MaxPreps 2013-14 Preseason Top 25 high school girls basketball rankings presented by the Army National Guard

The almost mystical formula for putting together an elite high school girls basketball program relies on some tangibles — talent, coaching, experience — and the intangibles that make it so hard, in any sport, to have the postseason and preseason rankings align.

The intangibles for winning lots of games include luck (of all varieties, but most important, injury luck) and that elusive chemistry that can come and go in a heartbeat.

The formula for national rankings, however, has another crucial variable: strength of schedule.



Duncanville (Texas), for example, was 42-0 last season yet wasn't No.1, because the Pantherettes didn't play the same level of opposition as Riverdale of Tennessee, which wound up in the top spot.

That same issue has Duncanville starting the 2013-14 rankings at No. 6, and the reason there are five teams ahead of them is that all five not only have great talent, outstanding coaching and plenty of experience — they also all play tougher schedules and will travel out of state to face some very challenging opponents.

Shabazz of New Jersey, for example, will fly all the way across the country to play in the West Coast Jamboree's top bracket, which will include No. 2 Mater Dei and No. 21 St. Mary's of Stockton. If the Bulldogs can win that tournament, there's no doubt they'll be one of the best teams in the country.

Two other elite tournaments — the Nike TOC in Phoenix and the Naples Holiday Classic in Florida — will also have high-quality fields, and the winners of those events will definitely be in position to challenge for the national title. But then again, it's hard to be a national champion with more than one loss, and if a team like Duncanville or Bedford North Lawrence of Indiana runs through a lesser schedule unbeaten, then the final rankings become harder to sort out.

But for now, this is what we have. But the odds of the final Xcellent 25 bearing much resemblance to this are, we must confess, not that good.

1. Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis) 32-0
The Red Knights return four starters from a state championship team, and add a 6-4 freshman center to a roster that already includes commits to Kansas State (6-3 Mckenna Treece) and Iowa State (5-5 point guard Nakiah Bell). And that doesn't even account for 6-1 junior wing Napheesa Collier, who's looking at schools like UConn and Notre Dame. The schedule is loaded, but then again so is Incarnate Word.



2. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 30-2
Usually a team that loses a player to Stanford will take a step back, but the perennially powerful Monarchs have four other starters back, including 6-3 junior Katie Lou Samuelson, who might just be the next Elena Delle Donne. The schedule? Not only the Nike TOC but also the West Coast Jamboree with No. 4 Shabazz.

3. Blackman (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) 26-5
The Blaze lost five times last season, four to national champion Riverdale, but return four starters and add a big-time piece in junior guard MeMe Jackson. Sophomores Crystal Dangerfield and Jazz Bond are elite players as well, and after Blackman plays No. 1 Incarnate Word and travels to the Naples Holiday Classic, the Blaze should be ready for at least two (and maybe as many as five) games against No. 11 Riverdale.

4. Shabazz (Newark, N.J.) 33-1
Shabazz will travel to California, hoping to get a shot at No. 2 Mater Dei, and will also play a fair number of quality East Coast teams — and with four starters back the Bulldogs can compete with anyone. Six-one senior Zaire O'Neil and 6-0 senior Daniyah Cliney lead the way for what could be one of veteran coach Vanessa Watson's best teams.

5. Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) 29-4
The DMV has been flat loaded for the past few years, but this season, there's a bit of a dropoff — except at Paul VI. Four starters are back, including the powerhouse trio of Ariana Freeman, Jonquanae Cole and Jasmine Whitney, so the Panthers should be able to survive the still-brutal Washington Catholic Athletic Conference as well as a trip to the Naples Holiday Classic.{PAGEBREAK} 6. Duncanville (Texas) 42-0
The Texas power lost a little punch but still returns Ariel Atkins, one the top players in the country, and adds 6-4 sophomore Ciera Johnson to an already loaded roster. But the Pantherettes, as usual, won't leave the state of Texas, and though they will play some out-of-state teams in the Sandra Meadows Classic, both Troy of California and Hall of Arkansas lost most of their firepower. The toughest out-of-state opponent appears to be Central of Arkansas, but the schedule's degree of difficulty pales in comparison to other teams with similar talent levels.

7. Windward (Los Angeles) 32-1
Former Stanford star and WNBA veteran Vanessa Nygaard had no trouble adjusting to her first year as a high school coach, but then again having point guard Jordin Canada and post Kristen Simon made the transition a lot easier. Both are back, and Windward will once against test itself at the Nike TOC, and then try to survive California's new Open playoffs, which put all the top teams into the same postseason bracket.

8. Fairmont (Kettering, Ohio) 27-1
Seniors Kathryn Westbeld (6-1) and Makayla Waterman (6-2) have been playing together since third grade, and their self-described "crazy chemistry" paid off with a state title. With all but two players returning, the drop-off shouldn't be much for a team that finished last year No. 4 in the nation.



9. Regis Jesuit (Aurora, Colo.) 26-2
The Raiders are always good, but with five starters back from a 26-2 team, this might be their best chance ever to win a national title. They play in the Nike TOC, so they'll get a shot at Mater Dei and they also play No. 1 Incarnate Word — which means all the pieces are in place for a special season.

10. Bedford North Lawrence (Bedford, Ind.) 28-0
The unbeaten 4A champs return their top six players, and eight of their top ten, and only a limited out-of-state schedule has them starting out this low. They will play No. 8 Fairmont, however, and given that three of their top players (6-2 Dominique Mcbryde, 6-3 Jenna Allen and 5-7 Alexa Bailey) are just juniors, they could be even better next year.{PAGEBREAK} 11. Riverdale (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) 35-0
Only two starters return, but Riverdale padded the roster with some top transfers who will join seniors Alexa Middleton and Shelby Davenport in coach Cory Barrett's second season. This year's version probably won't press as much, but with six key players between 5-8 and 6-1, the Warriors will present plenty of challenges. They'll most likely see No. 14 Long Beach Poly at the Iolani Classic, and will play No. 12 Rock Bridge, No. 17 Shades Valley and of course, crosstown rival No. 3 Blackman.

12. Rock Bridge (Columbia, Mo.) 25-5
With four starters back from a topflight team that played an ambitious schedule, Rock Bridge will use another exacting set of opponents to try to vault itself into the top ten — or higher. Sophie Cunningham and Cierra Porter are only juniors, but both have committed to Missouri, and seniors Chayla Cheadle and Kayla Cheadle will play for Kansas — though Kayla will opt for volleyball.

13. Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Md.) 32-7
The Crusaders have always exemplified the cliché about reloading instead of rebuilding, but this year they only lost two seniors and can be expected to improve on a 32-win season. The trip to the Nike TOC before Christmas will determine just how high Riverdale Baptist can rise.

14. Long Beach Poly (Calif.) 29-5
It will be a tale of two seasons in one for the Jackrabbits, who will add 6-3 senior post Lajahna Drummer Jan. 6 when her sit-out period after transferring expires. Guard Arica Carter is also an elite player, and Poly will play in the Iolani Classic in Hawaii, the Nike TOC and then navigate the always treacherous waters of Southern California.

15. Saint Mary's (Albany, Calif.) 30-5
Six-two senior guard Gabby Green was one of just three high school players to play for USA Basketball's U-19 team, and she is a matchup nightmare. She can play the point or the wing, and coupled with 6-1 wing Mikayla Cowling, gives St. Mary's tough-to-cover firepower.{PAGEBREAK} 16. New Hope Christian Academy (Thomasville, N.C.) 35-2
Coach Delaney Rudd was an NBA point guard, and so it's not surprising that his daughter, 5-8 sophomore Kiana "Lucky" Rudd, is a quality backcourt player. With 6-3 senior power forward Kristina King inside, and plenty of talent around that duo, the Phoenix will need to prove themselves against No. 13 Riverdale Baptist as they otherwise don't play many nationally ranked teams.



17. Shades Valley (Birmingham, Ala.) 31-2
The Mounties return four starters, including point guard and sparkplug Morgan William, and though 6-1 sophomore Katelynn Thomas is the only returner taller than 6-0, quick and versatile Shades Valley could emerge as the best team in the Deep South.

18. Rolling Meadows (Ill.) 31-4
The Mustangs lost by one in the state finals, but seniors Jackie Kemph, Alexis Glasgow and Jenny Vliet are all back — plus most of the rest of the roster. Illinois is a little down this year, and Rolling Meadows is poised to take full advantage.

19. MacArthur (Irving, Texas) 26-9
With four starters back, plus the return of Jasmin Taylor, MacArthur is one of a host of Texas teams that can challenge No. 6 Duncanville. Senior Tory Jacobs will anchor the perimeter game and 6-3 Aaliyah Warren will take care of the inside, but like most Texas teams MacArthur doesn't test itself against out-of-state competition.

20. McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) 18-12
Twelve-loss teams don't generally find their way into a preseason top 25, but this 12-loss team has elite point guard Te'a Cooper, Wake Forest commit Taylor Gordon, who was ineligible last season, and the immensely talented Caliya Robinson. On top of that Georgia was loaded last season, and with the state not quite as strong, look for the Indians to make a statement in the Peach State after a disappointing 2012-13.{PAGEBREAK} 21. St. Mary's (Stockton, Calif.) 32-3
It's 77 miles and seven spots in the Xcellent 25 between the two St. Mary's Northern California powers, and both will have plenty of chances to prove themselves. The Rams, the Stockton St. Mary's, will be at the Nike TOC as well as the West Coast Jamboree (with No. 4 Shabazz and No. 2 Mater Dei), and will undoubtedly join the other three California Xcellent 25 members in the state's postseason Open Division.

22. Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) 16-10
Star Sierra Calhoun (off to Duke next year) has steadily improved in her four years, and is now one of the best wings in the country. She will be joined by nine other seniors which should put the Royals back in the national conversation once again.

23. Columbus North (Ind.) 25-1
In the minds of many, Indiana is the heartbeat of basketball, and Columbus North is right there with No. 10 Bedford North Lawrence. In fact, that one loss came to Bedford North Lawrence, but with four starters back, including Notre Dame commit Ali Patberg, it would not be a surprise if the two Indiana powers reversed position this year.



22. Northside (Fort Smith, Ark.) 27-4
The Grizzlies have played in nine of the last 12 Arkansas state championship games, and won six titles — so with four starters back, quick and athletic Northside is likely to be playing in the final game of the season once again.

25. Southwest DeKalb (Decatur, Ga.) 24-8
There's still plenty of punch in Georgia this year, and junior wing Tynice Martin will give Southwest DeKalb a chance to show just how much at the Nike TOC. That's a big step up, though, as many regional powers have discovered over the years.