Video: Kiki Samsel winning shot
Watch the Sacred Heart guard knock down a huge shot for her team.2016-17 Kentucky preseason high school girls basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Butler (Louisville)Head coach: Larry Just
2015-16 record: 31-6
Be it a one-class state, the Bearettes are the undisputed state champs in the Bluegrass State – and that made it the fifth in the school's history. Coach Larry Just (eighth year) returns a lineup packed with seniors led by
Jaelynn Penn (5-foot-10, wing, committed to Indiana), whose perimeter skills are multidimensional. Other committed seniors include
Tasia Jeffries (5-7, shooting guard, committed to St. Louis),
Teri Goodlett (5-6, shooting guard, committed to Eastern Kentucky),
Janna Lewis (5-9, forward, committed to Tennessee State) and
Breia Torrens (5-6, point guard, committed to Bellarmine). Besides playing all the other in-state Fab 5 teams, Butler will travel to Sevierville, Tenn., for the Winterfest Shootout over Christmas. A January feature will be a game with Montini, a Chicago powerhouse.
See the MaxPreps Kentucky girls basketball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard 2. Mercer County (Harrodsburg)Head coach: Chris Souder
2015-16 record: 31-6
Mercer County made the Kentucky Final Four in 2016, its best showing in school history. With a roster rich in juniors, the Titans have two years to make it to the top with the current group. The team is loaded with 3-point junior bombers led by
Seygan Robins (5-8, point guard, committed to Louisville). Others who will let it fly include
Emmy Souder (6-1, forward), twins
Faith Lake (5-9, forward) and
Lexy Lake (5-7, shooting guard, both committed to Southeast Missouri) and
Emma Davis (5-10, small forward). Coach Chris Souder (18th year) is playing Tennessee power Hamilton Heights in early December and going west to the Nike TOC later in the month. A featured matchup with Butler looms in January.
See the MaxPreps Kentucky girls basketball stat leaders 3. Male (Louisville) Head coach: Champ Ligon
2015-16 record: 29-3
Male last played in the Final Four in 2015, but was knocked out in the regional final last year. Coach Champ Ligon (fourth year) has a young squad, which should make a run at the school's first state title this year and next. Junior point guard
Ciaja Harbison (5-6, committed to St. Louis) runs the show. In December, the Bulldogs will head to Florida, where they could meet national power Paul VI at the Destin Holiday Classic and in January to Nashville where they will face traditionally strong Memphis Central (Tennessee) and Providence Day (North Carolina).
See the MaxPreps Kentucky girls basketball photos4. Sacred Heart (Louisville)Head coach: Donna Moir
2015-16 record: 23-8
The Valkyries are another young team that lost in a Kentucky regional final in 2016, and though they've won four state titles, the most recent was in 2004. Junior small forward
Grace Berger (6-0, being recruited at the Power 5 level) leads the way with an all-around offensive game. Support is expected to come from junior guards
Kiki Samsel (5-6, 3-point specialist) and
Kia Sivils (5-8, drive-oriented, committed to Marshall). Donna Moir (25th season) will take her team to the Naples Holiday Shootout in December and match up with West Virginia stalwart St. Joseph in January at the Raatz Fence/O'Shea's Basketball Classic in Louisville.
See the MaxPreps Kentucky girls basketball playoff brackets 5. Mercy (Louisville)Head coach: Keith Baisch
2015-16 record: 22-12
The Jaguars, who have won two state titles (last in 2010), were knocked out of the 2016 playoffs by eventual state champion Butler in the regional final. Over the years, Mercy has been known as very team-oriented, and results are often greater than the sum of the parts. Key players include seniors
Josie Woods (5-10, shooting guard) and
Elizabeth Anderson (6-2, power forward, coming off a knee injury) along with junior
Danielle Feldkamp (6-3, center) and sophomore
Raquael Reese (5-9, small forward). Already playing the best of the local area, coach Keith Baisch (fourth year) is not shying away from out-of-state competition, heading to the Nike TOC in December, plus scheduling contests with Hamilton Heights of Tennessee, Columbus North of Indiana and Toledo Rogers of Ohio, all strong last year.
