MaxPreps 2016-17 Arkansas preseason high school girls basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

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1. North Little Rock
Head coach: Daryl Fimple
2015-16 record: 25-5

North Little Rock went to overtime to defeat Conway for the Class 7A state championship last year. The Charging Wildcats will miss Kyra Collier, who was first team all-state her senior season. North Little Rock returns junior Amber Hawkison and 6-foot-2 junior center Yo'Myris Morris, each of whom made the All Arkansas Preps Underclassmen All-State Team. Hakwinson also earned first team Class 7A All-State Team honors from the Arkansas Basketball Coaches Association.

See the Arkansas girls basketball computer rankings, presented by the Army National Guard



2. Central (Little Rock)
Head coach: Michael Green
2015-16 record: 26-3

Central had one its best seasons in over a decade, losing just three games and reaching the Class 7A semifinals before losing to Conway. The Tigers lost one of the state's top players in center Kiara Williams, who now plays at the University of Arkansas. Central returns three players ranked among the top five in the state, including No. 1 Abigayle Jackson (6-3), No. 2 Bre' Amber Scott and No. 5 Kennedi Allen.

See the Arkansas girls basketball stat leaders

3. Fayetteville
Head coach: Vic Rimmer
2015-16 record: 21-7

The Purple Dogs finished second in the Class 6A/7A West Division and exited the state playoffs in the first round, falling to Central (Little Rock). Returning junior Jasmine Franklin earned underclassmen all-state honors and the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette named Franklin as the Newcomer of the Year. She is the No. 5 overall recruit in the Class of 2018, according to Arkansas Basketball Rankings.

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4. Conway
Head coach: Ashley Nance
2015-16 record: 29-2 The Wampus Cats had one of the nation's top players in Alexis Tolefree, who finished her career with 1,651 points and signed with Central Arkansas. Conway lost to North Little Rock last year after beating it twice during the regular season. Conway will look to make its fourth straight appearance in the state championship game. Conway returns one of the state's top seniors in guard Savannah Lowe, according to Hoopgurlz.

See the MaxPreps Arkansas girls basketball playoff brackets

5. Van Buren
Head coach: Chris Bryant
2015-16 record: 22-7

Van Buren reached the Class 7A state playoffs and advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to Northside 54-52. The state's No. 3 junior Jamilyn Kinney leads the Pointers after earning all-state honors last season. Van Buren also has one of the state's top senior guards in Lani Snowden.