MaxPreps 2014-15 Kentucky preseason girls basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. Elizabethtown
2013-14 record: 32-5, Sweet 16 runner-up
Head coach: Tim Mudd

The bad news: the Panthers lost to Butler in last season's state title game. The good news: they only lost one player to graduation. Mudd, the Herald-Leader Coach of the Year, will have a host of returners to try to finish the job in 2014-15, namely junior all-state forward Erin Boley. As a sophomore, the 6-1 national recruit averaged 20.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Combined with 6-1 senior forward Reauna Cleaver, the Panthers are the team to beat in Kentucky.

View last season's Kentucky girls basketball rankings, presented by the Army National Guard

2. Butler (Louisville)
2013-14 record: 32-3
Head coach: Larry Just



It's never easy to replace the Sweet 16 MVP, but that's what Just will have to do with the departure of first team all-stater Danielle Lawrence. Coach's daughter Allison Just, who scored 10 points in the title game as a sophomore, and Tasia Jeffries, just a sophomore, will look to pick up the slack on offense. But with the Bearettes' trademark press in effect they won't need to score much.

View last season's Kentucky girls basketball playoff brackets

3. Lafayette (Lexington)
2013-14 record: 29-4, Sweet 16 quarterfinalist
Head coach: Allison Denton

The Generals lost to champion Butler in the quarterfinals of the Sweet 16, but Denton's squad will likely be in the thick of it again this season. All-state performer Dee Givens (16.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg) returns for her senior year, along with fellow senior Ashanti Thomas (6-2, C). The duo makes Lafayette a formidable opponent this season.

View last season's Kentucky girls basketball stat leaders

4. Bell County (Pineville)
2013-14 record: 25-5
Head coach: David Teague



A disappointing loss to Corbin ended last season for the Bobcats, but expect Teague's squad to be ready to contend again this year. Senior all-state forward Maci Morris, a Kentucky commit, hopes to improve on last season's 22.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.

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5. Marshall County (Benton)
2013-14 record: 31-6, Sweet 16 quarterfinalist
Head coach: Joseph Simmons

Simmons led the Lady Marshals to the third best record in school history, but cold shooting led to a quarterfinal loss to George Rogers Clark last season. Honorable mention all-state performer Alyssa Barnard transferred to Graves County, but senior Michaela Manley led the team in two First Region tournament victories, earning MVP honors in the process.