hills) in the opening round of the regional Open Division playoffs. Open Division Player of the Year Latecia Smith and Tybiann Jones have graduated, so now the team will look to
Audrina Villela (junior guard, 8.4 points per game) and senior forward
Amber Hart (3.8 rebounds per game).
See MaxPreps Los Angeles City Section girls basketball pro photos3. Fairfax (Los Angeles)Head coach: Judi Edwards
2014-15 record: 19-13
The Lions went 1-2 in the Open Division playoffs and didn't make it to regional competition last season. Margurite Effa did it all last season as an All-City Team player but she's gone, and that means that people like 5-foot-7 senior guard/forward
Tania Lee (4.2 points, 5.1 rebounds per game) will need to step up and fill those very big shoes.
See last season's California girls basketball playoff brackets4. Westchester (Los Angeles)Head coach: Darryl Gowens
2014-15 record: 19-14
Gowens is the new coach this season for the Comets after they won the Division I city title last season. They dropped their opening contest in the Division I regional playoffs to Serra (Gardena).
Briana Anugwom returns after an all-city first-team sophomore campaign where she scored 16.3 points per game and pulled in 9.8 rebounds. She was the Division I Player of the Year as well.
Heyavin Johnson was all-Division I as a sophomore as well, scoring 8.9 per game.
See last season's California girls basketball stat leaders5. View Park (Los Angeles)Head coach: Louie Nelson
2014-15 record: 27-5
Another team with a new head coach, the Knights will look to follow up a season that saw them win a game in the Division IV state tournament and appear in the City Section Open Division.
Fatou Semebene scored 12.1 points and pulled in 10.6 rebounds each game and was an all-city choice as a sophomore. Also,
Dominique Godbolt returns for her senior season after earning all-Open Division honors and averaging 11.9 points and 9.8 rebounds.
