MaxPreps 2016-17 Los Angeles City Section preseason girls basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

By Mitch Stephens Nov 4, 2016, 10:32pm

Palisades leads the way, but also keep an eye out for Fairfax, Legacy, Carson and El Camino Real in the Los Angeles City Section girls basketball #MaxPrepsFab5.

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2016-17 Los Angeles City Section preseason girls basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. Palisades (Pacific Palisades)
Head coach: Torino Johnson
2015-16 record: 24-9

The Dolphins, ranked 51st nationally last season, return their leading scorer Chelsey Gipson (17.6 points per game). The 5-6 point guard also averaged 3.7 rebounds and 3.9 steals per game. Kayla Williams, a 5-6 sophomore, averaged 11.9 points per game as a freshman and Chaniya Pickett was also a first-team All-City Open Division performer last year as a junior.

See the MaxPreps California girls basketball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard



2. Fairfax (Los Angeles)
Head coach: Judi Edwards
2015-16 record: 24-9

The Lions return second-leading scorer Fatou Semebene, a senior who averaged 11.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Another key returner is senior Philomena Smorynskii (7.8 ppg). Fairfax graduated three of eight players from last year's team.

See the MaxPreps California girls basketball stat leaders

3. Legacy (South Gate)

Head coach: Ronald Estrada
2015-16 record: 29-5

The Tigers return top scorer Arianna Harper, a 5-8 senior who averaged 15.6 points per game last season. She also averaged 4.8 rebounds and 4.0 steals per game. Jennifer Pool, a 5-2 point guard, also scored double-digits often last year and averaged 9.4 points and 4.4 steals per game. The Tigers averaged nearly 66 points per game last season.

See the MaxPreps California girls basketball photos

4. Carson
Head coach: Nicole Perkins
2015-16 record: 24-10



The Colts graduated just two girls from a 13-person roster. They return Audrina Villela, a 5-7 senior who averaged more than 12 points per game. Desire Evans, a 5-9 senior, is another top returning player. She averaged 9.6 points per game last season.

See the MaxPreps California girls basketball playoff brackets

5. El Camino Real (Woodland Hills)
Head coach: Cara Blumfeid
2015-16 record: 24-10

The Conquistadors graduated just two girls from a 10-person roster last year. Returning is All-City Open Division performer Kianna Hamilton-Fisher, a junior forward.
Kianna Hamilton-Fisher, El Camino Real
Kianna Hamilton-Fisher, El Camino Real
File photo by Nicholas Koza