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

By Clay Kallam Nov 14, 2014, 12:00am

Archbishop Alter is the top team in the state, followed by Lakota West, Notre Dame Academy, Centerville and Mount Notre Dame.

Graphic by Ryan Escobar
MaxPreps 2014-15 Ohio Girls Basketball Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard

1. Archbishop Alter (Kettering)
2013-14 record: 33-1
Coach: Chris Hart

With all the firepower back from a team that lost only in the state championship game — to senior-dominated, unbeaten West Holmes — Archbishop Alter is clearly the team to beat in Ohio. And despite being a Division II team, last year Alter's victims included perennial Ohio powers Chaminade-Julienne, Beavercreek and Mount Notre Dame.

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

2. Lakota West (West Chester)
2013-14 record: 22-6
Coach: Andy Fishman



Senior guard Lauren Cannatelli leads the Firebirds, who also feature two juniors — Nia Staples and Danielle Wells — in a three-guard attack. Lakota West lost to Princeton last year in the Division I playoffs, but with Kelsey Mitchell gone, the experienced Firebirds are the preseason favorites.

View last season's Ohio girls basketball playoff brackets

3. Notre Dame Academy (Toledo)
2013-14 record: 24-5
Coach: Travis Galloway

Seniors Kaayla McIntyre and Tierra Flloyd are the big stars, but Notre Dame Academy also can call on another senior, Christiana Jefferson, as they look to challenge Lakota West in Division I. Toledo has produced plenty of talent in recent years, plus some quality teams, and NDA looks to be just another brick in the wall.

View last season's Ohio girls basketball stat leaders

4. Centerville
2013-14 record: 27-4
Coach: Adam Priefer



Centerville lost to Lakota West by 11 in the state tournament last year, and the Elks return senior center Shannon Coffee and sophomore guard Victoria Harrison to give it another shot. But Centerville must find a way to replace some key seniors to go much deeper in postseason.

View Ohio girls basketball pro photo galleries

5. Mount Notre Dame (Cincinnati)
2013-14 record: 17-7
Coach: Scott Rogers

Mount Notre Dame has a lot of talent returning, and if Scott Rogers can put the pieces together — as he has done in the past — they could easily rise in these rankings. Helping that rise will be Naomi Davenport, who has committed to Michigan.