Oak Ridge returns 19 of 20 players from a 29-3 squad and leads the way. Don't forget about Sacramento, Elk Grove, Vanden or Antelope in the Sac-Joaquin Section girls basketball #MaxPrepsFab5.
Video: CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Basketball Playoff
Go way back and check out footage from Sacramento High battling Modesto Christian in the 2012 playoffs.
2016-17 Sac-Joaquin Section preseason girls basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
Note: St. Mary's (Stockton) is ranked in the overall California Fab 5 and not eligible for this ranking.
1. Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills)Head coach: Stephen White
2015-16 record: 29-3
The Trojans graduated just one player off a massive and productive 20-person roster last season. Among those who won't return is leading scorer
Hailey McCoy, a 5-foot-10 junior who averaged 13.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. She was the only Oak Ridge player to average in double-digits. Her family moved to San Diego. The only other close to averaging in double digits was
Kassidy DeLapp, a 6-3 junior who averaged 9.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. The Trojans have been a model of consistency under White, having recorded 11 straight seasons of 20 wins or greater, including three 30-plus win seasons. In 2009-10 they went 32-3 and won a state title.
See the MaxPreps California girls basketball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard
2. Elk GroveHead coach: Larry Price
2015-16 record: 24-11
The Thundering Herd peaked at the right time en route to a Northern California Division II championship. Elk Grove beat Sacramento 46-45 for the NorCal title before losing in the state finals to Cajon, 55-36. The Herd return their top two scorers in
Mira Shulman, a 5-9 senior who averaged 18.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, and
Paiton Demps, a 5-7 senior who averaged 12.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per outing.
See the MaxPreps California girls basketball stat leaders3. SacramentoHead coach: Michele Massari
2015-16 record: 24-10
One
of the most consistent programs in the state, Sacramento returns its
second-leading scorer from a year ago in 5-10 junior wing
Richelle Turney. Last year she averaged 10.2 points per game. Massari has two players —
Andriana Avent (7.2 ppg) and
RyAnne Walters (6.9 ppg) — who were big contributors last year as freshmen.
See the MaxPreps California girls basketball photos
4. Vanden (Fairfield)Head coaches: Allison Johnson, Jake Johnson
2015-16 record: 24-9
The Vikings figure to rely heavily on 5-10 senior
Julia Blackshell-Fair, who averaged team bests of 14.3 points, 4.6 assists and 11.0 rebounds per game. Vanden has been one of the most successful programs in Northern California over the last 12 seasons with at least 22 wins each year. The Vikings have won 304 games in that span.
See the MaxPreps California girls basketball playoff brackets5. AntelopeHead coach: Sean Chambers
2015-16 record: 29-3
Nadia Johnson, Antelope
Photo by Samuel Stringer
The
Titans love to get up and down the court, as proven by their 67.7
scoring average last season. Much of that offense is initiated by good
defense, as they averaged an impressive 17.6 steals per game. They were
looking good until the Johnsons,
Nadia Johnson (12.9 points per game) and
Nia Johnson (12.8 points, 5.8 rebounds) tranferred to West Campus. Nadia is a 5-9 senior and Nia a 5-9 junior.
Arianna Spann, a 6-foot sophomore guard, averaged 9.9 points and 8.5 rebounds as a freshman.
Note: rankings updated Nov. 16, 2016.
