MaxPreps 2013-14 Mississippi preseason girls basketball Fab 5

Click here to see the girls basketball preseason Fab 5 from every state

1. Forest Hill (Jackson)
2012-13 record: 30-3
Head coach: Tangela Banks

For coach Banks experience will not be a missing factor this season. The Patriots are coming off a three-loss season that ended in a state championship. Returners Alexis Collins and Adriana James played huge roles in the state title run as juniors. Collins tallied 16 points and eight rebounds in the quadruple overtime state championship victory. Debony Wilson also returns after playing a significant role is last year’s successful season and should give the team a nice presence on the glass. Breauna Smith was just a freshman last season but saw a fair amount of action throughout the season, look for her to contribute more in her sophomore season. Losing the senior leadership may be the biggest question for coach Banks heading into this season as the team looks to make it back to the state championship game.

2. Bay (Bay St. Louis)
2012-13 record: 36-0
Head coach: Debbie Triplett

The Tigers head back onto the court after posting a 36-0 record on their way to a Class 4A state title last season. It seems like it can only get worse from there, but for coach Triplett that is not the case. She returns the likes of their best player and one of the top players in the county in Christa Reed, who is committed to Vanderbilt. Reed averaged 23.5 points per game last season while grabbing nearly five rebounds a game on her way to being named Gatorade Mississippi Girls Basketball Player of the Year. She will be the leader for the Tigers and will look to take her team back to the state championship game this season.

3. Canton
2012-13 record: 29-4
Head coach: Melissa Word

It will be Andreal Fleming and Jamilah Sanders who take over the leadership role for coach Word this season. The Tigers are coming off a Class 5A state championship and have an exciting returning cast. Flemming notched 10.1 points per game last season while Sanders pitched in 8.9. Juniors Salleria Travis and Jamelia Owens each played big roles in the Tigers' championship run as sophomores and will likely take on an even bigger role this season. Coach Word’s team looks to have all the means to repeat as state champions.

4. Southaven
2012-13 record: 27-6
Head coach: Alicia Pickens

It was a heartbreaking end to the season for coach Pickens and her girls, as they watched their season come to an end with a two-point loss to Forest Hill in the state championship game. Experience may be the biggest question mark for the Chargers this season. Coach Pickens will get A'Queen Hayes and Olivia Cunningham back, who averaged 13.2 and 10.5 points per game respectively last season. The two of them will provide some much-needed leadership for a team that will lack experience. The Chargers will likely remain the biggest threat to Forest Hill and could find themselves in a rematch come playoff time. The development of the young players could play the biggest role in the Chargers' season.

5. Pontotoc
2012-13 record: 31-4
Head coach: Bill Russell

Coach Russell may have one of the youngest teams in the state. The Warriors graduated two seniors from last year's team that lost in the state championship game. That team also carried eight freshmen on the roster. Coach Russell will turn to Kayla Russell, Olivia Owen and Marlee Hatcher, each of whom played big minutes in their junior seasons, to provide the leadership for the young team. Fellow senior Alex Brown will likely take on a larger role to accompany the three starters from last season. This team will be young and may lack some experience, but the ceiling is high.