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

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1. Capital Prep (Hartford)
Head coach: Tammy Millsaps
2015-16 record: 24-4

The Trailblazers have enjoyed one of the best runs in Connecticut girls basketball history. They've won four consecutive CIAC state championships and haven't lost in-state since the 2012 Class S final (to Coginchaug of Durham). Senior guard Heaven Rodriguez (17 points per game, 6 assists per game) has signed with Pittsburgh, making her the program's third Division I player. Senior guard Lizahya Morgan scored a team-high 15 in last season's Class L championship win and signed with North Carolina Central University. Junior guard Najae White had 14 points and eight rebounds in that championship win, too. The Trailblazers are fast and aggressive, and no one is as relentless defensively as they are. Another state championship would make them just the second team to win five straight CIAC titles (Westbrook won a state-record six from 1982-87).

See the MaxPreps Connecticut girls basketball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard

2. Stamford
Head coach: Diane Burns
2015-16 record: 25-2 Depth may be an issue for the Black Knights. And that's really the only concern for the defending Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference and Class LL champions. They have five players back who were major contributors to last season's championships, have good height and a lot of toughness. Center Marthe Guirand (6-foot-3) and Camille Martinez, a sharpshooting 5-2 guard, are the senior co-captains. Junior center Alexa Kellner (6-1) scored a game-high 19 in last season's LL final and has received Division I offers. Junior Brooke Kelly will run the point. Junior forward Andrea O'Conner (6-1) is very athletic — she just led Stamford to its first CIAC volleyball title and was named the Class LL MVP.



See the MaxPreps Connecticut girls basketball stat leaders

3. Mercy (Middletown)
Head coach: Tim Kohs
2015-16 record: 23-3

Things were going great for the Tigers last season before they got into tournament play. They were both the top seed and defending champion at the Southern Connecticut Conference final, but lost to Hand (Madison) in the final. They were the top seed in Class LL, but lost a home quarterfinal to South Windsor on a last-second basket, making it the first time since 2009 that they didn't reach at least the semifinals. Mercy could avenge those losses as it has more experience than last year's team. Junior point guard Bella Santoro (10.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and junior center Meghan DeVille (11.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg) were both All-SCC picks. Classmate Samantha Chapps is a wing who can score in a variety of ways. And sophomore Kameryn King is a good shooter who strengthens the backcourt.

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4. Warde (Fairfield)
Head coach: Dave Danko
2015-16 record: 22-4

The Mustangs have enough starters and experience back to make another run at the FCIAC and Class LL titles. Senior All-State center Shania Osborne (5-11) averaged 17.5 points, 11.2 rebounds and 3.7 blocks. Senior forward Iliana Krasniqi (5-10) was second team All-State and has committed to Pace. Senior guard Daja Polk (5-2) was second-team All-FCIAC. Juniors Olivia Parisi (5-10, F) and Libby McKenna (5-8, G) are also back. Senior center Jenna Cetta (6-0) returns from an ACL injury, too.



See the MaxPreps Connecticut girls basketball playoff brackets

5. Enfield
Head coach: Jay Gaucher
2015-16 record: 26-1

There are a whole lot of changes going on for Enfield. It moved into the state's biggest league (the Central Connecticut Conference) and merged with former crosstown rival Fermi, causing its enrollment to balloon. The merger also moved the Raiders up from Class M to LL (yes, a fourth LL team on this list). The one big thing that hasn't changed for them is they have their top three players back — juniors Mary Baskerville, Danielle Delano and Caterina Fonseca. Baskerville, a 6-3 post, averaged 16.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.3 blocks, and 4 steals last season. Delano (16.4 ppg, 5.3 apg, 3.8 spg) and Fonseca (10 ppg) are guards.