Three-time defending champion Morgantown is the favorite, with runner-up Huntington poised to challenge along with St. Albans and South Charleston; Wyoming East aims to repeat as AA champion in the West Virginia girls basketball #MaxPrepsFab5.
Video: Sydney Holloway's highlight vs. University
See the Morgantown star in action.2016-17 West Virginia preseason girls basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Morgantown
Head coach: Jason White
2015-16 record: 25-1
Morgantown has won three straight state championships under coach Jason White, who was named the State Coach of the Year by American Family Insurance. His squad knocked off Huntington 61-56 in the Class AAA championship game. While All-State forward
Sydney Holloway has graduated, second team All-State forward
Lydia Adrian is back to lead Morgantown to a possible fourth-straight title.
See the MaxPreps West Virginia girls basketball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard
2. Huntington
Head coach: Lonnie Lucas
2015-16 record: 26-3
Huntington fell to Morgantown 61-56 in the Class AAA state championship, but it returns the state's top player in
Jordyn Dawson. A 5-foot-10 forward, Dawson was named the Gatorade State Player of the Year while averaging 20.2 points, 13 rebounds and seven steals per game. The Highlanders also return
Lexie Sheffield, who earned honorable mention All-State honors.
See the MaxPreps West Virginia girls basketball stat leaders3. Wyoming East (New Richmond)
Head coach: Angela Boninsegna
2015-16 record: 23-2
The Class AA state champions knocked off Fairmont Senior 54-26 in the title game without a single senior in the starting lineup. In fact, the top four leading scorers were either freshmen or sophomores.
Gabby Lupardus, a 5-7 junior guard, earned All-State Player of the Year honors last year after averaging 14.7 points and 6.9 assists.
Emily Saunders, a 6-4 center who earned All-State second team honors as a freshman, also returns.
See the MaxPreps West Virginia girls basketball photos4. St. Albans
Head coach: Scott James
2015-16 record: 16-9
The Red Dragons didn't make it out of the sectional tournament last year, but they return every player from last year's squad, including three that scored over 300 points on the season. Junior
Jaden McDaniels averaged 15.1 points per game last year and was second team All-State. Meanwhile, seniors
Haleigh Legg and
Alli Johnson each averaged 12 points a game.
See the MaxPreps West Virginia girls basketball playoff brackets5. South Charleston
Head coach: John Testa
2015-16 record: 15-6
The Black Eagles are two years removed from a 23-win season after winning 15 games last year. South Charleston returns one of the state's top players in
Aaliyah Dunham, a 5-3 point guard who averaged 20.2 points per game with five assists and five steals.
