MaxPreps 2013-14 Kansas preseason girls basketball Fab 5

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

1. Aquinas (Overland Park)
Head Coach: Rick Hetzel
2012-13 finish: 24-1, 5A State Champions
 
Hetzel brings a wealth of talent and experience back from a team that won last season's Class 5A state championship, the East Kansas League school's second in three years. Having qualified for the state basketball tournament 19 straight seasons, even in the so-called down years, Aquinas always finds a way to extend its season beyond district play. This season Hetzel's squad has to be a heavy favorite to win it all again with the return of all five starters from a year ago. Tia Weledji, a 5-foot-10-inch senior, leads a balanced scoring attack after tallying 13.5 points a game last year and grabbing 5.5 rebounds. Claire Ferguson (6-2, Jr.) and Allie Dierks (5-7, Sr.) contributed just over seven points an outing each, a year ago, while Kelly Sweeney (5-7, Sr.) and Rhyann Fisher (5-7, So.) tossed in more than 10 points a contest collectively.
 
2. South (Wichita)
Head Coach: Antwain Scales
2012-13 finish: 24-1, 6A State Champions
 
Bringing one's A-game every single night while competing in the balanced Wichita City League is a necessity. Anything less could prove disastrous for most prominent girls basketball programs. But Scales' balanced Titans danced through this uber-talented league, falling only to Kapaun once during its conference championship and Class 6A state title runs of a year ago. With five regulars returning, the Titans may repeat in both in 2013-14. Leading the way for Scales, once again, are first team all-state recipient Kendrian Elliott (6-2, So.) and honorable mention all-state honoree Kirea Rogers (6-0, Jr.). The Titans also return a trio of honorable mention all-league selections from a year ago in Patriece Dodson (Jr.), Eledria Franklin (Sr.) and Ericka Mattingly (So.).
 
3. Kapaun Mt. Carmel (Wichita)
Head Coach: Marvin Estes
2012-13 finish: 20-5, Lost to Newton 35-30 in the 5A Consolation Championship
 
Following its win in the Kansas Class 5A state championship game in 2011-12, Marvin Estes' Kapaun Mount Carmel girls basketball team had to settle for fourth place following a five point loss to Newton a year ago. What is important, however, is that the Crusaders are making a habit of being in the thick of the race each winter, and 2013-14 should be no different. Estes returns an excellent blend of talent, experience and youth. The third-year coach described Sydney Kuhn (6-1, Sr., C), a Notre Dame volleyball pledge, as a versatile player, while branding Drake pledge Sam Bachrodt (5-9, Jr., F/G) as an unselfish player. Both Crusaders return after earning All-City League and All-State honors last winter. Grace Hagan (5-10, Jr., F) is an underrated player, according to Estes, while Janay Jacobs (5-9, Sr., F/G) has been labeled as a good ball-handler and penetrator. Georgia Schaefer (5-9, Sr., F/G) moves up to the varsity this winter after leading the junior varsity in scoring a year ago. Lindsey Medina (5-4, Sr.) and Anna Born (5-9, Jr.) are do-it-all athletes for the Crusaders. Estes, 110-29 in two stints at Kapaun, will also have a host of sophomores to call on.
 
4. Wamego
Head Coach: Jim Page
2012-13 finish: 25-1, 4A State Champions
 
After upending defending Class 4A state champion McPherson in last seasons state title game, Wamego will bare the favorites tag in 2013-14. Red Raiders Coach Jim Page and his squad are up to the challenge with the return of 73 percent of his team's scoring from a year ago, including Page's daughters Kaylee and Lanie, who will both play Division I ball once their prep eligibility is all used up. Kaylee, a Nebraska signee, scored more than 20 points for her father a year ago, and pulled down 8.1 boards and dished out three assists in guiding the Red Raiders to a near perfect 25-1 mark. Lanie, who has offers from Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Nebraska, ripped the cords for 16 more points, while pulling down 6.3 caroms, dishing out 2.9 assists and swiping 3.4 enemy balls as just a sophomore. Allison Seufert (5-4, Jr.) scored more than four points an outing a year ago, while Jennifer Griffitt (5-6, So.) and Maddie Vontz (5-4, Jr.) earned valuable playing time during the title run as well.
 
5. Maize
Head Coach: Jerrod Handy
2012-13 finish: 21-4, Lost to Blue Valley North 55-50 in the 6A Consolation Championship
 
Handy's program has earned a spot in the Kansas 6A State Basketball Tournament in each of the last four seasons, and if the current trend continues, would find themselves playing for it all in 2013-14. In 2009-10 and 2010-11, the Eagles lost in the quarterfinals. But Maize found itself playing on Championship Saturday each of the past two seasons, settling for third place a couple of years ago, and fourth last season. Handy will rely on a trio of all Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail Division 1 selectees in guiding Maize through the semifinals and into the championship game. First team all-league and second team all-state honoree Keiryn Swenson (Jr.) leads the charge, while second team and honorable mention all-leaguers Daley Handy (Jr.) and Brayden Byrd (Sr.), respectively, will bring a ton of talent to the court as well.