Murrah is the defending Class 6A champion while Olive Branch, Starkville and Tupelo all hope to challenge; Heidelberg is state's top small schools team in the Mississippi girls basketball #MaxPrepsFab5.
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See a North Carolina girl nail an insane number of 3-pointers.2016-17 Mississippi preseason girls basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Murrah (Jackson)
Head coach: Tangela Banks
2015-16 record: 29-3
Murrah captured the Class 6A state championship last season, defeating Callaway 54-52 in the championship game. The Mustangs lost just one senior from that team, starter Melissa Creese, and return the team's leading scorer
Nya Irvin, a junior who averaged 11.0 points per game last year. Also back are fellow juniors
Jamaica Almonds (7.8 ppg) and
Keimoya Walker (6.7).
See the Mississippi girls basketball computer rankings, presented by the Army National Guard
2. Olive Branch
Head coach: Jason Thompson
2015-16 record: 27-3
Olive Branch reached the second round of the state playoffs before being eliminated by Starkville, but it returns the state's top player in
Myah Taylor. A 5-foot-7 point guard, Taylor earned All-State honors last year by the Clarion-Ledger after averaging 26.1 points per game to go with seven assists and 5.8 steals.
Mahogany Vaught, a junior guard, also returns after averaging 16.4 points, 3.5 assists and 3.9 steals.
See the MaxPreps Mississippi girls basketball stat leaders3. Tupelo
Head coach: Matt Justice
2015-16 record: 21-9
Tupelo exited the Class 6A playoffs in the first round last year, but every single player on the team returns, including All-State senior
Alayjah Sherer. The 5-11 guard averaged 20.7 points per game with 7.2 rebounds and 2.8 steals as a junior. She's joined by 5-8 sophomore guard
Jalancia Kohlheim, who posted 14.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game as a freshman.
Chemya Carouthers, a 5-8 freshman guard, also returns after averaging seven points a game for the Golden Wave as an eighth-grader.
See the MaxPreps Mississippi girls basketball photos4. Heidelberg
Head coach: Billy Wright
2015-16 record: 32-1
Heidelberg won 32 straight games last year before falling to Ingomar 41-40 in the Class 2A championship game. Although a small school, Heidelberg returns one of the state's top all-around players in
Keyara Jones, who earned second team All-State honors last year after averaging 19 points, six assists and five steals for the Oilers.
See the MaxPreps Mississippi girls basketball playoff brackets5. Starkville
Head coach: Kristie Williams
2015-16 record: 26-3
Starkville fell to eventual champion Murrah in the Class 6A semifinals 44-42. The Yellowjackets have the state's top center in
Kelsey Jones. A 6-2 senior, Jones averaged 13.3 points, 10 rebounds and 2.1 blocks as a junior when she was named to the All-State second team. Junior guard
Tabreea Gandy also returns after averaging 8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.9 steals as a sophomore.
