TOC champion St. John-Vianney looks to repeat with St. Rose, Manasquan and Rutgers Prep vying for the title as well; Saddle River Day has some of the state's top young players in the New Jersey girls basketball #MaxPrepsFab5.
Video: TOC girls basketball - Manasquan
See all the fun as the Army National Guard honors one of the nation's best.2016-17 New Jersey preseason girls basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. St. Rose (Belmar)
Head coach: Joe Whalen
2015-16 record: 27-5
Look
for St. Rose to put up a good fight for the Non-Public Class B state
championship this year after losing to Rutgers Prep in the semifinals
last year. St. Rose had a young team last season, but returns a pair of
juniors in
Mikayla Markham and
Luciana Thomas who earned All-Sophomore/freshman status by NJ.Com.
See the New Jersey girls basketball computer rankings, presented by the Army National Guard
2. Manasquan
Head coach: Lisa Kukoda
2015-16 record: 28-7
The Warriors won the Group 2 state championship over High Point (Sussex) and reached the finals of the Tournament of Champions before falling to St. John-Vianney. Lisa Kukoda earned State Coach of the Year honors from NJ.com and she returns a pair of All-State players in
Dara Mabrey and
Stella Clark. Mabrey, a junior, averaged 13.8 points per game last year while Clark, a junior, averaged 13.1.
See the MaxPreps New Jersey girls basketball stat leaders3. Rutgers Prep (Somerset)
Head coach: Mary Klinger
2015-16 record: 30-2
The Argonauts captured the Non-Public Group B state championship with a win over Saddle River Day. However, Manasquan knocked Rutgers Prep out of the Tournament of Champions in the semifinals. Rutgers Prep will miss All-State forward Niki Metzel, but will return junior point guard
Jahsyni Knight, who earned third team All-Non-Public honors.
See the MaxPreps New Jersey girls basketball photos4. Saddle River Day
Head coach: Danny Brown
2015-16 record: 27-2
Saddle River Day reached the championship game of the Non-Public Group B playoffs before falling to Rutgers Prep. The Rebels return possibly the top sophomore in the state in guard
Michelle Sidor. She led the state in scoring at 27.4 points per game and she earned Player of the Year honors in the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference.
See the MaxPreps New Jersey girls basketball playoff brackets5. St. John-Vianney (Holmdel)
Head coach: Dawn Karpell
2015-16 record: 31-1
The
Lancers finished as the Non-Public Group A champions with a 72-31 win
over Immaculate Heart Academy. They also defeated Manasquan 65-58 in two
overtimes for the Tournament of Champions title.
Kimi Evans,
a 6-foot-3 All-Group center, returns, however the Lancers will miss
All-Group selections Kelly Campbell and Tina Lebron in the backcourt.
Rankings updated Dec. 6
