MaxPreps 2015-16 Connecticut preseason high school girls basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. Capital Prep (Hartford)
Head coach: Tammy Millsaps
2014-15 record: 25-1

The Trailblazers haven't lost a state game for three seasons, and the defending CIAC Class L champions are ready to make that four seasons. Senior guard-forward Desiree Elmore is a handful inside (23.5 points per game, 14.5 rebounds per game, 5 assists per game) and junior guard Angelique Rodriguez averaged 11.8 ppg last season. Point guard junior Lizaya Morgan (5 apg) is the third returning starter. The non-conference schedule is as ambitious as ever, headlined by Oregon City (the No. 1 team in the Oregon Fab 5), and a home-and-home against Christ the King, the top-ranked team in the New York Fab 5.

See last season's Connecticut girls basketball computer rankings

2. Warde (Fairfield)
Head coach: Dave Danko
2014-15 record: 21-4



There's a lot of uncertainty about this season, as many traditional powers were hit hard by graduation. Warde is a very big exception. It returns its entire starting lineup that took the team to the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference final and the Class LL quarterfinals. Senior point guard Lejla Markovic was first-team all-FCIAC last season, junior Iliana Krasniqi (forward) was second team and senior Sarah Cotto (guard) and junior Shania Osborne (center) both made the third team. Osborne has also gotten interest from Division I schools Fairfield, Sacred Heart and St. Peter's.

See Connecticut girls basketball pro photo galleries

3. Ridgefield
Head coach: Tom Dimarzo
2014-15 record: 21-4

The Tigers took the FCIAC by surprise last season and won their first league championship since 1996. Everyone will be fired up to play Ridgefield this year, and its strong enough to handle it, as it returns most of the starting lineup. Seniors Rebecca Lawrence (power forward) and Jess Camarda (guard) were FCIAC first and second team picks, respectively. Juniors Elizabeth Middlebrook (post) and Julia Middlebrook (guard) are both very athletic — Elizabeth was one of the top hitters on the volleyball team, while Julia was the goaltender for the soccer team and was the FCIAC title game MVP. Ridgefield only made it as far as the LL second round last season as it lost to league rival Greenwich (60-55). The Tigers should go farther this season.

See last season's Connecticut girls basketball playoff brackets

4. Holy Cross (Waterbury)
Head coach: Frank Lombardo
2014-15 record: 23-3



The Crusaders have gone 40-1 in the Naugatuck Valley League the last two seasons, with the loss happening in last year's tournament final. Holy Cross should be the top team of the NVL again this winter and a Class M contender. Senior point guard Rashana Siders returns and will again be Holy Cross' top player. It's blessed with good size inside with 6-foot seniors Caitlin Cipriano (center) and Katie Grimshaw (forward). The Crusaders will also benefit from the addition of transfer Idalis Miranda (guard), who scored 885 points in three seasons at nearby Chase Collegiate.

See last season's Connecticut girls basketball stat leaders

5. Thomaston
Head coach: Bob McMahon
2014-15 record: 23-3

You win two consecutive state titles, then you make this list. The Bears played in their third-straight Class S final last season, and every one of the eight who got in the game were either a junior or sophomore.